Flattop Mountain at Glen Alps

Distance

1 miles

Elevation Gain

1350 ft.

Difficulty

Moderate

Hike Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park  (1:05)

Flattop is Alaska’s most visited peak. Ascend the 1.5 - mile, 1,350 vertical foot trail to the rocky, football field-sized summit in about an hour and take in panoramic views from Denali (Mt. McKinley) to the Aleutian Islands. If you want vistas without the hike, walk the short path from the parking lot to the overlook. The more adventurous can hike from the parking lot 5 miles one-way to the scenic Williwaw Lakes or climb 5.5 miles to Wolverine Peak.

Getting There

3101 Glen Alps Road
Anchorage, AK 99516

Take the Seward Highway to O'Malley Road and drive toward the mountains. Follow O'Malley to Hillside Drive and turn south (right if facing mountains.) Turn left (toward the mountains) on Upper Huffman Road. About a half mile up hill, the road forks into Sultana Drive (left) and Toilsome Road (right.) Glen Alps is at the end of Toilsome Road. (Sultana leads the Upper Huffman trailhead of the park.) A $5 fee or state parking pass is required. Outhouses are open all year.

Note: Toilsome Road has a switchback and steep grades, and may require four-wheel-drive and/or winter tires during snowy or icy conditions.

Driving Directions

Videos

Show Map

Points of Flattop Mountains of Glen Alps

Difficulty: Easy

This trail has its own sit­ting area and view­ing deck with views of Anchor­age, the Alas­ka Range, and Cook Inlet. It is real­ly good for see­ing sun­sets in the evening but it is also windy. The whole route is wheel­chair acces­si­ble. This is a good short hike for the fam­i­ly to see the view over Anchor­age, but not a good trail for the train­ing runner.

This area is accessed from mul­ti­ple trails. Most peo­ple start at the Glen Alps park­ing lot and fol­low the trail toward Willi­waw Lakes. Once you cross over Camp­bell Creek, you can go over the ridge by tak­ing a right where the trail forks (steep but fast) or around to left (eas­i­er, but much longer). Good for hik­ing, snow­shoe­ing or ski­ing. Some even run this trail.

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 1 mile

This trail is one of many that make up the Hill­side Trail System.

This is the most-hiked trail in Alas­ka, but win­ter snow can cause avalanch­es in the spring, so be care­ful what time of year you choose to go.

Spruce woods and moun­tain hem­lock groves give way to open tun­dra and jew­el-like alpine lakes.

Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Gain: 1500 feet

This 7‑mile hike, which begins in the moun­tains just above Anchor­age, takes you to the numer­ous Willi­waw Lakes, all of which are clus­tered below the sheer north face of Mount Willi­waw — the high­est peak in the Front Range.