Easy Hikes Near Anchorage: My 5 Favorites After Living in Alaska
I lived in Alaska for years, and have hiked every trail on this list personally - some of them multiple times. Here's my honest guide to the best easy (and short) hikes within a short drive of Anchorage!
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(Originally published in 2023, updated in 2026)
Alaska has a reputation for serious wilderness hiking - and yes, that’s definitely plentiful here. But some of the most epic views in southcentral Alaska are also accessible on short, relatively easy trails that don't require technical gear or backcountry experience. They will all require bear spray, however!!
These are 5 of the best easy hikes near Anchorage, Alaska that I'd recommend if you want a taste of the beautiful Alaskan landscapes without committing to a lengthy or super challenging trek. Every trail on this list is under 5 miles round-trip, doable in a half day, and something I've done myself at least once (but many of them multiple times!). Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
Introduction
My Experience Hiking Near Anchorage
5 Best Easy Hikes Near Anchorage
Portage Pass Trail
Byron Glacier
Virgin Creek Falls
Twin Peaks Trail
April Bowl Trail
Tips for Hiking Near Anchorage
What to Pack
FAQ
Final Thoughts
Short on time? Here are my top hotel picks in Anchorage:
The Wildbirch Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Hotel Captain Cook ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Highliner Suites Hotel ⭐⭐⭐
My Experience Hiking Near Anchorage
Hiking near Anchorage always treated me to something I love most: that feeling of being completely alone in a vast, wild landscape. The terrain here is beautiful and rugged and so varied - one trail might take you through wildflower-filled paths out to a glacier beach, the next drops you into a dense forest filled with mossy trees, the next puts you directly above a reflective turquoise lake. It never, ever gets redundant or dull.
I'll also be totally honest: hiking in Alaska tested me mentally sometimes. Coming from the Adirondacks in NY, I grew up in an area with bears - but it’s not nearly the same prevalence as in Alaska. Not even close. Wildlife run-ins here are a real thing, not just an obscure possibility. Bear spray and bear bells became part of my kit on every single hike, no matter how short or easy the trail. My advice: prepare accordingly, no matter the trail type! Then, you can more easily immerse and enjoy.
PS. You can rent bear spray instead of buying outright, if desired, from places like Alaska Bear Spray Rental.
5 Best Easy Hikes Near Anchorage, Alaska
1. Portage Pass Trail (My Top Pick)
Length: 4.4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 1,437 ft
Parking: Free road parking
Dog-friendly: Yes
Trailhead location: Whittier
This is my favorite hike on this entire list - and actually one of my favorite hikes I've done anywhere in Alaska.
The trail climbs from the Whittier side of the tunnel through fairly steep terrain before cresting the pass and revealing Portage Lake and the Portage Glacier below. At the top of the pass is a great place to stop for photos and maybe even a snack. The views are quite literally 360 degrees around you, showing off glaciers, mountains, the ocean, and the lake.
Right before you reach the lake, the trail passes through a burst of wildflowers (in the summer season) - vibrant pinks and purples blooming against the bright green landscape. Then the rocky beach comes after it, and beyond that you’ll see the brilliant blue of Portage Lake against the white-blue face of Portage Glacier. All of those colors together - the pink flowers, the green hills, the blue water, the white glacier - felt completely otherworldly on the summer day I hiked it.
A few logistics: getting to the trailhead requires either driving through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (a one-way toll tunnel - check the schedule before you go, it alternates direction) or taking the Alaska Railroad “Glacier Discovery Train” from Anchorage to Whittier.
Getting there: Drive through the Anton Anderson Tunnel to Whittier, or take the Alaska Railroad Glacier Discovery train. The trailhead is accessible from the Whittier side. Check the tunnel schedule before you drive there.
