View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Bear Valley route (North Ridge): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain. Here is a little video I put together during my hike of Bear Valley. If successful, the signs could be replicated for roads around the Upper South Fork Eagle River Trailhead. A sign hangs at the Bird Valley trailhead along Alaska’s Turnagain Arm on July 7, 2014, warning people of a recent bear mauling in the area. While the Bear Valley route up McHugh is just an adventurous Class 2, the final few feet to the true summit qualify as Class 4 (light rock climbing). This smaller trail switchbacks uphill until it gets above the V-shaped cut bank of McHugh Creek and then parallels the creek all the way back to McHugh and Rabbit Lakes, beneath the Suicide Peaks. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. The Anchorage Park Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity, to support local parks and trails in partnership with the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department. Baldy, Ram Valley, and Glen Alps, but perhaps no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the “Honey Bear” trailhead in upper Bear Valley. Highlights plus less visited destinations. There are many unofficial trails, game trails, and old inholding trails in this area. If you do decide to bypass the gate and are confronted on the Stewart Trail, do not feel pressured to sign any documents or agree to any demands. But all this access can come with a price for visitors. Turn left (northwest) onto the Turnagain Arm Trail and follow it about a third of a mile to the signed cutoff for the McHugh Lake Trail. The routes marked on my map are really just suggestions, and it’s up to you to find your way through this collection of shallow ridges, rocky outcrops, and tundra slopes. Majority of the hike is on the ridge, so it is rocky/windy/no shade, but that also means no bugs and incredible views! On the other side, strike out across the open tundra and climb any of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak. Bear Mountain towers over Mirror Lake in the Peter's Creek area. This expansiveness and proximity to Anchorage make McHugh an excellent choice for easy day trips, afternoon berry-picking jaunts, long ridge walks, and rocky scrambles. The trail sees a steady stream of locals eager to visit the peak towering so dramatically above their community. 2-5 day small ship explorations. At the last rocky point before the summit, the trail disperses onto a broad face that sweeps up toward McHugh’s craggy crown. To reach the trailhead, drive east on Rabbit Creek Road (this road is the last exit from the Seward Highway as it leaves the south end of Anchorage). More…. Bear Valley from Mapcarta, the free map. Overwhelmed by choices? Difficulty: Class 2+s4. To access the Rabbit Creek route, park at the Rabbit Creek Trailhead at the end of Canyon (Upper Hiland) Road. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a fantastic opportunity to get excellent photographs of your favorite Alaska wild critters ... Girdwood is known for excellent restaurants … Go off-trail as necessary or desired, but don’t get sidetracked by the many sheep trails cutting horizontally across the mountainside. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. If your car doesn’t have good clearance or if the road is in poor condition, park at the lower parking lot and walk the last few hundred feet to the gate. The summit of McHugh Peak in mid-February, with North and South Suicide Peak in the background. Anchorage Hiking Trails Denali Hiking Trails Seward Hiking Trails Homer Hiking Trails ... Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Because it is south-facing in a high-wind area next to the ocean, this route is often fully snow-free as soon as early May. Some 50 miles north of Anchorage, this 1.5-mile trail makes for a fine family outing. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. A draft design showing new parking signs for use in Anchorage’s Bear Valley neighborhood, May 22, 2017. Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. If you asked people what the largest cities in the US are, few would guess Anchorage. The Rabbit Lake trail uncoils a little into multiple paths, though it remains easy to follow. Scooting up the mountain from Bear Valley trailhead. It is a relatively short but steep hike. At the signed intersection, cut right/northeast/uphill onto the McHugh Lake Trail. Great Hike with lots of blueberries to pick! After about a mile and a half, the McHugh Lake Trail passes the base of a prominent rock and tundra gully with a small trail leading up it. ), but it is an official parking area. McHugh/Bear Valley: A relatively new trailhead in Bear Valley provides access to McHugh Peak’s long ridgelines without driving down to Turnagain Arm, and without climbing from sea level. From the summit either retrace your steps or drop off the ridge to the south for a cross-country downhill to the McHugh Lake Trail. Anchorage is Alaska largest city. Holding your right hand out in front of you, palm facing away, Anchorage is … Though McHugh peak is mostly an alpine walkup, negotiating the bundle of rocks on its summit can be tricky and feels more like rock climbing than hiking. It requires only a bit more elevation gain than the north ridge route (2550 ft. vs. 2320) and far less than the McHugh Creek route (4,300 ft). Follow the ridgeline 1.5 miles over the top of Ruby (the west summit of McHugh Peak) and then on to the summit of McHugh Peak itself. For more about me and winterbear.com, click here. The summit is out of view to the left. Just follow the ridge west to the summit of McHugh. From the trailhead it beelines up the valley, staying a few hundred feet below brush line and only wobbling slightly as it crosses avalanche runouts. The view looking towards Anchorage Alaska during a hike up Bear Valley on September 10th 2018. There is certainly exposure, and a fall from the summit rock could be severely injurious or fatal. After a third of a mile from the parking lot, the trail enters open tundra. