Happy Trails

Family hikes for all seasons

“Autumn is the time when I take my family hiking. I mean, there’s nobody out there. The trail is all ours.”
– U.S. Forest Service Staff Officer David Ilse

By P.M. Fadden
Associate Editor

The interlacing trail networks of picturesque Turnagain Arm are rife with four-season hiking opportunities.

Chugach National Forest, of which the Arm region is a portion, offers hundreds of trail miles showcasing flora, fauna, glaciers, gorges, rainforest, rivers, sea views, snow summits and abundant wildlife to a perennial, familial audience from around the world.

Though cautionary steps such as bear spray and bells are suggested, educational literature provided by the U.S. Forest Service does arm the informed with an array of trail details, including an ‘easy’ to ‘more difficult’ trek rating, clearly identifying route options appropriate to even the youngest, first time hiker.

Starting Out:

At two/tenths mile distance, Upper Virgin Creek Trail is a prime option for little ones ready to cut their trekking teeth.

Winding away from the Girdwood residential fringe, Virgin Creek Falls trailhead begins where Timberline Drive ends. The short, sheltered walk enters lush, rainforest foliage beneath a towering canopy of moss-trunked trees to access views of a fifteen feet waterfall tumbling to fill a gravel pool which feeds the running stream below.

The under-canopy atmosphere is often cool. The moist earth underfoot makes for good tracking conditions, and early morning trekkers might come upon fresh moose prints.

Here, the ready hiker also keeps a watchful eye for unearthed root structures as the gnarled, under foot limbs make for tricky terrain to the untested trekker.

Finding Stride:

Portage Valley’s heavily trafficked Trail of Blue Ice is an easy, segmentable hike through scenic surroundings on a wide, well-maintained trail.

At a one-way length of five miles, Blue Ice can either be enjoyed as a day-long excursion or partaken in much shortened portions–depending on weather or hiker comfort. Mountain views, twisting plank-ways, waterside strolling and plethoric vegetation set an immersive backdrop for families toting children of any age.

The paved to gravel footpaths offered by Trail of Blue Ice make for stroller, bicycle, ski or kidpack-friendly travel, though the passage’s length does lend the unprotected to both sun and wind exposure, so the prepared parental hiker packs in (and out) ample fluids, snacks and all-weather wear.

Stepping Up:
Winner Creek Trail, according to United States Forest Service personnel, ranks high among state hikes and is often reported as one of Alaska’s top ten trails.

The popular three and one half mile trail is accessed from Girdwood Valley’s Crow Creek Road or from Alyeska Resort and experiences heavy summer visitor volume.

“During peak summer periods, the trail’s hand tram alone can see approximately fifteen hundred persons per day,” estimated United State Forest Service Staff Officer David Ilse. “Locals are aware of that and know to visit during times when the crowds disperse.”

Autumn’s arrival heralds the likelihood of a private trail experience, and the pine-shadowed, earthen path winds a course easily traveled with small children. The brisk air temperature is off-set by sun-warmed, illuminating clearings, and the opportunity to bird spot offers ready educational, entertainment for hiking tikes.

Even passage aboard Winner Creek’s iconic hand tram is child manageable.

With station spotters in place as precaution for safe transit, the panoramic hand tram crossing is made both easy and baby-friendly, an invigorating experience that sets the stage for child and parent’s future expansion to enhanced trail routes.

Winter’s approach will, indeed, soon shape area trail options, but the journeys shared upon the summer and autumn trails will nonetheless whet the appetites of both parent and child for future Turnagain Arm family trekking adventures.