2. Byron Glacier Trail
Length: Roughly 2.8 miles round trip
Parking: Free parking lot
Dog-friendly: Yes, must be on a leash
Trailhead location: Portage
The easier of the two glacier hikes on this list, and one I'd recommend to pretty much anyone because of the nice easy terrain. The trail follows a flat, well-maintained path through Portage Valley directly to the “base” of Byron Glacier - although you will not be able to walk right out to the ice, since it is a hanging glacier (perched up on the mountainside).
The ice and snow caves are the thing many people see on social media, and they're very cool to look into - shifting year to year based on melt after the winter. But I would absolutely not walk inside them. They're incredibly unstable and therefore wildly dangeous. Stand at the entrance, take the photo, admire the icy colors and formations. Don’t risk it by walking inside.
This is a perfect add-on to a Girdwood and/or Portage Valley day, or even a day that also includes Portage Pass. Since they're in the same area, they make for a great combination.
3. Virgin Creek Falls
Length: 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 180 ft
Parking: Free street parking, very limited
Dog-friendly: Yes
Trailhead location: Girdwood
Virgin Creek Falls is one of my favorite short hikes in the Girdwood area. The trailhead is at the very end of a road in a residential neighborhood, and the first few minutes of driving in feels like you're in completely the wrong place. Don’t worry, you probably aren’t!
Once you park at the (limited) parking spots, you’ll see the trailhead sign and step onto the trail where everything changes immediately. The forest closes in around you and it's magical - moss-covered, cool and green, completely quiet except for the sound of the creek running alongside the path. That portal-esque transition from suburban street to mystical forest in about thirty seconds is one of the things I love most about this trail.
The waterfall itself is beautiful - a tiered cascade tucked into the mossy forest at the end of the path. Short enough to do within a packed itinerary in the area.
Getting there: Drive to Girdwood and follow Timberline Drive to the end. The trailhead is located in a residential area - park respectfully and be sure not to block any driveways.
4. Twin Peaks Trail (to First Lookout)
Length: 3.0 miles round trip for the first lookout
Elevation gain: 1,130 ft to first lookout
Parking: Paid parking lots
Dog-friendly: Yes, must be on a leash
Trailhead location: Eklutna Lake
Twin Peaks is a longer, more challenging trail that continues all the way to the twin summits above Eklutna Lake. But the best-kept secret of this trail is stopping at the first lookout bench rather than committing to the full climb. This is an awesome way to get one of the most expansive views of the lake for a fraction of the effort.
From that bench, you can see all the way down Eklutna Lake - the full, beautifully turquoise stretch of it, framed by mountains on both sides. And you get there in under 2 miles of hiking. The full trail is rated as strenuous, but is absolutely worth it if you have the time and endurance for it. However, the first lookout is a completely worthwhile and beautiful end point if you’re wanting a short hike instead.
The drive to the Eklutna Lake trailhead takes about an hour from Anchorage, which makes this an easy half day or full day trip from town.
Mid-May at the Twin Peaks first lookout (still a fairly wintery landscape)
Eklutna Lake as seen from the main beach area in late August
5. April Bowl
Length: 2.2 miles round trip
Elevation gain: Roughly 860 feet
Parking: Free parking lots, limited space
Dog-friendly: Yes, must be on a leash
Trailhead location: Hatcher Pass
The April Bowl trail actually sits above one of my absolute favorite easy-access spots in Alaska: Summit Lake. The trailhead is in Hatcher Pass, about an hour north of Anchorage. You’ll park next to Summit Lake and take the switchbacking trail up through alpine terrain before arriving at a high bowl scattered with little glacial lakes.
If you’re lucky enough to catch Alaska on a semi-rare blue sky day, then each one of the small lakes will reflect the sky like mirrors. But even on a cloudy or slightly windy day, the landscape up there is still epic - and to be fair, very quintessentially “Alaskan” in the more moody weather.
April Bowl is best between July through September when the access road to Summit Lake is actually open, and snow has (mostly) cleared from the area. Check conditions and road closures before heading, since this higher elevation elevation can see lingering well into summer.