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. Add these trails to the abundance of incredible cross country and alpine options, and there’s something to satisfy everyone. At the ridgeline, views open up north toward downtown Anchorage. Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull … Black bear hunting in the rest of the Municipality allows only one black bear … When the road bends left after three miles, turn right onto Clarks Road and immediately right again, still following Clarks Road. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. My time: 2.5 hours, Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Hikers determined to follow the crest of the ridge may find some adventurous Class 3 scrambling, but steeper sections are generally easily avoided by moving onto the north side of the ridgeline. A black bear explores the roof of a home in Anchorage’s Bear Valley/Facebook The SARS-CoV-2 virus might have upended the world, but in Alaska’s largest city, some things haven’t changed. Take Clark’s Road off of Rabbit Lakes, then follow the Bear Valley switchbacks up to the trailhead. Though it is possible to bushwack across the valley toward McHugh at any point, the brush thins substantially in the upper valley and the Rabbit Creek ravine becomes shallower. The Rabbit Lake Trail is about as exciting as hiking on a road, which is exactly what it used to be. Its southeast ridge steps steeply into Turnagain Arm, its north ridge reaches toward the south face of Flattop, and its eastern ridge winds all the way to Rabbit Lake below the Suicide Peaks. In 2016, a large wildfire tore throughportions of the McHugh Creek drainage, leaving a striking landscape of brilliantly-colored orange and green mosses between the charred, fire-sculpted trunks of burned trees. From the top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the ridge 1.9 miles to the summit of McHugh. The Anchorage Police Department does not consider use of the Stewart Trail to constitute criminal trespass and does not issue citations for use of the trail. It's free to go this far by car, and you'll get a picture-perfect shot of Portage Glacier. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. I hope that this site helps you plan exciting and safe trips, but please always keep the information here in context. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Make noise, carry bear spray, and follow other best practices for traveling in bear country. It has a few outcrops that you may not want or need to climb over, but it’s generally easy to follow and fairly low-angle. Bear Valley Mountain 2280 State Route 207 PO BOX 5038 Bear Valley, CA 95223 Phone: 1-209-753-2301 fun@bearvalley.com Difficulty: Class 2s4. ... Bear Valley. This is the only part of the hike that can feel tedious, though the slogging is tempered by fantastic views up the Rabbit Creek drainage toward Ptarmigan and the Suicides. McHugh is often climbed from one of three public trailheads: the McHugh Creek trailhead off the Seward Highway, the Rabbit Lake trailhead at the top of Canyon Road, or the Bear Valley trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Dr. Map of McHugh Peak, with the three most well-known routes marked. This is an amazing hike near Anchorage, that provides incredible views of the mountains and lakes without extreme effort. After about a mile, turn right on Whaley. 2: Upper O’Malley Trailhead 6: Chuck Albrecht Park 9: Basher Trailhead 13: Russian Jack Park 16: Glen Alps Trailhead 20: Bicentennial Park Smoke Jumper 23: Kincaid Park Chalet 27: Hilltop Ski Area 30: Bear Valley: Meet at Ray E Stork Park May A little over 2 hours to get to the peak from the honey bear lane trailhead. From the picnic table at the uppermost end of the trail, you’ll find a satisfying panoramic view of the Matanuska River and Knik River valleys. The brush on the south side of McHugh is not at all bad by Chugach standards, though the tundra and grasses can be steep and slippery. Note the line of old fenceposts visible right below the rainbow–these are a good landmark for when you might consider crossing the valley and heading up McHugh. It’s a view as good, or better, than that from many summits. Luckily, Betsy (a fellow Carolinian who has made Alaska her home) is a great hiking buddy and she took me to a trail I never climbed in Bear Valley – only a 30 minute drive out of Anchorage during rush hour traffic. