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| 123 |    Photos Map |
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| Last Updated: January 05, 2007 | ||
Difficulty |
Easy; small spurts of elevation gain. | |
Connects With |
Potter Marsh McHugh/Rabbit Lake Rainbow Peak |
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Miles One Way |
Total: 9.6 Potter Creek to McHugh: 3.3 McHugh to Rainbow: 4.2 Rainbow to Windy Corner: 1.9 |
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Miles
from
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10; off the Seward Highway just below town. | |
General Vicinity |
Chugach State Park | |
Season |
Potter Creek to McHugh; all year. The other trails can definitely be hiked April (depending on snow) to October and other times during the year depending on conditions. | |
Description |
I wouldn't recommend this trail for the
visitor. You're too close to the highway and it
doesn't feel like a true "Alaska Wilderness" hike. However, the 3 trails are worthwhile for their intermittent views of Turnagain Arm which is a beautiful area of Alaska. The trails are also good for preseason hiking as they are one of the first places to lose its snow. Since they are relatively easy to hike, they are also worthwhile if you have kids or if you're in bad shape. You can start at either end or there is parking for each of the 4 points if you just want to do a section. A better way to see Turnagain Arm is either biking along the Seward Highway or taking the many mountain hikes along the way (a list is included in the aforementioned trail) |
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Important Information |
McHugh Park has a
great picnic area with great views as well as grills and bathrooms. I recommend a picnic and then a hike
after hamburgers as a family outing with young kids. Some of the locals refer to this as the Old Johnson Trail (not to be confused with Johnson Pass). |
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Etc. |
If you have the
time, check out Potter Marsh. A long and winding boardwalk
meanders around the marsh. Bird watchers will be particularly
pleased. There is a $5 parking fee (bring exact amount) at both the Potter Marsh and McHugh Creek parking lots. The price for an annual parking pass is $40. You can purchase a pass at the Federal Building at 4th and F or the Atwood Building on 7th and E, 12th Floor. Turnagain Arm gets its name from when Captain Cook sailed up his eponymous Inlet looking for the Northwest Passage. When he turned into the Arm he realized he was mistaken and had to "Turn Again". |
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