Alaska Vacation Home: Alaska Hiking: Eklutna Lake Trail

Hiking in Alaska - Eklutna Lake Trail

Access: North out of Anchorage. Take Eklutna Lake Exit. Follow signs to the Lake
Distance: 12.7 miles (21.8km) one-way
Elevation Gain: 300 ft (91km)
Special Features: scenic views of canyon, waterfall, glacier, wildlife, public use cabins
Special Notes: ATV's allowed Sunday thru Wednesday only. Waterfall is at the end of the trail. Glacier is beyond that. I recommend that you use a bike for this hiking trail.
Difficulty: Easy

Alaska Hiking - Eklutna Trail

The Eklutna Lake Trail is very long and CAN be used by ATVs. On this particular trip, we took ATVs. Along the way, you will see several trailheads, leading off up the mountain side. These are "Twin Peaks Trail", "Bold Ridge Trail" and East Fork Trail" and are for hiking only. You'll see signs that forbid motorized vehicles.

This particular hiking trip was taken in the month of September. That is why the foliage colors. Yes, it rained on us slightly, but with a light jacket, we were fine.

At the end of this hike/trail there is a public use cabin, a waterfall and with some extra walking (beyond where you can take an ATV), there is a glacier. I started toward the glacier, but I really didn't have the time to continue. So my effort was only half-hearted.

Here are more pictures from our Eklutna Lake trail ride and hike.

This is one of my favorite pictures taken on this trip. As you can see the trail is wide. It is actually an unused gravel road. It narrows and gets a big muddy towards the end. That is probably because it is easier to maintain the near trail, as opposed to the far end of the trail.

This picture is of the Serenity Falls Cabin. It is near the end of the Eklutna Lake Trail and is for public use. There is a nightly fee to stay here. I have included a resource link, at the bottom of the page, if you are interested in getting more information.

It is in a very nice location.

This picture was taken on the way back. It is another of my favorites. Taking the picture with the handle bars in the foreground was my attempt at be artistic...I guess. So what do you think?

As you near the end of the trail, the surrounding mountains really start to get up there in elevation. I read that the highest peak, "Bashful Peak", reaches over 7585 feet (2311 meters).

I remember being very impressed. Although I don't have a good picture of it, we saw small white specks on the mountain side (not in the picture above). These were white mountain goats. It was pretty amazing!

I'd recommend taking binoculars with you. We didn't on this trip, but wished that we had had some.

Of the two pictures above, the first is me standing at the entrance to the Serenity Falls Cabin. The second picture was taken from inside. In the picture you see my two friends Steve and Desmon looking at some maps on the cabin wall.

Pictured is the common area. Behind the wall, that Steve and Desmon are looking at, is the sleeping area. There were about 8-10 wooden bunks. One would want to bring a sleeping bag.

As you near the end of the Eklutna Lake Trail, you come upon a campground. It was at this campground that I saw this sign. It was posted on the very primitive campground bathroom.

I thought it was quite funny, but I'm sure whoever wrote it was serious!

I have seen the porcupines that live here in Alaska and I have to say....they are very big and hefty. Maybe they could eat a bathroom. :)

This is what the end of the Eklutna Lake trail looks like. This is as far as you could go on an ATV. You can continue on by foot. About a mile or two further you will find a glacier. Sorry, don't know the name of it, but you can see it by enlarging the map, at the top of this page.

The snow that you see on the mountains, is fresh snow. We Alaskans refer to it as termination dust. Meaning the termination of summer. Over the course days or weeks, the snow will gradually descend down the mountain, until eventually the valley floor gets snow.

In the background you can see Serenity Falls. In the springtime you'd see more water flow.