Indian Valley Trail

(64 reviews)

20.5 mi

Beautiful, well kept trail! I saw five moose on the trail!…read more 11 miles each way starting at Elderberry Park and ending at Kincaid Park. Plenty of pull outs, benches, and look out points along the way. There was one point of the trail that had some bumps that appear to be in the process of being repaved, but otherwise no complaints. The only downside, biking up to Kincaid park was a challenge and the views at the top aren't worth it, there is also nothing waiting up top. Would be cool to see a coffee shop or something of the sort.

Very amazing hike with great views. We absolutely loved walking this trail last night and early…read morethis morning. Great views of the port as well as many other things!

Arctic Tern

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Rippy Trail

43.7 mi

Great trail for a leisurely hike or ride. The trail is not super long but it takes you back to…read moreupper Jim Creek and has numerous overlooks along the way. You can also hike above tree line and get a good view of the knik glacier. When you get to the metal bridge over Jim Creek you can easily hike downstream for a glimpse of some salmon in late summer/fall.

Trail conditions are great for hiking, biking, or riding.

Upper Jim Creek with coho salmon

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One of the overlooks facing the Butte

Indian to Girdwood Bike Path "Bird to Gird"

0.6 mi

The best part of the Indian to Girdwood path is that it can be for everyone. There are long flat…read morestretches, hills, great views, wildlife. Frequent bear, moose, even spotted belugas from the path. I would take the dogs along for a walk that would even wear them out. Great for walking or biking. Path is wide and paved, ( but if walking, still be aware of bicycles and don't have dogs loose as there are a few Greg Lemond wanna be type that bicycle at 40 mph on the shared trail). That aside, you can start at Bird Creek, Beluga Point, Girdwood or any number of parking areas and make the walk/hike as long or short as you desire. I often park in Girdwood and hike to Beluga and back and then drive in to Jack Sprats or maybe Chair 5 in Girdwood for Lunch/Dinner. After some good reviews, sounds like Girdwood Brewing should be my next spot to try out after a nice walk with the dogs.

Description from Chugach State Park

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Powerline Pass Trail

4.8

(4 reviews)

9.5 mi

Many thanks to Andrew and Daniella for their thorough reviews that ultimately gave me the balls to…read morebring my 3 kiddos out here by-myself. I have not been to the Glen Alps in at least 5 years. The additional parking lot was totally new to me. I recommend skipping the main lot and parking there. I ended up having to leave my eldest two on a rock, so I could grab the car in the main lot and pick them up. They were so done with me! haha I pushed my toddler in a City Mini GT (all-terrain stroller) the entire time. I like to hike, but I've yet to invest in those fancy backpack toddler holders (see, I don't even know what they're called). It was my goal for us make it to the infamous bridge and back. We did it. I'm so damn grateful. I don't have a dog, a gun or bear spray (yet). I depend on a simple bear bell, my super loud Bluetooth speaker, and the protection of my ancestors, angels, and spirit guides. Luckily, we saw other hikers often. We were never alone for too long. Still lots of snow melting. The trail was still very wet and muddy in some spots. We did not have waterproof boots so naturally we left soaked from the calves down. It was worth it. Highly recommend.

You may not know the name "Powerline Pass Trail", but you've probably been on it before…read more It's often used as a sort of "trail hwy" to access other, more desirable trails. It starts at the Glen Alps trailhead. (same as the most popular hike in Alaska, Flattop: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flattop-mountain-trail-anchorage-2) The Powerline Pass trail itself goes all the way to the actual Powerline Pass (the big mountain on your left/north is Avalanche Mountain https://www.yelp.com/biz/powerline-pass-trail-anchorage, the one on your right/south is Homicide Peak) and then goes south, towards the Turnagain Arm and ends at the Indian Trail Valley Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/indian-valley-trail-anchorage). There are also various offshoots including (from Glen Alps): Williwaw Lakes Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/williwaw-lakes-trail-anchorage): at about 0.5 mile, take a left, then take a left at the fork in about a mile. O'Malley Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/o-malley-peak-trail-anchorage): same as above, but take a right at the fork Hidden Lake Trail: at about 4ish miles in, take a left Great place to use as a hub. If you just want to get out of the city and move your legs, this is a great trail to do a mile or two on. Doing it as a trail in and of itself, it's a little boring on foot. The real thrill of this trail is doing it on a mountain(or fat) bike or skis.

