Customer Reviews

50 Hikes in Alaska's Chugach State Park

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As a former long-time Anchorage resident, I can say that this is a well-written, informative guide for people of all skills. Whether you are local or visiting, there are maps, directions, and a condensed, detailed write-up, without excess fat.

The climbs range from the recreational family journeys to the hardcore hikes. The authors obviously have spent much time on each of these trails.

There is even a nice touch of history in the guide.. you can tell there was good research done off the trails too.

The black & white photos are there but can't do the land justice. Get out and go.

Enormous Chugach State Park abuts the City of Anchorage, Alaska, the largest city in Alaska and the hub of tourist travel into the state. Easily accessed from Anchorage, Chugach State Park provides a variety of year-round recreational activities. This guide provides a run-down on a variety of hiking trails, suitable for the barely fit to the extremely fit.

The book, as advertised, provides descriptions of 50 different hikes in the Chugach. Some hikes are variations of route in the same area. The descriptions include distance, estimated time, elevation gain, and estimated hiking difficulty, along with directions to the appropriate trailhead, a sketch map of the route, and often photographs. Also included are some wise safety tips for hiking in Alaska, where weather can be extremely variable in just a couple of hours, and where man is not at the top of the food chain.

Highlights include Crow Pass, over which the old Iditarod Sled Dog Trail once passed, and Flattop Mountain, perhaps the most heavily climbed mountain in Alaska. Chugach State Park also includes areas accessable only by a couple of days hike, where the determined hiker will find nearly pristine wilderness.

This book is highly recommended for the hiker planning to visit Anchorage and looking for good trails, and for the long-time resident looking for some variety.

This book is just fantastic. I grew up in Alaska and have often gone back for summers, and my family uses this book all the time. Hiking trails in the Chugach aren't always so well-defined (esp above the treeline), so it's helpful to have a sense for where you're going before you head out.

I always found the book to be super accurate and helpful. As advertised, 50 hikes, all well-described. Easy to pick where to go based on your energy and the time you have available.

Word to the wise: the Rabbit Lake route in this book is insane, presumably because the authors didn't want to advise crossing private land (which was long the best way to get there). Now the land has been bought by the state, so an easier trail there is totally legit. The trailhead is at the end of Canyon Road.

Great resource for hikes in Alaska. We used this extensively when preparing for our trip. It has a good variety of hikes from easy to difficult and is pretty accurate.