Hiking Project Logo

A terrific loop option with a third of the climbing of the Wolverine Peak out-and-back.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

9.9

Miles

15.9

KM

Loop

2,198' 670 m

High

968' 295 m

Low

1,465' 446 m

Up

1,464' 446 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

Head out on this loop for the best tour of the trails in the Anchorage Hillside Trails area. At over nine miles, this isn't a walk in the park by any means, but the elevation comes in at almost a third of the neighboring, popular option up Wolverine Peak.

Need to Know

Dogs should be leashed in the parking areas but can be off leash and in control on the trails.

Description

To access this featured hike, head to the Prospect Heights Trailhead and head northeast on the Wolverine Bowl Trail. Follow this trail as it bends to the north and then east with some nice views of the city. After ~1.4 miles, look for a right-hand turn onto the Middle Fork Loop Trail.

Continue your climb through this thinned forest, parallel to the South Fork Campbell Creek. At 3.7 miles, cross the Middle Fork Campbell Creek and continue south around the toe of O'Malley Peak (5,150') to the southeast.

Around the five-mile point, the trail will begin to bend to the right (west). Continue for another three-quarters of a mile until you arrive at the Powerline Pass Trail. Turn right here to begin your return journey.

Start your final, short ascent on this wide trail before reaching the high point of this hike just after turning right onto the Blueberry Hollow Trail.

From here, continue north onto the South Fork Rim Trail as it returns to the Prospect Heights Trailhead.

History & Background

Trail maintenance on the Middle Fork Loop Trail is aided through a grant given in 2016 from REI to the Alaska Geographic Association.

Contacts

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 5 votes

#3849

Overall
  4.0 from 5 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
60%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#56

in Alaska

#3,849

Overall
6 Views Last Month
1,325 Since Nov 1, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Powerline Pass Trail at Glen Alps. Chugach State Park, Alaska
Feb 26, 2020 near Elmendo…, AK
Flattop ridge from Middle Fork.  From left to right there is Ptarmigan Peak, Flaketop, Peak 3 and Peak 2.  Flattop is off the picture to the right.
Feb 14, 2018 near Elmendo…, AK
View of Anchorage as we climb above tree line.
Sep 29, 2016 near Elmendo…, AK
Moose below O'Malley Ridge.
Nov 1, 2016 near Elmendo…, AK

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 44 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 19, 2024
Larry Rundquist
Mud frozen and few icy sections made for fast travel. Some brush 2-3 mile from Prospect parking in clockwise direction. 10.4mi — 3h 00m
Jun 1, 2018
Mallory Neumann
Oct 9, 2017
Robert Summerlin
8.7mi
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.