Big camera self-click

Great views

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Dogs love this trail

Resurrection Pass Trail

2.0

9.9 mi

I know, I know, I'm two-staring a hiking trail…read more I'm going to nature-appreciation-hell. So be it. This trail is beloved by many, but I just don't get it. I've only done the first 12 miles of this 38 mile trail and...they were a total bore. The "bang-for-buck" on this one is very low. This would be a great trail in upstate NY or Vermont. For Alaska though? It's a total snooze fest. It seems to get most of its hype because: 1) It's really well-maintained (no bushwhacking). 2) If you plan ahead, you can stay in cabins. 3) There is very little elevation gain It would probably be a fun mountain bike too. (mountain bikes are allowed, not common for most Alaska trails) For a hike or a backpacking trip on foot though? Boring. You're in the trees most of the time. When there's a clearing, you are looking at the types of mountains Alaskans call "hills". They aren't steep, they aren't tall, they're short and gentle. Many are shorter than peaks in the Appalachian mountains of the lower 48. There are no glaciers to see. There isn't much wildlife (I only saw a few birds in 12 miles of hiking). The trail gets really icy in the winter. (definitely bring micro-spikes if hiking in/through then) The cabins (we stayed at Fox Creek Cabin, future review coming up) are not well stocked with wood in the winter. Make sure you bring a few duralogs if you're hiking in in the winter. I'm glad Alaska has a trail like this, and I'm glad it's popular. It'll keep the crowds away from the better hikes :)

It helps to have a charming hiking partner

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It helps to have a charming hiking partner

Fatback Bikes

19.4 mi

Unbelievable expertise and knowledge. You have found the…read more place you hoped for, they sell the top shelf products and the shop is the place to go for all your Bike needs. Seriously

Alaska Rock Gym

3.7

(37 reviews)

18.4 mi

Ever since our kids started getting into rock climbing, these gyms have supplanted the traditional…read morechildren's museum as the place we look forward when we travel, and the kids need to burn off some energy. The spot was one that we found online, and we're very impressed with the place. The climbing gym has two levels, a bouldering area upstairs, and large climbing walls, with ropes and belays downstairs. The main climate walls were really impressive. The largest ones we estimated to be 40 or 50 feet high. Bigger than we are used to, but not so big that the kids couldn't conquer them! Pricing seemed very reasonable, and really when it comes down to it, there aren't many prices that we wouldn't pay to get the kids to runoff some energy and have a good time doing it. Well, worth your time garrulous of if you're stopping in for a quick climbing session or looking to do more training long-term.

Our kids have been enjoying the Rock Gym for almost a year now. Great facility and up until today,…read moreexcellent service. Our kids had a private 1 hour lesson booked at noon. We showed up at 11:50 and checked in, asked to wait near the front desk for our instructor. 12:00...nothing. 12:05...ask where our instructor is...told the manager will come out and speak to us. 12:15...no instructor, no manager. Neither of the front desk staff could effect a refund for our lesson, or offered an explanation why we didn't have an instructor. I get that things out of our control can arise and complicate the schedule. My concern is that there was no communication about it before we battled Anchorage Sat AM traffic, or during the 25 minutes we waited at the rock gym.

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Ascending Path

4.8

(16 reviews)

13.7 mi

Take the helicopter glacier hike tour! You will not regret it!! My husband and I were second…read moreguessing such a big ticket item for our Alaska trip but we agree it was worth it! Our trip would not have been the same had we skipped this standout experience! Our guides Andy and Matt were amazing! We had a lot of fun with them and learned a lot too. Thank you guys for the memories! Until you see and walk on a glacier, you cannot understand the scale and size of one! There are hidden worlds when you get on the ice! Waterfalls into the abyss, hidden ice caves, lakes of deep aqua blue... and it goes on and on in every direction. Completely insane! Do yourself a favor and book this trip. The views from the helicopter alone are worth it, but exploring a glacier is priceless!

Did the spencer glacier kayak and hike, starting from the Alyeska Resort. $379pp (occasional…read morecoupons on their Facebook). This took about 9 hours, with about 5 hours being kayak + hike. The rest was transportation/waiting for train/etc. Prices are high, but the experience is pretty amazing. It's hard to do activities or get up close to glaciers without assistance/guides. The group to guide ratio is low so you're definitely safe. I love the energy from the guides. They know what they're doing and they are so enthusiastic about it. They definitely take care of you if you're a newb to all this. Amazing views. Amazing pictures. Would recommend!

