It is such a bummer when I hear that someone went to Alaska and missed doing one of the unbelievable Hatcher Pass hikes. For whatever reason, it doesn’t make many Alaska itineraries, and that is an absolute shame. Our hikes in Hatcher Pass were in the top three experiences of our entire summer in Alaska, and that’s saying something.
We spent over a month in the Palmer and Wasilla area, and Hatcher Pass hikes were a big reason for that. We think Palmer is a charming place in its own right. It’s also conveniently located within commuting distance of Anchorage so the cultural experiences there are accessible. Anchorage wasn’t our favorite location of the summer, so we preferred being outside of it.
If you need help planning your Alaska trip, check out my e-book guide to RVing Alaska. It’s written for families who are RVing, but it’s useful for anyone! Scroll down to keep reading about Hatcher Pass hikes.
RV Alaska with Kids Travel Guide
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I’ve shared these trails in order of difficulty, from easiest to harder. We hiked them with a toddler in a carrier and kids aged 7 and 5 (do you need hiking with kids tips?). Keep in mind that trail conditions will have a HUGE impact on the difficulty of these trails. We underestimated how much snow would still be on Hatcher Pass hikes even into late June! We were post holing up to our hips in spots.
Also make sure you check to see that the road up is even open! The road is closed for most of the year except July to September, depending on snow conditions. With that said, welcome to three of the most beautiful hikes on the planet.
Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes:
1. April Bowl Trail
The April Bowl Trail is 2 miles long and climbs 800 feet. I’ve listed it was easier than Gold Cord Lakes because you can climb just half a mile and 300 feet in elevation and stop there. That lake view is beautiful all by itself! But if you have it in you to climb higher, you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360-degree mountain peak views that stretch all the way to Matanuska Glacier on a clear day. My kids found it really fun that there was still some traces of snow to play in around one of the lakes in August. I would love the dogs home for this one.
2. Gold Cord Lake Trail
The Gold Cord Lake Trail is about 2 miles long (AllTrails says 1.5, but doesn’t include the walk from the parking lot at the mine) and climbs 500 feet in elevation. When we went in late June, there was still several feet of snow on the trail. It is a mostly gentle (but steady) climb to the lake, with one short section of scrambling that my young kids did fine with. The mini goldendoodle made it, but it was a bit sketchy! The trail is often muddy, even when there’s no snow. Definitely wear boots. You can even take a dip in the (freezing!) lake if you want to.
3. Reed Lakes Trail
The Reed Lakes Trail is by far the hardest of these three hikes. The full trail is 8 miles long and climbs 2,000 feet, but you can stop at the lower lake if you’re worn out. Just hiking to the lower lake is 6ish miles and less elevation, but it will still challenge you. This hike makes it onto so many people’s “best hikes in Alaska” list if they make it here. It’s doable with adventurous and energetic children, but inexperienced hikers will want to start with the other hikes.
Click to read more about the rest of our favorite hikes in Alaska. For everything we’ve written about our experiences in Alaska, check out these posts:
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2 responses to “3 of the Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes”
[…] take a short dog sledding ride for $10 a person. Grab a picnic at the grocery store and drive up to Hatcher Pass for a sunset hike and picnic. I recommend the April Bowl […]
[…] trail is located in Hatcher Pass, which is one of our absolute favorite places in Alaska. It’s only 2+ miles, but straight up […]