5 Best Short Hikes To Do In Hatcher Pass Alaska

Hatcher Pass is one of the most popular and incredible areas to explore in Alaska. With endless hiking trails, it can actually be a bit difficult to find trails that are short and easy to complete in just a few hours. Below, I've rounded up my personal favorites that are easy to do, with huge rewards - think abandoned gold mines and beautiful alpine lakes!

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Planning a Trip to Hatcher Pass

The most important thing to keep in mind when planning a trip to Hatcher Pass is the time of year. The Hatcher Pass road often closes down during the winter months because of snow cover - and typically is only open from July to September. Plus, located right outside Palmer & Wasilla - there's plenty to do in the area.

If you're planning to spend some time in the area hiking, then it's best to bring hiking shoes with grippy bottoms, bear spray, and lots of layers. Although I've never seen bears in the area, it's important to be prepared - and because the weather can change so drastically multiple layers of clothing (including a rain coat) can really help.

If you're looking to grab a bite to eat before or after your hike, the Hatcher Pass Lodge & Cafe (the iconic red cabins) has delicious food for a fairly reasonable price. My husband and I's go to order is the Hatcher Salad and a Bowl of Chili, plus, the views from the floor to ceiling windows are incredible! And, if you want to stay in Hatcher Pass to explore for more than just the day, you can rent these adorable red cabins at Hatcher Pass Lodge too (just know that they are dry cabins and have no running water).

My Favorite Tours near Hatcher Pass : 
- Heated ATV/UTV Tour
- Round Trip Northern Lights tour from Anchorage

My 5 Favorite Short Hikes in Hatcher Pass

1. Independence Mine Area
​Starting in the Independence Mine area, there are quite a handful of short trails to explore. The Accessible Trail is completely paved, and takes you around the Independence Mine buildings (that also have informative signs). Parking is $5, but otherwise entrance is free, and the entire loop is about 1/2 a mile with hardly any elevation gain.

The Mill Loop Trail & Hard Rock Trail also starts at Independence Mine but takes you up to a higher vantage point of the Mine and Independence Pass! This trail is a 1.2 mile loop, and has an elevation gain of about 200 feet.

2. April Bowl Trail
The April Bowl Trail (and the Gold Cord Lake trail below) is one of my personal favorites. This hike starts near Summit Lake, and although parking can be very difficult, the views at the top are entirely worth it. The entire hike is 2.2 miles with about a 850 foot elevation gain. At the top, you'll find incredible views of two alpine lakes that mirror each other.

3. Gold Cord Lake
My newest favorite hike in the Hatcher Pass area is Gold Cord Lake Trail. This is also one of the more popular hikes in the area, and at 1.5 miles out and back and just under 475 feet of elevation gain. You'll pass a boulder pass and it can get quite steep and muddy, but the views of the lake are absolutely incredible (shown below).

4. Skyscraper Mountain Trail
This 1.9 mile out and back trail in Hatcher Pass is one of the most difficult on my list - with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. However, the views are absolutely incredible (like many others on this list) and completely worth it. Just be careful on the way down, as this hike is steep and can get fairly muddy.

5. Summit Lake
The easiest hike on this list is Summit Lake, a half mile loop with a parking lot right next to it. The entire hike brings you around Summit Lake and only has about 60 feet of elevation gain. If you're looking to go for a cold swim this is the perfect spot, and if you look closely enough, you can sometimes even see rainbow trout!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Best Things to Do in Homer, Alaska
-> One Day in Seldovia

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