Best guides ever! Andy and Matt, you guys rocked.

Blue water lake

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Westchester Lagoon

(13 reviews)

20.3 mi

I probably spend more time at this park year round than any other park in Anchorage proper. It is…read moreconveniently connected to multiple trails and easy to access on foot from most of West Anch, Spenard, Northstar/Valley of the Moon, Midtown, and Downtown. If you've got a bike, you can connect from even further out very easily. As such, the Lagoon looks a lot like a Gilmore Girls community and is popular with people year round. There are frequently small sponsored events going on- the coolest of which involves ice skating in the winter. I personally love this park because it's a great place to bird watch. It's a fragile breeding ground for aquatic birds (take note dog owners - IT IS NOT OK TO LET YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH HERE OR LET THEM SWIM!) Red Neck Grebes are one if the more unusual arctic birds that breed here. The arctic terns also put on quite a show. Various loons and cranes also make an appearance, as well as some unique ducks. There's also an awesome playground and snack bar for the kiddies. A few years ago they also installed a bike counter that tracks the thousands that use the Tony Knowles at various intervals - it's fun to watch the numbers climb as the season goes on. There's also a free bike maintenance station here. Definitely a great location for lots and tourists alike, but parking is a problem, so carpool or better yet, use the trails!

This is a park which also goes by the name also known as Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park, is home to a…read moreman-made water fowl sanctuary, a lake, a disc golf course and a playground. They have private parking lots for you to park free of charge. It is located near downtown and is a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of the city. It conveniently lies at the intersection of two of Anchorage's most popular trails, the Tony Knowles and Chester Creek trails. There were many runners traveling through while I was there, going through the two little tunnels that run under the road. You will find benches and picnic tables here to sit around the lake. This is home to lots, I mean lots, lots of waterfowl. They seemed aggressive, so I kept my distance. The disc golf course was nice but was covered in snow and mud. The lake is nice and during the winter is converted to an ice hockey/skating rink. My only complaint is that the park could be a little cleaner, even though part is that could be due to me visiting off-season. There were some maintenance guys there do some other stuff. The park is touted as a great place to bird watch in the spring and you can see other animals such as moose, beaver in the early morning or late evening, muskrats, foxes, otters, and minks, year-round, but it is rare. I did not see any of them. This nature park has a calming kind of peace to it, even though you hear the hum of cars on the nearby road. Just sitting on the bench looking out to the lake was so very soothing. If your schedule permits, I highly recommend visiting this place to just relax and recharge.

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Rabbit Lake Trail

(5 reviews)

7.6 mi

One of the best trails I did in Alaska!!!! it's not that long and on relatively flat ground…read more Changing scenery along the way and you are rewarded with an absolutely gorgeous Alpine Lake at the end.

Beautiful trail any time of year. The parking area and street can packed, so be prepared to hike to…read morethe start of the trailhead depending on the time of day and day of the week. In the past I've only hit this trail to go to peak two for skiing, but recently went to Rabbit Lake on the most perfect day possible. Got great photos of the Suicides, waded in the lake, and wallowed on the grass. One regret is that I didn't get a pano shot. I'm like queen of the panos, what the heck? There were a few people tenting it, making it a perfect amateur backpacking adventure. Will come again and may pack a picnic.

Unless you really know what you're doing, don't go past the gate in the winter or this could be you!

9/26/21

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9/26/21

Chugach Guides Alaska

(4 reviews)

20.2 mi

Super Late on this review but finally got to it. We were in Alaska last year for my sister's T4K…read moreRide (http://www.texas4000.org). After she was done we wanted to explore Anchorage a little. After reading about Chugach guides we booked a hike with them. My parents never go hiking or trekking, neither does my wife!!! For them to enjoy this, was a big deal. Sudevi was on time and super cheerful. She is very knowledgable and kept the hike easy for most of the way keeping in mind that my sister just biked 4500 miles from Austin 2 days before. My mom is a botanist so she got to explore her flowers and plants, I like mountains so we got some nice shots. I would highly recommend Sudevi and her company. She was equipped with water and snacks, what else can you ask for.

I signed up for a day long hike and had the best hike of my life! Luke was our guide. He was…read moreenjoyable to be with and offered education along the way, as well as keeping the conversation going between us. He hiked us up to hidden lake, and then gave us the option to climb to the summit of The Ramp for the most breathtaking view. As a novice hiker, it was certainly a challenge, but the views at the top were spectacular. All in all, 13 miles round trip. Hiking poles, snacks and water were provided. Those poles saved my knees on the way back! I highly recommend this company. I felt I received great value.

