Hiking

The most accessible and popular hike in the park starts on the beach at Glacier Spit. Climb up the berm, meander through a mature cottonwood forest, cross a glacial plain and then wind up at a wide gravel beach at the edge of the lake. Great place to have a picnic, take pictures of icebergs and the glacier, and cool your feet! When you’re ready, backtrack to the Saddle Trail, make your way about 500’ up through the spruce forest, and switchback down to your pickup. Total distance about 4.2 miles, total time 4 to 4.5 hours. This hike can also be an out and back on the Saddle Trail, which takes about 3 hours and is about 3 miles.

Saddle Trail—Call or email to book!

Easy-moderate

The Saddle trail gives you access to the Grewingk Lake area, the tram, Humpy creek and Alpine ridge. Most people end their trek to Grewingk Lake here, and it can be used as an up and back to the lake if you have less time. It adds flexibility. Connects to the Lagoon trail, and so to the China Poot lake trail system. Starting in Halibut cove, a steep stairway leads to a platform at the beginning of a set of switchbacks, up the steep hillside above the cove. Follow the trail for about 1/2 of a mile to the junction of the Alpine Ridge Trail at the top of the climb. Your elevation gain is about 500’. Continue straight towards Grewingk Lake. Another 3/4 mile of forested trail will take you down the other side of of the Saddle to the junction of the Glacier Lake trail where you can connect up to the trails to the north by turning left, or go to Grewingk Lake by turning right.

Access this hike from the Saddle trailhead. When you get to the top of the saddle, a sign will direct you uphill towards the high ridge overlooking Grewingk Lake and Grewingk Glacier. This trail climbs steadily and at times steeply, up to tree line and finally to an alpine bench. You can wander around up on top, find little pothole lakes, take in the beautiful mountain views in every direction, look for black bear and mt goats on the surrounding slopes and take a good rest. Total distance about 4 miles, total time 5-6hrs depending on how long you spend wandering.

Starting in Halibut Cove Lagoon, this trail connects you to the Coalition Loop trail, the Moose Valley trail, China Poot Peak trail and the Woznesinski River trail. Most people use it to get to the China Poot lake, or Moose Valley, public use cabins, so I’ll describe it from the drop off point at the dock, to the cabin at China Poot Lk. You can also access from the West cabin on the lagoon. From the ranger station, a short stretch of trail (estuary trail) scrambles up from the dock and climbs for about .5 miles to the China Poot Lake trail. You’ll climb quickly to First Lake, top out at about 500’ where you’ll start meandering up and down towards Moose Valley. About mile 2, you’ll reach the Moose Valley trail, and continue right towards CP lake. Coalition Loop trailhead is next, and then some wet meadows that end at China Poot lake. Great place to relax and fish for rainbow trout! Ask about trail conditions before your trip, things change every year. Total time about 2.5hrs, total distance about 3 miles.

For specific hiking info on the other areas accessed by this trail, email or call with your questions!

This lightly used trail takes you through a piece of old growth temperate rainforest to a beautiful lake and a set of falls. Starting on the beach near the Tutka lake yurt, climb up slope to find the start of the 2.5 mile track that wends its way through the forest at a mostly gentle, rolling grade. About 1/2 mile into the walk, you’ll reach a junction leading to the Seastar cabin, keep right and continue towards the lake. Tutka lake is a smallish, glacial basin lake with clear water, steep sides and a pair or 2 of seasonally resident loons. Openings give you lovely views of the mountains. Note: Someone left an old rowboat tied up near shore at one time; Beware, it leaks. From this point the trail continues rolling upstream, past the Tutka lagoon junction, and along the edge of Tutka Creek. In about 1 1/2 miles you’ll start to notice the sound of falls, and be hiking very near the edge of a sheer wall along Tutka Creek. There are a couple of overlooks just off the main trail, keep small children and enthusiastic dogs under control here, the drops into the creek are long. The trail essentially ends at the falls, where you can carefully scramble down to a crystal clear pool just above the main flow. Again, keep dogs and children under control here. This hike is one of my favorites. It’s lush, less used than many of the trails in the park, quiet and remote, and has the reward of many beautiful sights and blueberries in the fall!