![Bashful Peak](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Bashful_Peak.jpg)
Chugach State Park covers 495,204 acres (2,004 square kilometers)
immediately east of the Anchorage Bowl in south-central
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
.
Though primarily in the
Municipality of Anchorage
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
, a small portion of the park north of the Eklutna Lake area in the vicinity of
Pioneer Peak lies within the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (often referred to as the Mat-Su Borough) is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its county seat is Palmer, and the largest community is the census-designated place of Knik-Fairview.
The borough is part of ...
.
Established by legislation signed into law on August 6, 1970, by Alaska Governor
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller (28 November 1919 – 11 October 2004) was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. His ability, irreverent m ...
, this
state park was created to provide recreational opportunities, protect the scenic value of the
Chugach Mountains
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagai ...
and other geographic features, and ensure the safety of the water supply for Anchorage.
The park, managed by
Alaska State Parks
Alaska’s state park system is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The system contains over 120 units spanning 3,427,895 acres, making it far larger than any other state park system in ...
, is the third-largest
state park in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, and consists of geographically disparate areas each with different attractions and facilities.
[Littlepage, Dean, ''A Falcon Guide Hiking Alaska: A Guide to Alaska's Greatest Hiking Adventures,'' The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, Connecticut, p. 150 (2006).] Only
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (, '' AN-zə bə-RAY-goh'') is a California State Park located within the Colorado Desert of southern California, United States. The park takes its name from 18th century Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and ...
in
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
and
Wood-Tikchik State Park
Wood-Tikchik State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Alaska north of Dillingham. Over (6,500 km2) in area—about the size of the state of Delaware—, comprising more than half of all state park land in Alaska and 15% of the total ...
in western Alaska are larger.
Hunting and fishing are permitted in the Chugach under regulations established by the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is a department within the government of Alaska. ADF&G's mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their use and development in ...
for game management unit 14c.
Target practice
In the military and in shooting, target practice are exercises in which weapons are shot at a target. The purpose of such exercises is to improve the aim or the weapons handling expertise of the person firing the weapon.
Targets being shot at ...
is not allowed within the park boundaries.
Eklutna Lake
![LakesideTrailEklutnaLake1677](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/LakesideTrailEklutnaLake1677.JPG)
The ''Lakeside Trail'' travels 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) along the shores of Eklutna Lake until it reaches the mile-long ''Eklutna Glacier Trail'' that leads in short order to the
moraines at the foot of the colossal blue ice of Eklutna Glacier.
In the summer, travelers go on foot, by
mountain bike,
ATV or on
horseback, past the lake by way of largely flat trail to the glacier.
A traverse with three huts maintained by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska begins at the end of the trail and heads over the tops of the Eklutna, Whiteout, Eagle and Raven glaciers, and ends 31 miles (50 kilometers) away at ''Crow Pass'' near
Girdwood on the opposite side of the park.
In wintertime, trail users are able to travel the same route by
snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...
(snowmachine),
snowshoe
Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwe ...
s or
cross-country ski
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
s as permitted by regulation and weather conditions.
As most of the trail is an old roadbed, the trail is a popular winter destination for
skijoring
Skijoring (pronounced ) (Skijouring in British English) is a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog (or dogs), another animal, or a motor vehicle. The name is derived from the Norwegian word ''skikjøring'', meaning " ...
and
dogsledding
A dog sled or dog sleigh is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing. Traditionally in Greenland and the e ...
.
There are two remote campgrounds in the area in addition to a frontcountry campground open during the summer.
Two public use cabins are available for rent on the Lakeside Trail.
Non-motorized boats, and boats with an electric motor, are allowed on Eklutna Lake.
The tallest point in the park,
Bashful Peak
Bashful Peak is a mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska, located in Chugach State Park. At , Bashful is the highest peak in Chugach State Park, and the highest peak in the Municipality of Anchorage. The peak carries snow year-round and several sm ...
, towers over the lake at a height of 8,005 feet (2,440 meters).
Bush planes are able to land on the far (southern) side of Eklutna Lake at the unpaved Bold Airstrip.