Wife & I

Counting Dall Sheep

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Indian Valley Trail - hiking - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Indian Valley Trail also viewed

O'Malley Peak Trail

4.0

(3 reviews)

This trail is easy to overlook if you're not paying attention…read more It starts about 1/2 a mile down Powerline Pass trail (from Glen Alps) It takes you down into the valley then up the steep hill on the other side. (yes, this trail is, truly, "up hill both ways") The views at the top of the ridge are pretty great. You'll realize what you thought was O'Malley from the parking lot is, in fact, just False Peak. You'll also see "The Ballfield" a relatively flat 1 mile by 1 mile patch of land right in front of O'Malley. The trail thins out a bit through The Ballfield. Eventually it takes you right up to O'Malley. Or you can descend past O'Malley (rough scree ahead!) and meet up with the Williwaw Lakes trail.

Most people don't even think about this trail while they're traversing all the way to the end of…read morethe Ballfield to reach Williwaw Lakes. Surprisingly, there's a few different ways to access the peak and even the easiest route may prove to be somewhat of a challenge as you face up against an imposing gulley that'll get your heart pumping. And that's after you've already trekked up the saddle. Ideally, you'll be comfortable with class 2-3 hiking before tackling this one. And I hope you ain't afraid of heights either once you reach the top and glance down towards Williwaw valley. Vertigo for sure. I take a little longer than most people while hiking, so our group got back to the parking lot in just under 6 hours. I recommend saving this one for a long, sunny day. And although some dogs might be able to tag along, I would imagine most cannot.

Falls Creek Trail

(6 reviews)

Man, how am I just now getting around to hiking this?!…read more Falls Creek is located at ~Mile Post 105.6 on the Seward Highway. In relation to other trails: To the West: Rainbow Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-trailhead-anchorage) To the East: Indian Valley Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/indian-valley-trail-anchorage) Stats: Mileage: 2.7 (one-way) Gain: 2,900 ft About a 1,000 ft/mile, steep but not *too* steep. The trail starts out...next to a falls! It closely follows Falls Creek for the first half of its length. As the water is loud and the brush is thick, I'd highly recommend doing some trail karaoke with your friends to make sure you alert any bears in the area that you're coming. Eventually, you get out of the brush and the valley expands. It's gorgeous. It's wide and it's bright-freakin'-green (my favorite shade of that color), or at least it was in mid-June. This is going to sound odd but, it actually reminded me of some of the valleys I hiked in Hawaii! It made me a little butthurt that I am only just-now getting around to hiking the trail. The trail ends at a lake. I'm not sure what the name of it is, so I'll just call it "Falls Lake". The lake frequently has snow on/in/around it, up until July. But, there is an ample amount of vegetated, snow-free flat area around the lake, this would be a perfect "Baby's First Backpacking" trip. (no permits required, just load yourself down and hike up) You can continue up past the lake, onto the ridge between South Suicide Peak and Indianhouse Mountain. The path will quickly change from "hiking" to "scrambling" though. I'd only recommend going up South Suicide if you are confident on your feet, and I'd only recommend going up Indianhouse if you have a rope and a partner! If you're quick enough, this can be done as an after-work hike. If you're slow or looking for a casual stroll, you can easily make a day of this hike.

I'm still sore. Dragged my spouse and our neurodivergent son with me to do this hike on a sunny…read moreSeptember Saturday. We parked at 1pm (parking lot was packed). Got back to the parking lot after 5pm. You'll need most of your day to do this hike if you're not a professional. This hike is beautiful but it is challenging for sure. You are going uphill the entire time. On the way down it's so steep you're jamming your toes trying not to fall. We did the bulk of this hike with nothing but backpacks full of snacks hahaha. Everyone that passed us up or down had poles, guns, bear spray, bells, dogs, the whole enchilada. I don't recommend hiking this area the way we did, we just got lucky :) It was a beautiful day and we were never alone for longer than 15-20min at a time. Weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm but the breeze was breezin'. The falls are a sight to see and made this strenuous hike completely worth it for my water-loving son. I can't wait to return soon and make it further.

Chugach State Park

(16 reviews)

This is such a beautiful state park. I had the pleasure to go here during my stay in Alaska. I…read morewould highly recommend going and just taking it the beautiful site.

