An official website of the
United States government
Here's
how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
This trail is in the Dredge Lakes area (part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area) south of Mendenhall Lake. The gradient of the trail is mostly level and the tread is firm glacial gravel. Some sections are underwater during heavy rain events, particularly in the fall. Vegetation is typical of early successional post-glaciation, including willow, alder, and cottonwood with scattered spruce and hemlock. Beavers are particularly active in the Dredge Lakes area. The trail is named for a remnant river channel that was active long ago when the glacier was further advanced and the drainage patters were quite different from what they are now. This trail connects the Moose Lake Trail to the Moraine Ecology Trail.
At a Glance
Reservations:
No reservations are available for this area.
Open Season:
1/1
Usage:
Moderate
Closest Towns:
Juneau, AK
Water:
No
Restroom:
No
Operated By:
Forest Service
General Information
Directions: From downtown Juneau, travel north on Egan Drive to Mendenhall Loop Road. Turn left to remain on Mendenhall Loop Road at the junction of the loop and Glacier Spur Road (which goes straight ahead). Turn right at the entrance to the Forest Service District office at 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road. Go to the parking lot at the back of the building to access the Weather Service Trail into the Dredge Lake system of trails. Turn left at the T-intersection with Dredge Lake Trail. Take the first right on Moose Lake Trail. At the first intersection, continue straight on the Crystal Lake Trail. At Crystal Lake, go left on the Moraine Lake Trail and follow it along the west side of Moraine Lake, until it T's into the Old River Trail. From here the Old River Trail can be taken left or right.
This trail is connected to many others in the Dredge Lakes system of trails. This and others are 6' to 8' wide. Bring friends or family, children or adults for an easy ride on the first part of this trail. After the intersection with the Pit Trail, flooding is an issue most of the years due to adjacent beaver ponds. That part of the trail makes a better winter ski route when the water is frozen. During those periods, the Moose Lake Trail a direct route to the southern shore of Mendenhall Lake.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to More Difficult
Day Hiking
This trail is in the Dredge Lakes area (part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area) south of Mendenhall Lake. The gradient of the trail is mostly level and the tread is firm glacial gravel. Some sections are underwater during heavy rain events, particularly in the fall. Vegetation is typical of early successional post-glaciation, including willow, alder, and cottonwood with scattered spruce and hemlock. Beavers are particularly active in the Dredge Lakes area. The trail is named for a remnant river channel that was active long ago when the glacier was further advanced and the drainage patters were quite different from what they are now. This trail connects the Moose Lake Trail to the Moraine Ecology Trail.
Difficulty Level:
Easy
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
The trail receives a good snow cover since it is not under the tree canopy. The trail is without major protrusions, so it doesn''t require a lot of snow for a good skiing surface.