Difficulty

Connects With

Miles One Way

Miles from
Anchorage

General Vicinity

Season

Description

As you head further up the slope, you come to Deep Lake.  It's quite interesting as it looks like a huge bowl that is half filled.

About a 1/4 mile from that, you will look down at Black Lake from a dizzying height with a gorgeous view of Williwaw Valley and sights beyond.  The lake is a wonderful deep blue color, almost like a marble. As a day hike and a final destination, it is definitely worth it.  It is an incredible view and a great place to have lunch.  There is a good chance of viewing dall sheep as well as eagles, fox and artic ground squirrels.

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Climbing up to the furthest summit is doable.  Ross Timm graciously contributed the following:

The "big" O'Malley Peak (versus "little" O'Malley) is a great day hike. You start at Glen Alps, and the feeling of bypassing the Flat Top crowd is the first bonus. The first mile is down through Powerline Pass/Campbell Creek, then very steeply up to a saddle (usually with a snow pack at top through the summer) at which you can go left to Little O'Malley, or right into "the Ballpark", at which you begin a long mellow alpine tundra walk to the base of "big" O'Malley peak. At this point you see the scree slope the books tell you to go up- at first it seems very intimidating, but I found it's not too bad if you take it easy and use the steps that have been eroded into it. At the top you find another snow saddle at which you take a left turn and follow just below the ridge via slight trails. There are many false peaks until you finally find the highest (these appear as a tight group from Anchorage, which is deceiving.) The trail is slightly dangerous here. Unfortunately, in early July, the peak itself is overrun with no-see-ums, even though the trail itself is bug-free. The trip back is loose rock- especially the scree field. I think it is best "skied" down in the loosest portions- with care this seems easier than picking your way down. The return is fine except the trip back down from the first saddle is very eroded, loose rock. O'Malley is also a good side trip from a camp-out in the Ballpark. The book, 55 hikes in Chugach State Park said 5 to 8 hours. I travel pretty fast (toot toot)- it took me 4 with few breaks, and little lingering at the peak because of the bugs. Enjoy!

A few months later, he added the following: Regarding the scree slope on O'malley- the trick is that the scree here is so loose and so small in diameter and so deep that the trick is to not find stability- in scree like that it is relatively safe to "ski" down with the "avalanching" scree. As long as you are capable of keeping your descent in tack, it is pretty care free, and I think safer than picking your way down.

* Ross gave this hike a 4 moose hoof rating and a difficulty rating of "Moderately Difficult"

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Nic graciously contributed the following:

On August 06, I decided to head to O'Malley Peak. Once at the Ballpark, I headed right keeping south aiming for the shallow right gully up O'Malley's face. The scree was not bad at all. Zigzagging my way up, I had almost no difficulty. I also brought some gloves, just because the rocks can be sharp. Once at the second saddle I picked up the sheep trail heading northeast. Finding the peak was pretty confusing because there are so many false summits. Eventually, after climbing east on the ridge, you will see a highpoint before it drops down and goes back up to Hidden Peak; you are there. Go back the way you came, or try exiting out Hidden Valley (The valley beneath you) Also, I was somewhat concerned about coming down on the scree, but I found minimal difficulty, and just going with the flow. After 'skiing' the scree, head back across the Ballpark and down to Glen Alps.

Etc:

Fantastic views, but sometimes the area can get socked in. Also, consider bringing gloves for toe rocks. And take care going down the first saddle near Little O'Malley Peak because it is very eroded.

* Nic also gave this hike a 4 moose hoof rating and a difficulty rating of "Moderately Difficult" ("Going to the 'real' peak is moderately difficult. The first saddle to Little O'Malley is good for novices.")

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As I said before, most people will continue on to Williwaw Valley but someday I plan on setting up camp for an overnighter.  I think this area has some hidden secrets to reveal.  This a great day hike for people who can't get away from the city.

Important Information

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There are a lot of great hikes around this area.  Don't let the proximity to Anchorage deter you from this wonderful place.  For hikes in this vicinity, go to the Powerline Pass hike page.