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Best Mountain Hikes in Alaska

The directory currently contains 20 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Alaska. Their average mapped distance is 96.0 km and average recorded ascent is 961 m (3,153 ft); the longest route in the set is 1486 km.

This subset represents 39% of the 51 quality-checked routes in Alaska. Its average distance is 96.0 km, compared with 41.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 961 m (3,153 ft), versus 523 m (1,716 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 11 (55%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

3.8 km

Little O'Malley Peak Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

342 m

Little O'Malley Peak Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Photo pair shows glacial retreat on both sides of Chilkoot Pass. View of Crater Lake and glaciers on both sides of the United States-Canada boundary. Top photo is composed of five photos made in 1906 by George R. White-Fraser of the Interna
Expert

Chilkoot Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
50.1 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
798 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
Hard

Powerline Pass

Alaska · United States

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
853 m
Typical duration
6 hr 6 min
  • Mountain
A high point on Denali State Park's Kesugi Ridge Trail, with Denali in the background. Shot with a Breakthrough Photography X3 circular polarizer. Please note that the geotagged location is approximate, but this spot is right on the trail.
Expert

K'esugi Ridge Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
35.0 km
/ 21.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,149 m
Typical duration
9 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Little O'Malley Peak Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
342 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Hard

Matanuska Peak Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,746 m
Typical duration
4 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Crow Pass Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
36.3 km
/ 22.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,022 m
Typical duration
9 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
Hard

McHugh Peak Trail South

Alaska · United States

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,230 m
Typical duration
3 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Alpenglow light on North Suicide Peak, a 5,065-foot summit in Chugach State Park, just to the East of Anchorage, Alaska. Photo taken from the NW ridge of McHugh Peak. winterbear.com
Moderate

McHugh Peak Trail North

Alaska · United States

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
657 m
Typical duration
1 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
February camping on Wolverine Peak. This wouldn't be an ideal spot in summer because there is so much traffic on Wolverine (the trail connects with the center rige just a few hundred feet behind the tent), but there was plenty of winter sol
Hard

Wolverine Peak via Basher

Alaska · United States

Distance
6.4 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,076 m
Typical duration
2 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dixie Pass trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
18.7 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
4 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
Old Womens Mountain Trail, Kodiak, Alaska.
Moderate

Old Womens Mountain Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
335 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Bold Ridge Overlook Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
1 hr 22 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Mount Verstovia Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Harp Mountain Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
755 m
Typical duration
1 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Yukon Kuskokwim Portage Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
69.7 km
/ 43.3 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Chilkoot TrailAlaska50.1 km798 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Powerline PassAlaska22.1 km853 m6 hr 6 minHardApril to October
Iditarod National Historic TrailAlaska138 km3,704 m38 hrExpertApril to October
K'esugi Ridge TrailAlaska35.0 km1,149 m9 hr 38 minExpertApril to October
Little O'Malley Peak TrailAlaska3.8 km342 m1 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Matanuska Peak TrailAlaska8.9 km1,746 m4 hr 28 minHardJune to October
Crow Pass TrailAlaska36.3 km1,022 m9 hr 43 minExpertApril to October
Rendezvous Peak from Arctic ValleyAlaska3.0 km445 m1 hr 18 minModerateApril to October
McHugh Peak Trail SouthAlaska6.3 km1,230 m3 hr 9 minHardApril to October
McHugh Peak Trail NorthAlaska4.4 km657 m1 hr 54 minModerateApril to October

Chilkoot Trail, Powerline Pass, Iditarod National Historic Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

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