Things to do nearChugach State Park

Established in 1970, Chugach State Park encompasses roughly half a million acres of the northern Chugach Mountains, making it one of the largest state parks in the United States and one of the few wilderness areas in the world that borders a major city. The park's terrain ranges from spruce and birch forest at lower elevations through rolling alpine tundra and up to glaciated peaks topping six thousand feet.

Visitors can choose from nearly two hundred miles of maintained trails, and the variety is genuinely striking. The Glen Alps area provides access to Flattop Mountain, the most climbed peak in Alaska, while the Eagle River valley draws hikers seeking longer routes into quieter backcountry. Eklutna Lake, the park's largest body of water, offers camping, kayaking, and a flat lakeside trail that contrasts sharply with the surrounding jagged peaks.

Wildlife is a constant presence throughout the park. Moose wade through willow thickets near the valley floors, bald eagles circle above the river corridors, and the Dall sheep that inhabit the high ridges have become something of an unofficial symbol of the park. In winter the landscape transforms entirely, with groomed nordic ski trails, snowshoeing routes, and ice climbing routes drawing a different crowd into the mountains.

The cultural history of the region runs deep as well, with the Dena'ina Athabascan people having lived and traveled through these mountains for thousands of years before Anchorage existed. For anyone spending time in southcentral Alaska, Chugach State Park offers an accessible and authentic encounter with the wilderness that defines the state.