North of Eklutna, the southern summit of
Pioneer Peak can be reached from
Knik River
The Knik River ( Dena'ina: ''Skitnu''; Ahtna: ''Scitna’'') is a 25-mile-long (40 km) river in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its source is at Knik Glacier, from which it flows northwest and west and empties into the head of Cook Inlet's Kn ...
Road via the ''Pioneer Ridge Trail'' beginning outside the park boundaries in the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (often referred to as the Mat-Su Borough) is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its county seat is Palmer, and the largest community is the census-designated place of Knik-Fairview.
The borough is part of ...
.
Visitors to Eklutna Lake have the opportunity to experience a variety of plant life at different elevations.
[ Dense forests, characteristically of white spruce (''Picea glauca''), paper birch (''Betula papyrifera'') and quaking aspen (''Populus tremuloides''), dominate the lower elevations.] Fern
A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes exce ...
s, mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans.
The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
s, and wildflower
A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the ...
s such as dwarf dogwood (''Cornus canadensis''), fireweed (''Epilobium angustifolium''), and the parasitic northern groundcone (''Boschniakia rossica'') of the broomrape family cover the forest floor.[ At higher elevations wildflowers such as mountain avens (''Dryas octopetala'') and the ]Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
state flower, the alpine forget-me-not (''Myosotis alpestris''), grow in profusion.[ The alpine milkvetch (''Astragalus alpinus''), bog wintergreen (''Pyrola asarifolia'') and wild geranium (''Geranium erianthum'') predominate on lower slopes, while further up the nootka lupine (''Lupinus nootkatensis''), coastal paintbrush (''Castilleja unalaschcensis''), prickly saxifrage (''Saxifraga tricuspidata''), the poisonous yellow anemone (''Anemone richardsonii'') and eventually the mosses of the ]tundra
In physical geography, tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. The term ''tundra'' comes through Russian (') from the Kildin Sámi word (') meaning "uplands", "treeless mou ...
will reward hikers.[ Berry picking is popular in late summer and early fall.][ Highbush cranberries (''Viburnum edule''), lingonberries (''Vaccinium vitis-idaea''), northern redcurrants (''Ribes triste'') and bog blueberries (''Vaccinium uliginosum'') grow along the lower trails.][ Dwarf blueberries (''Vaccinium caepitosum''), alpine bearberries (''Arctostaphylos alpina'') and crowberries (''Empetrum nigrum'') are found higher up.][ Correctly identifying berries before consuming them is important as some species are poisonous.][
]
Eagle River
A non-profit organization in association with the park operates the Eagle River Nature Center which exhibits interpretive information on wildlife and geological features.[ The basin of the Eagle River can be accessed by the nearby ''Albert Loop Trail'' which passes through three miles (five kilometers) of mixed forests and leads to a river fed by ]glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as ...
s hidden in the surrounding mountains.[ At those times in the fall when the park's ursine residents are using the area for their fishing purposes, the trail is closed so as to lessen bear-]human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, cultu ...
interactions.[ In addition, the ''Rodak Nature Trail'' leads to a beaver and ]salmon
Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...
viewing deck. From the trail red salmon (''Oncorhynchus nerka'') and silver salmon (''Oncorhynchus kisutch'') can be seen as they spawn, especially in August. Brown bears (''Ursus arctos'') and grizzly bears (''Ursus arctos ssp.'') often feed on salmon in shallow water between the beaver dams.[ Hundreds of black bears (''Ursus americanus'') likewise live in the park.][ Area streams are excellent for birding as well.][ The American dipper (''Cinclus mexicanus'') can be seen during the winter months, which birders will also find a successful time to listen for the great horned owl (''Bubo virginianus'') and boreal owl (''Aegolius funereus'').][ Visitors can rent ]yurt
A yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger ( Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered and insulated with skins or felt and traditionally used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes and mountains of Central Asia ...
s and cabins along the Eagle River in order to spend time out exploring the scenery and wildlife in the area. Camping is available at the Eagle River Campground.[
The Historic Iditarod Trail (or Crow Pass Trail)] also passes by the nature center.[ This popular trail travels 28 miles (45 kilometers) through the park connecting Eagle River and Girdwood as it traverses the ]Chugach Mountains
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagai ...
