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Hiking

Discover the Chugach National Forest! 

The hiking opportunities are almost endless on the Chugach. Just keep your wits about you, have a plan, and be careful. Start from one of our 41 cabins, or four campgrounds, or find a trailhead from the links below. Be sure to bring plenty of water, pack your rain gear and follow other safety measures when you set out. 

Find Trails on the Recreation Page

Go to the Recreation Page search bar and check the "Terra Trails" option to find some great hikes.

Choose from the following to find a site:

Information

Download the Recreational Opportunities for Trails PDF flyer.

Download the flyer for all Recreational Opportunities (cabin rental camping and picnicking, fishing and hiking).

Backpacking

Throw on a well-packed pack

Backpacking on the Forest requires some forethought. You should pack carefully, planning for all eventualities, including the possibility of changing weather and your trip being a little longer than anticipated. Always let someone else know your plans, and when you plan to come back. The forest is wilderness... Check out our safety page.

Information

Download the Recreational Opportunities for Trails PDF flyer.

Download the flyer for all Recreational Opportunities (cabin rental camping and picnicking, fishing and hiking).

 

Backpacking Areas

  • Copper River Delta
    • Alice Smith Intertie
    • Lake Elsner Trail
  • Eastern Kenai Peninsula
    • Bear Lake Trail - INHT
    • Carter Lake Trail
    • Crescent Creek Trail
    • Crescent Lake Trail
    • Crow Pass Trail - INHT
    • Devil's Creek Trail
    • Falls Creek Trail
    • Grandview Whistlestop
    • Johnson Pass Trail North - INHT
    • Johnson Pass Trail South - INHT
    • Lost Lake Trail - INHT
    • Meridian Lakes Trail - INHT
    • Primrose Trail - INHT
    • Ptarmigan Creek Trail - INHT
    • Ptarmigan Lake Trail - INHT
    • Resurrection Pass Trail North
    • Resurrection Pass Trail South
    • Resurrection River Trail
    • Russian Lakes Trail Upper & Lower
    • Vagt Lake Trail - INHT
  • Prince William Sound
    • Goose Bay Cabin
    • Upper Winner Creek - INHT

Day Hikes

Spend some time on your forest

Day hiking on the Chugach National Forest is a snap. All you have to is pick a place and start off. Just be safe, pack for the weather, and let somebody know where you are going. There is no permit necessary.

Information

Download the Recreational Opportunities for Trails PDF flyer.

Download the flyer for all Recreational Opportunities (cabin rental camping and picnicking, fishing and hiking).

 

Day Hiking Areas

  • Copper River Delta
    • Alice Smith Intertie
    • Copper River Trail
    • Crater Lake Trail
    • Eyak River Trail
    • Haystack Trail
    • Heney Ridge Trail
    • McKinley Lake
    • Pipeline Lakes Trail
    • Power Creek Cabin
    • Power Creek Trail
    • Saddlebag Glacier Trail
    • Sheridan Mountain Trail
  • Eastern Kenai Peninsula
    • Bear Lake Trail - INHT
    • Byron Glacier Trail
    • Carter Lake Trail
    • Crescent Creek Trail
    • Falls Creek Trail
    • Grandview Whistlestop
    • Gull Rock Trail
    • Hope Point Trail
    • Johnson Pass Trail South - INHT
    • Lost Lake Trail - INHT
    • Meridian Lakes Trail -INHT (Grayling Lake)
    • Primrose Trail - INHT
    • Ptarmigan Creek Trail - INHT
    • Ptarmigan Lake Trail - INHT
    • Rainbow Lake Trail
    • Resurrection Pass Trail South
    • Resurrection River Trail
    • Russian Lakes Trail Upper & Lower
    • Turnagain Pass Trail - INHT
    • Vagt Lake Trail - INHT
    • Victor Creek Trail - INHT
  • Prince William Sound
    • Coghill Lake Cabin
    • Harrison Lagoon Cabin
    • Paulson Bay Cabin
    • Portage Glacier & Portage Valley
    • Portage Pass Trail - INHT
    • Williwaw Nature Trail
    • Trail of Blue Ice - INHT
    • Winner Creek Gorge - INHT

Search for Hiking Opportunities

Showing: 41 - 50 of 58 results

Ptarmigan Lake Trail - INHT

Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
The Ptarmigan Lake Trail is a segment of the longer Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT).3.7 mile hiking trail from west end of Ptarmigan Lake to east end. This rough, narrow trail travels up and…

Rainbow Lake Trail

Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning
Rainbow Lake Trail is a 0.3-mile accessible trail from Cooper Lake Road to Rainbow Lake. This wide gravel trail crosses a muskeg then follows a small, forested ridge to the shore of a small lake.…

Resurrection Pass Trail North

Winter Sports Horse Riding and Camping Biking Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
A local favorite, Resurrection Pass Trail offers day or multi-day backcountry hiking or biking adventures. A 39 mile trail that climbs from 500 to 2600 feet, visitors can reserve one or all of eight…

Resurrection Pass Trail South

Biking Winter Sports Hiking Horse Riding and Camping Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
The Resurrection Pass South Trail is a 16.7 (one-way) Southern segment of a 39-mile multi-use trail between the Cooper Landing and Hope areas. The trail climbs gradually the first 3 miles through…

Resurrection River Trail

Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
A 17-mile hiking trail from Exit Glacier Road to Russian Lakes Trail. This trail travels through dense spruce/hemlock forest the entire way with only occasional views of the river valley and…

Russian Lakes Trail Upper & Lower

Hiking Horse Riding and Camping Biking Winter Sports Outdoor Science and Learning Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
A 21-mile multiple-use trail from Russian River Campground to Cooper Lake Road. Trail follows the valley of the Russian River, past Lower and Upper Russian Lakes then gradually climbs to the area at…

Saddlebag Glacier Trail

Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
This well-drained, 3.1 mile level trail winds its way through stands of cottonwood and spruce trees. It guides the hiker through a small, glaciated valley to the outlet of Saddlebag Lake. Split log…

San Juan Bay Cabin

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
The San Juan Bay Cabin is a 14 x 16-foot rustic cabin that can accommodate up to 6 people. Cabin amenities include a table, wood stove, oil stove, splitting maul, saw, rainwater catchment barrel, and…

Sheridan Mountain Trail

Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
This 2.8 mile, moderately-steep trail begins in a spruce-hemlock forest and follows a stream that provides resting spots with views of waterfalls. Midway, the landscape transitions into a shrub…

Shrode Lake Cabin

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Water Activities Outdoor Science and Learning Winter Sports
The cabin is a 16 x 16-foot A-frame with a main floor and a sleeping loft. It accommodates up to six people and comes equipped with wooden bunks, an oil drip (kerosene) heater, a table, benches,…

Last updated July 7th, 2025