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| 123 |    Photos Map |
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| Last Updated: January 21, 2007 | ||
Difficulty |
Uphill the entire
way; only those in reasonably good shape should attempt this hike. Conrad rated this hike Somewhat Difficult: "Well, it is a difficult trail, one of the toughest I've done, but that's because I don't go on any that look more difficult than this... like say, Cantata Peak or Eagle Peak. so, because I know there are much more difficult trails out there, I don't want to give myself that much credit for this trail". (See his other comments below) |
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Connects With |
None | |
Miles One Way |
4 (4000 ft elevation gain) | |
Miles
from
|
20; on the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm | |
General Vicinity |
Chugach State Park | |
Season |
May to September (if a lot of snow, be Avalanche Aware!) | |
Description |
This is a good early
season hike and a great workout. The bottom of the trail is very
narrow and wooded with views of the raging Falls Creek as you head
up. Toward the top, above tree line, you'll get great views of
Turnagain Arm. The trail ends with an alpine lake in a nice
glacier carved bowl. It's pretty cool to go from canopied woods
into rocky tundra. If you're a visitor with little time, there are better hikes (like its neighbor McHugh Trail). If you live here, it's definitely worth the time, especially after breakup, when you're going stir crazy. |
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Important Information |
By a huge boulder,
the trail becomes confusing; head left and little ways up. If you're doing this early in the season, grab some crampons or snowshoes so you can really get up to the lake area and explore. ***** The following was submitted by Conrad: A note on Y's in the trail. About 1/4mile from the trailhead, you'll come to a Y. You want to go right... but you don't necessarily have to. It veers a bit away from the creek, but keeps you away from the arduous ascent through acres of overgrown devil's club and 5 inch thick dust & rock. I kid you not; I accidentally missed the turn coming down, and hit this trail...and boy was I sorry, I had to "ski" the whole way down... my knees/ankles are not happy. After the right at the first Y, a little ways up on this trail you will come to another Y, take this one to the left. It will take you back down to the creek where it meets up with the original trail and continues on up the valley. Wear long pants. The devil's club on this trail is a little hairy in places. ***** ***** The following was submitted by Ross Timm and applies to Suicide Peaks as well: Description: My friend Patrick and I recently (early July) hiked South Suicide Peak from Falls Creek. The tarn was still mostly frozen, but the ground was almost clear of snow. The slog up lower Falls Creek, and then the knob up to the alpine tundra, kicks your butt. I had done it before and then gone up to the high rock ridge/point that splits the valley. That hike up to the rocky point is steep, but not overly so, and it has a loose trail to follow. One guide book suggests gaining that ridge and then joining the ridge that leads to S. Suicide. I think that would have been better than the route we took, which another guide book suggested in a kind of unclear way (it said to "gain the ridge above the tarn", or something like that). Anyways, after debating the idea of going on, we decided to slog up the steep alpine tundra wall of the tarn valley, side tracking and switch backing in a general Northwest direction. That was pretty tough after the Falls Creek hike. Needless to say, once we got up to the ridge that leads to the southeast side of South Suicide peak, we were tuckered (especially me). From there, however, it is a classic ridge/peak walk, with no real bad fall exposure if you stay on the usually visible foot path. The views open up exponentially from the somewhat sheltered Falls Creek Valley as you gain elevation. By the time you reach the summit you have views of Anchorage, Bird Ridge, Penguin Peak, Hope Point, McHugh and Rainbow Peak Valley, Rabbit Creek Valley, Indian Creek Valley, etc.. It made for a long day hike though.. 6 hours total. Etc: Another thing- Falls Creek has overhanging cow parsnip that was just about to bloom. I did not feel any affects (and it was a very sunny day!)., so perhaps it really does not affect you until it blooms. Falls Creek from midway until you get
into the alpine tundra is very thick with alders, grass, and the above.
However, we did not see a single piece of bear scat. Don't let your
guard down though, this was just an observation. We did see over twenty
sheep. |
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Etc. |
The small parking lot at the trailhead comes up quickly and is easy to miss. Use the Seward Highway mile markers and prepare to see it at about mile 105. | |
