Suggested Trips in the Hillside Trail System

Note: Travel means indicates part or all of the trail/route may be reached by one or more of the travel methods. USGS topographic maps covering the Hillside area are: Anchorage A7, A8 and B7.

Arctic to Indian Traverse

Access: Arctic Valley Road (Trail/route)
Travel means: Hike, X-C Ski
Distance: 22.0 miles(35.2 kilometers) to Indian Creek Pass
Difficulty: Moderate
Special interest: Wilderness character, weekend traverse (2 nights and 2 full days recommended), wildlife - bear (brown and black), moose and lynx.

Flat Top Mountain

Access: Glen Alps (Trail)
Travel means: Hike, some rock scrambling
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: 1,550 feet (477 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate, some steep areas over broken rock
Special interest: Views of Anchorage, Alaska Mountain Range, Kenai Peninsula, stunted mountain hemlock trees and classic alpine plant communities.

Knoya and Tikishla Peaks

Access: Prospect Heights (Route)
Travel means: Hike, some rock scrambling, X-C Ski
Distance: Knoya: 13 miles (20.8 Kilometers) round trip; Tikishla: 15 miles (24 Kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: Knoya: 3,525 feet (1,085 meters); Tikishla: 4,075 feet (1,254 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Special interest: A trip for experienced hikers only.

Little O'Malley Peak

Access: Glen Alps (Route)
Travel means: Hike, some rock scrambling, X-C Ski
Distance: 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: 1,937 feet (596 Kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: Excellent alpine scenery, wild flowers, berries in autumn.

McHugh Peak

Access: McHugh Creek Wayside - Mile 112 Seward Highway (Route)
Travel means: Hike, some rock scrambling
Distance: from McHugh Creek Wayside: 7 miles (11.4 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: from McHugh Creek Wayside: 4,201 feet (1,293 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: High scenic alpine area, trails to above brushline only.

Old Johnson Trail

(Trail)
see Turnagain Arm Trail

Powerline Trail

Access: Glen Alps or Indian (Trail)
Travel means: Hike, X-C Ski
Distance: 11 miles (17.6 kilometers) one way
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet (396 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: In the heart of the Chugach foothills, good hiking on old road bed, now closed to vehicles.

Rabbit and McHugh Lakes

Access: McHugh Creek Trailhead (Mile 112 Seward Highway) - Hike northwest toward Potter on Turnagain Arm Trail approximately 2 mile, McHugh and Rabbit Lakes Trail heads northeasterly up McHugh Creek Valley.(Trail)
Travel means: Hike
Distance: 7 miles (11.4 kilometers) one way
Elevation gain: 2,750 feet (846 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate
Special interest: Beautiful Rabbit and McHugh lakes are framed by alpine tundra and the rugged Suicide Mountain peaks. Loop trip is possible for experienced hikers using Ptarmigan Pass to Powerline Trail. Old trail up Rabbit Creek Valley crosses private land. There is no public access from Lower Canyon Road

Ramp and Wedge Peaks

Access: Glen Alps or Upper Huffman (Trail/route)
Travel means: Hike, some rock scrambling, X-C Ski; snow vehicles out of Upper Huffman only
Distance: 11 miles (17.6 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: Wedge: 2,602 feet (800 meters); Ramp: 3,182 feet (979 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: Dall sheep in summer, berries in autumn.

Ship Lake

Access: Glen Alps or Upper Huffman (Trail/route)
Travel means: Hike, X-C Ski out of Glen Alps; snow vehicles out of Upper Huffman only
Distance: 14 miles (22.4 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: 2,000 feet (615 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: Similar to the Ramp and Wedge peaks.

Turnagain Arm

(Trail) - formerly called Old Johnson Trail
Access: Potter - MP 115.5 Seward Hwy; McHugh Creek Wayside - MP 112; Rainbow - MP 108.5; Windy Corner - MP 106.5; Falls Creek - MP 105.5
Travel means: Hike
Distance: 9.0 miles (14.4 kilometers) one way
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Moderate
Special interest: Good early spring hike, overlook views of Turnagain Arm, wildlife viewing of Dall sheep, moose and begula whales.

Williwaw Lakes

Access: Glen Alps or Prospect Heights on Middle Fork Loop Trail (Trail)
Travel means: Hike, X-C Ski
Distance: 13 miles (21 kilometers) from either access round trip
Elevation gain: 742 feet (228 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: Perhaps the most scenic hike or ski in the Campbell Creek drainage. Several jewel-like alpine lakes; massive Mt. Williwaw (5,445 feet) forms the backdrop.

Wolverine Peak

Access: Prospect Heights (Trail)
Travel means: Hike, X-C Ski
Distance: 10.5 miles (16.8 kilometers) round trip
Elevation gain: 3,380 feet (1,040 meters)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Special interest: Views of Alaska Mountain Range, Anchorage, Cook Inlet; white spruce and birch trees fade to mountain hemlock and alpine tundra in high country; berries in autumn, good winter X-C Skiing area.

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