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. This ridge is well-traveled and there is an informal trail running along it most of the way. Hotels near Bear Valley, Anchorage on Tripadvisor: Find 18,909 traveler reviews, 20,637 candid photos, and prices for 241 hotels near Bear Valley in Anchorage, AK. The dispersed camping area has 6 picnic tables with fire rings, hand pump for drinking water and a vault toilet. The north ridge of McHugh Peak. The neighborhood is a popular access point for Chugach State Park. Hike the Twin Peaks Trail. My notes on the summit pinnacle itself are in the Bear Valley route description above. Penguin Peak Trail: Access: 0.5 mile from Bird Valley Trailhead Allowable Uses: Hiking Length: 2 miles Difficulty: Difficult Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Description: Short but steep. The wind-swept tundra and rocky ridgeline is easy to follow and runs at a relatively shallow angle, though there are two prominent notches during which you’ll lose (and regain) about 150 feet of elevation each time. After reaching the summit, you can either come back down the way you came, or continue along the ridge to Mt. The lake is … This trailhead lacks the signage and trappings of most Chugach State Park trailheads (including the parking fee! Getting there: The driving route to the trailhead on the mountain above Peters Creek involves a lot of twists and turns, but it’s quite intuitive once you get started. But while this route adds some thigh-burning it also features more variety than the other routes: it starts in groves of huge cottonwood trees, winds through the brilliantly-colored site of the 2016 McHugh Creek wildfire, and traces the wind-blasted crest of McHugh’s west ridge to the summit of McHugh Peak. There is also overflow parking on Honey Bear Lane on a widened stretch of road about two thirds of a mile below the trailhead. Song: n u a g e s - … Zillow has 30 homes for sale in Bear Valley Anchorage. The Rabbit Lake Trail under Ptarmigan Peak. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. The crag is climbed from the north side via an obvious, well-worn route that ascends a steep grassy gully, traverses a few feet to the east and then requires a climb of about 8 feet up the final summit rock. Pine Valley is a community and census-designated place in the Cuyamaca Mountains of the Mountain Empire area, in southeastern San Diego County, California. Please try again. Which one is right for you? The Snow Bear retreat boast the best views in Anchorage. Photo by Eddie Gianelloni. This trail is not marked on official maps, but it is nearly as well-defined as the rest of the McHugh Lake Trail itself. Direction to the Golden View Trailhead The trailhead parking lot can hold only 5-6 cars. The vast majority of McHugh is long, fairly relaxed Class 2 (hiking, light scrambling) ridgelines, but attaining the true summit requires a very short Class 4 climb up a cluster of large rocks. From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHugh’s north ridge. Brett Frazer hiking back down the McHugh Lake Trail toward the McHugh Creek Trailhead. By the same token, nobody would ever claim that McHugh Peak, which borders south Anchorage at the southwest corner of Chugach State Park, is the “largest” peak in the Chugach. My time: 6 hours. Groups are currently working to restore public access to this route. Difficulty: Class 2+s4. Bear Valley is a valley in Alaska and has an elevation of 128 feet. As soon as the tundra permits easy walking, cut south from the Rabbit Lake Trail, descend into the creek ravine and cross Rabbit Creek. Following the Glenn Highway north from Eagle River, take the Peters Creek exit, turning right onto Ski Road. Bear Valley Route (North Ridge) The North Ridge Route, starting at the Honey Bear Trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Lane in Bear Valley, is a fun Class 2 ridge walk with 2,300 feet of elevation gain and excellent views over Anchorage and across the inlet. But if you’re hoping to score a prime parking spot, this trailhead is best tackled on weekdays or in the off-season. Anchorage local Matias Saari and his trusty husky, Rainy, run a ridge above Bear Valley in the Chugach Mountains. For the most part the Rabbit Creek route is truly a route and not a trail, so it is most appropriate for those with basic routefinding skills and at least a mild sense of adventure. Follow the trail or strike out and find your own way up to Point 3,200. I grew up in Alaska and currently live in Anchorage. Where Alaskans may perceive Anchorage’s narrow, steep, and sometimes rocky trails to be just another day in paradise, newcomers to the state, especially those with little or no hiking experience, may find the trail … Those who park on nearby streets risk tickets from APD, though enforcement is uneven and the legality of the “No Parking” signs and tickets has been questioned. Toward the crest of the ridgeline the trail gradually disperses and disappears into loose rock. Eklutna, then follow the trail … Bear Valley Road Runner. A small parking area near the trailhead on Honey Bear Lane in Bear Valley on Wednesday, June 21, 2017. The weather was incredibly sunny – the second evening of sun after weeks of rain – and would have … We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Chugach National Forest Points of Interest. The North Ridge Route, starting at the Honey Bear Trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Lane in Bear Valley, is a fun Class 2 ridge walk with 2,300 feet of elevation gain and excellent views over Anchorage and across the inlet. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. My time: 5 hours, McHugh Creek route (West Ridge): 7.8 miles round trip, 4,300 ft. elevation gain. While they are fun to explore, unless you know the area well it would probably be fastest to stay on the main trail. 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