I still stand by my original statement that Chugach State Patk is the best park about living in…read moreAnchorage. However, many of the lane expansion and safety measures that are ongoing on Seward Highway do and will a have lasting impact on much of the easily accessible entry points of the park. Some of my favorite points, such as Windy Corner, are going to be completely eliminated in one of the lane expansion projects for the highway, with no plans for remediation or replacement. For Tourists, I would also like to point out another very impoont I failed to mention in my previous review. Make VERY CAREFUL REVIEW OF STATE AND FEDERAL website maps to be sure you understand where the boundaries between Chugach STATE forest and Chugach NATIONAL forest are. This will ensure you understand fees and the location of campsites, cabins, and accessibility.

Glacier City Snowmobile Tours

4.6

(30 reviews)

I would not recommend this tour company. Our guide was impatient and provided very little safety…read moreinstruction. During the trip, my companion fell into the snow, and the guide showed little concern or compassion. What made the experience worse was what happened afterward. After I posted a negative review on Google, the business owner falsely claimed that I had never toured with them and even resorted to personal insults. I later noticed that the company responds to every negative review across platforms in a similarly confrontational way. They frequently justify their behavior by saying they are a "small family business," but that does not excuse dismissing legitimate safety concerns or attacking customers. If anything goes wrong during your trip, be prepared for this company to deny responsibility as if they are not grown-ups.

Amazing experience! The owner and guides were awesome. Very personable, knowledgeable and upbeat. I…read morewas disappointed that the glacier tour was unavailable but the mountain tour did not disappoint. The views were beautiful. I enjoyed being able to go at my own pace and speed up when I felt comfortable. It wasn't the best conditions but the crew ensured we still had a good time. Highly recommended.

McHugh Creek - Chugach State Park

4.3

(11 reviews)

Stopped here for the view of the Turnagain Arm, which was beautiful. We hiked a bit through the…read moreforest and past a pretty bridge, but turned around when we saw signs warning about mudslides. Still, a peaceful spot and worth a quick visit.

Yep 100 Challenge 2017 - #56/100…read more Haven't hiked this trail so this review is limited to the park itself. It's a nice little spot for a picnic with family and/or friends. Beautiful views of Cook Inlet and the creek. I saw three picnic tables and a barbecue grill and parking is adequate. Personally, I just come to snap a few photos of the views. One time. I had the misfortune of needing to use their porta-potty facilities. Do so at your own risk!

Chugach Outdoor Center

4.9

(25 reviews)

I've never had more fun!…read more These guys are professional and so much fun! Pop-corn was our guide he was a total hoot! I've done a buch of these this was the most exciting and I fest safe the entire time ...nice job all !!

This was an experience of a lifetime! They began by giving us a thorough training on what to…read moreexpect, so I went into it with confidence. Im convinced we had the best guide of all the groups, no one from our raft fell out! I'm hooked!

Alaska Wild Guides

4.9

(22 reviews)

We did the Jet Ski Tour. It was absolutely worth it! A little over 3 hours or riding along the…read morecoast with incredible views of waterfalls and glaciers. Our tour guide, Mark, was super chill and knowledgeable. Was super lucky and got to see whales too!

This was an amazing jet ski experience! I was apprehensive, but my friends had done this last year…read moreand had a great time. Jade was an amazing and experienced guide, making sure we were all doing ok and saw all the sites. I felt safe even while going through some rough waters. Dress in layers, the dry suit can still get wet. Be sure and tip your guide!

Cash Machine Welding & Fabrication

Recommended for general welding plus OSHA certified safety equipment welding. As of the date of…read morethis review the business is open at the address shown. May 4, 2016

Alaska Backcountry Access

(10 reviews)

Amazing experience, Andy was amazing and kind. He really took good care of us and snowmobile riding…read morewas soo much fun!! Amazing customer service...Amazing experience! Definitely a must if visiting Alaska.

Ok! Peeps ... have to tell you! Andy and Mickey are friggin incredible! Decided last minute…read morewanted to do snowmobiles. Andy got back to us via text quickly and adjusted their schedule to take care of myself and a friend! We were a bit sketchy on why few reviews and I'm telling you they deserve the best review! We felt like we had a private tour customized just for us! Andy doesn't believe in too much mkt but they are a hidden gem! We highly recommend contacting them as we saw the other company with 20 people and we (just the three of us) felt like royalty with the service and custom tailored tour at such a great price! There are only three companies that do this and we feel like we found the BEST!

NOVA Alaska Guides