. It affords incredible views and wildlife viewing opportunities.[ Even along the first view miles, hikers often see hoary marmots (''Marmota caligata'') and Arctic ground squirrels (''Urocitellus parryii''), and occasionally mountain goats (''Oreamnos americanus'') or Dall sheep (''Ovis dalli'').][ Hoary marmots live in alpine meadows, often adjacent to boulders or talus.][ These furry creatures hibernate from mid-September until April or early May.][ In summer, they can be heard making long whistle warning calls.][ Mountain goats and their kids and Dall sheep with lambs can be seen feeding on slopes above the trail during the late spring and summer.][ Although easily mistaken for each other, mountain goats have a fashion edge over sheep—their long leg hairs resemble pantaloons.][
]
Hillside
The ''Hillside Trail System'' lies only 20 minutes east of downtown Anchorage. A privately run shuttle
Flattop Mountain Shuttle
- provides round-trip transportation between downtown and the ''Glen Alps Trailhead''.[ A wheelchair-accessible walk of a mere quarter mile (0.4 kilometers) from the trailhead leads to a sitting area and viewing deck that overlooks the city and rewards visitors with views of the ]Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet ( tfn, Tikahtnu; Sugpiaq: ''Cungaaciq'') stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage. On its so ...
and the Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 600-mile-long (950 km) mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest endSources differ as to the exact delineation of the Alaska Range. ThBoar ...
80 miles (129 kilometers) in the distance.[ The trailhead is likewise the primary access to ]Flattop Mountain Flattop Mountain and Flat Top Mountain may refer to
*in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consi ...
, the most hiked peak in the state. During the winter some trails in the area are prone to avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain.
Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and eart ...
s.[ Hikers are encouraged to inquire about current conditions before beginning travel in the area.][ The ''Powerline Pass Trail'' is a popular location for ]dogsledding
A dog sled or dog sleigh is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing. Traditionally in Greenland and the e ...
and skijoring
Skijoring (pronounced ) (Skijouring in British English) is a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog (or dogs), another animal, or a motor vehicle. The name is derived from the Norwegian word ''skikjøring'', meaning " ...
.[
Though moose (''Alces alces gigas'') may be seen along many of the park's trails, a more predictable and convenient spot is the viewing platform at Glen Alps in fall and early winter.] Dozens of moose are often seen below the platform and across the Campbell Creek Valley to the east. Wolves (''Canis lupus'') and Canadian lynx (''Lynx canadensis'') also live in the park but are seen less frequently.[ The willow ptarmigan (''Lagopus lagopus''), Alaska's state bird, as well as the rock ptarmigan (''Lagopus muta'') and white-tailed ptarmigan (''Lagopus leucura'') frequent alpine tundra and ]subalpine
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...
shrub thickets.[ Meadow voles (''Microtus pennsylvanicus'') by contrast live underground in alpine and tundra habitats.][ Hikers may hear the chirps of the singing voles (''Microtus miurus''). During fall, these ]rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
s construct piles of grasses and plants near their burrows.[
Smaller mammals inhabiting this area include red foxes, porcupines, hares, ]ground squirrel
Ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents ( Sciuridae), which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known ...
s, ermines, and pika
A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
s.
Turnagain Arm
The Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest, Turnagain Arm, and Kenai Mountains. The Seward H ...
follows part of the southern edge of the park along Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm ( Dena'ina: ''Tutl'uh'') is a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska. It is one of two narrow branches at the north end of Cook Inlet, the other being Knik Arm. Turnagain is subject to climate extremes and large ti ...
. This stretch of highway is listed as a National Scenic Byway and is designated as an All-American Road
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by C ...
.[ Along Seward Highway is park headquarters located at the ]Potter Section House
The Potter Section House is a historic section house in Anchorage Borough, Alaska. It is located at Mile 115.3 of the Seward Highway and Mile 100.6 of the Alaska Railroad. It is a -story wood-frame structure with a gable roof. The main facad ...