Looking down on Summit Lake from the start of the April Bowl trail
Tips for Hiking Near Anchorage
Be bear & moose aware. Black bears, brown bears and moose are active throughout southcentral Alaska. Carry bear spray on every hike, make noise on the trail, and know what to do if you encounter one. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has great bear safety guidelinesthat are definitely worth a read before your trip.
Weather changes fast. Alaska weather is notoriously…unpredictable. To put it gently. A sunny morning can turn cold and rainy within an hour. Always pack a warm and waterproof layer regardless of the forecast.
Bugs are prevalent. Mosquitoes in Alaska are legendary, particularly in summer. Bug spray with DEET, long sleeves, and a head net for longer hikes in wooded terrain are genuinely worth packing.
Download offline maps. Cell service is unreliable on many of these trails. Download your route on AllTrails or Gaia GPS before you leave, not in the parking lot.
Parking fills fast at popular trailheads. Portage Valley in particular gets busy on summer weekends. Arriving early makes a significant difference.
Check tunnel schedules before driving to Whittier. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel alternates direction on a set schedule - missing your window means a lengthy wait. Check the schedule before you leave Anchorage.
What to Pack
Bear spray - non-negotiable!
Hiking boots - this pair specifically has been my go-to for years
Rain jacket - always a good idea to pack away
Warm mid-layer - temperatures drop fast at elevation
Water and snacks - more than you think you need
Bug spray with DEET
Headlamp for early starts
Trekking poles - optional but helpful on steeper sections
FAQ
Q: Are the hikes near Anchorage beginner-friendly?
A: Yes - especially Byron Glacier and Virgin Creek Falls, which are short, flat, and accessible to pretty much anyone. The April Bowl trail and Twin Peaks trail are more of an easy-moderate challenge, but nothing too crazy.
Q: Are there bears on these trails?
A: Potentially on all of them. Moose, too! Bear sightings are always possible in southcentral Alaska. Carry bear spray, make noise on the trail, and read up on bear safety before you go. It sounds intimidating but just stay bear-aware.
Q: What is the best hike near Anchorage for views?
A: Tough question! Portage Pass is my personal favorite - the combination of the glacier against the blue of Portage Lake is hard to beat, and it’s a very Alaskan experience of hiking to a glacier. For a shorter glacier hike, Byron Glacier is gorgeous and easy.
Q: When is the best time to hike near Anchorage?
A: June through September is the main hiking window. Long summer days give you the most flexibility with timing! And usually the trails are clear-ish of snow, depending on how moody Alaska has been that winter. July and August are peak season. Late May and September will have fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, but higher-elevation trails may have some snow.
Q: How far are these hikes from downtown Anchorage?
A: Virgin Creek Falls, Byron Glacier, and Portage Pass are all south of downtown Anchorage - roughly an hour drive. Twin Peaks at Eklutna Lake is about an hour northeast. April Bowl at Hatcher Pass is about a 1.5 hour drive north. All are very doable as day trips from the city.
Q: Do I need a permit for these hikes?
A: No permit is required for any of the five trails on this list. Standard Alaska State Parks and Chugach State Park parking fees apply at some of the trailheads, like Eklutna Lake - typically just a small day-use fee to park there and recreate. Check current fees before you go and carry cash.
Final Thoughts
In Alaska, even "easy" or relatively short hikes still always feel like an adventure. The landscape here holds so much drama - from the glaciers to the wildlife to the sheer amount of wilderness. Because of this, every trail feels wild and pretty epic, regardless of how many miles you hike.
These 5 easy trails near Anchorage are a great starting point for your Alaska trip. But if you have to choose only one, my top pick is probably the Portage Pass trail. The combo of the 360 degree panoramic views at the top of the pass, paired with the lakeside beach beside the glacier, is just 10/10 every single time.
Happy hiking!
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