State Historic Site which once served as an important worker camp for the Alaska Railroad.[ There are several viewpoints along the Seward Highway.] One of the most visited is Beluga Point, at milemarker 110.5, named for the beluga whales (''Delphinapterus leucas'') that frequent the area. Another popular viewpoint along the Seward Highway is ''Windy Corner'' at milemarker 106 where '' Dall sheep (Ovis dalli)'' are often visible just up the hill. The McHugh Creek Day use area features hiking trails and picnic areas. The Bird Creek Campground is located south of Anchorage off the Seward Highway. As with all campgrounds in the park, each camping site boasts a wooded spot for recreation and relaxtion, a fire ring and picnic table, with potable water and latrines nearby.[ Park volunteers at campgrounds and elsewhere offer assistance and answer visitor questions.][ Firewood is often available nearby for a small fee.][ Though dirt bikes are prohibited, the ''Bird Valley Trail System'' is the only location in the park open to ATVs all year round.]
Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm ( Dena'ina: ''Tutl'uh'') is a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska. It is one of two narrow branches at the north end of Cook Inlet, the other being Knik Arm. Turnagain is subject to climate extremes and large ti ...
boasts the second highest tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another.
Tide tables ...
s in North America after the Bay of Fundy. These tides, which can reach 40 feet (12 meters), sometimes come in so quickly that they produce a wave known as a bore tide.[ Adventurous ]kayaker
A kayak is a small, narrow watercraft which is typically propelled by means of a double-bladed paddle. The word kayak originates from the Greenlandic word '' qajaq'' ().
The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each s ...
s and surfers
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable ...
have taken to riding the tide as an extreme sport
Action sports, adventure sports or extreme sports are activities perceived as involving a high degree of risk. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion and highly specialized gear. Extreme tourism overl ...
.[ Hikers should take care not to get stuck in the ]quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid consisting of fine granular material (such as sand, silt or clay) and water. It forms in saturated loose sand when the sand is suddenly agitated. When water in the sand cannot escape, it creates a liquefied soil that los ...
-like mudflats that otherwise make up the beaches along Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm ( Dena'ina: ''Tutl'uh'') is a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska. It is one of two narrow branches at the north end of Cook Inlet, the other being Knik Arm. Turnagain is subject to climate extremes and large ti ...
.[ The best place to see the Alaskan bore tide is along ]Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest, Turnagain Arm, and Kenai Mountains. The Seward H ...
south of Anchorage, especially at ''Bird Point'' (milemarker 96).
Bears
As a wilderness park within easy driving distance of the largest population center in Alaska, the park has been the site of contacts between bears and humans over the years. Most of the time these encounters end peacefully, but there have been a number of maulings. In 1995 a bear was feeding on a moose kill with its cubs near the McHugh Creek trail when two hikers happened upon them. The sow killed them both. In 2007 a grizzly bear bit a woman at the Eagle River Nature Center. In 2012 a man was mauled while climbing Penguin Peak. In 2014 a brown bear mauled a runner at Bird Point. In 2017 there were two bear attacks in different areas of the park in a matter of days. A brown bear mauled three people at Eagle River and a black bear killed a teenager participating in a trail race at Bird Ridge. The black bear attack was deemed to be a predatory, rather than defensive, attack as the bear refused to leave and circled the corpse when it was located by park rangers.[Boots, Michelle Theriaul]
Bear attacks are still rare in Anchorage. But the dynamics of Sunday’s fatal mauling stand out from history.
Anchorage Daily News
The ''Anchorage Daily News'' is a daily newspaper published by the Binkley Co., and based in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the most widely read newspaper and news website (adn.com) in the state of Alaska.
The newspaper is headquartered in Anchorag ...
, 6/20/2017[Khachatoorian, Travi]
Alaskans on edge" after two deadly bear attacks in one week
KTUU
KTUU-TV (channel 2) is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUU (channel 5). Both stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in ...
6/25/2017
See also
* List of Alaska state parks
Alaska’s state park system is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The system contains over 120 units spanning 3,427,895 acres, making it far larger than any other state park system in ...
References
External links
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation: Chugach State Park
Eagle River Nature Center
{{authority control
1970 establishments in Alaska
Protected areas of Anchorage, Alaska
Protected areas of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
State parks of Alaska