Most of the summits near Baldy and Mile Hi . Scratch Alaska, this dude just sounds like an outstanding citizen of the world. While driving home along the Seward Highway, we called a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed just witnessed. 5: Chugach State Park Access Inventory (2002). Today, the only message at the trailhead kiosk was a computer printout reading THERE IS NO LEGAL PARKING OUTSIDE OF FIVE DESIGNATED SPOTS. The sign went on to inform hikers of overflow parking down the hill outside of the communitys gate, and ended with a strange admonition: DONT BE EVIL.. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. This dynamic is clearly at play in the battle for the Stewart Trail. "The hike was awesome both times I did it!!!! My mom grew up hiking these mountains, I grew up hiking these mountains, and now my kids are growing up hiking these mountains in the Alaskan spirit where folks cheer them on and enjoy the next generation growing up in the outdoors enjoying the adventure. Big ship or small ship? Direction to the Golden View Trailhead. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. The battle for the Stewart Trail has spilled over into a bitter civil war on the Rabbit Creek Community Council, into heated Anchorage Assembly meetings, onto talk radio and into cryptic op-eds published by the ADN. The room hummed with quick, whispered conversations. Pugh could bring the matter to civil court, but as Anchorage Assemblymember Christopher Constant told the Landmine, an incredulous judge could tell Pugh that the trail is public and order him to remove the gate. Note that in summer 2017 a teenage boy was mauled and killed by a bear during a race on the trail, so do be . Conversely, the MOA is unable to spend public parks funding outside of the service area. Traveling safely in the outdoors requires experience with routefinding, gear selection, emergency response, weather assessment, etc. Difficulty: Class 2(c4), Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Anchorage is the best spot to start a visit to Alaska's iconic bear viewing locations. Bear Valley, At roughly the 2.5 mile mark, the Rabbit Lake trail reaches a high point below Ptarmigan Peak and then begins to descend slightly into the upper valley. It is not good access to Rabbit Lake's, Flattop, Peak 2 etc. At the last rocky point before the summit, the trail disperses onto a broad face that sweeps up toward McHughs craggy crown. In a call earlier that year, local resident Christine Sitbon told the Landmine she had walked and skied on the Stewart Trail since 1994. I live by the park entrance off of Upper Huffman. There is also overflow parking on Honey Bear Lane on a widened stretch of road about two thirds of a mile below the trailhead. Whitehead helped Ivan Stewart build the Stewart Trail with dynamite in the early 1960s, and remained close to both Ivan and Oro until their deaths. Starting from Ram Valley, it's approximately 11 miles to Mile Hi trailhead with three summits, or approximately 13.5 miles to Baldy if you add in Round Top. Does this trail get overgrown. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Yes, this kind of thing would not happen in most places in Europe where Freedom to Roam or everymans right is fairly prevalent. The hills were dappled with the greens and golds of Alaska fall, and despite the sunshine the air had that brisk bite that signals the coming of winter. Still some snow patches on the mountain. Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park trailhead. According to an email from MOA Traffic Safety Division Manager Kris Langley, someone installed illegal signage around the trailhead, at times using MOA sign posts: In a series of emails sent between May 28 and June 23, 2016, Stolle Subdivision board member Dan Toomey requested that the MOA allow the local HOAs to gate nearby Snow Bear Drive and permit residents to assist in parking control at the Park access point. Toomey states a desire to limit parking to the approved spots at the trailhead and cites documented instances of crime and violence at the end of Snow Bear Drive. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead; Recent Changes. Others, like Pugh, saw her as a threat. In 1967, the Stewart Trail was featured in 30 Hikes in Alaska as the preferred route to climb McHugh Peak. None of those access points offer the same kind of grade perfect for young children and people of limited mobility with unfettered views up and down valley. Take left on Snow Bear Dr.. But if youre hoping to score a prime parking spot, this trailhead is best tackled on weekdays or in the off-season. The brush on the south side of McHugh is not at all bad by Chugach standards, though the tundra and grasses can be steep and slippery. GLT has negotiated major land deals in the Anchorage area, including a $7.4 million purchase for South Anchorages 60-acre Campbell Creek Estuary Park. 2) 5 cars only for McHugh this is ridiculous. An informal survey of the neighborhood reveals that residents have been walking this trail since at least the mid-1960s. As a young man, Whitehead spent long weekends camping on Ruby, watching dall sheep bound between the crags. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. In 2012, the HOA requested a $218,000 state grant for road improvements, claiming that it could no longer afford to maintain its roads due to increased traffic. Distance: 2.0 miles, Elevation gain 1000 ft. From the Ridge Peak, follow the ridge to McHugh Peak (4311 ft). The legislature approved $100,000. Some noted that the city was overwhelmed with a property crime wave, and stolen cars took precedence over stolen mountains. Others suggested that the MOA had grown to believe that a judge or jury could perceive a lawsuit pitting the municipality against a single landowner as a David and Goliath situation. Several days before the Assembly meeting, Pugh had sent Nancy Pease a letter titled Order to Stay Away from the Pugh Property. The Assembly, mayors office, RCCC, Senator Cathy Giessel, and others were ccd. I think theyre a waste of money, and if he wants to spend all of his time looking at people coming and going I feel sorry for him. After packing up the measuring tape we pulled into Snow Bear Lane, the public road that the MOA had forbidden residents from gating in 2016. Its a bad situation, but theres a lot of blame to go around unfortunately. Weekly hike Locations; Archives; 2022; Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors; 2021; Trailhead Direction; Photo Album; 2020; Ivan and Oro married in Alaska in 1942, at the height of WWII. They were instead forced into some other hillside bottleneck, or they didnt hike at all. From here, you can head up the steep and winding, Arctic Valley Road. In the fall of 2018, Pease applied for a position on the municipal Board of Adjustment, an obscure but powerful board that can override land use decisions made by other municipal boards and commissions. The north ridge of McHugh Peak. The Eagle River Nature Center, located just 45 minutes from downtown Anchorage on the northeast side of 500,000-acre Chugach State Park, provides an excellent starting point for hikes, nature walks, and wildlife viewing. But GLT determined that the Stewart Trail easement had little monetary value and Pugh balked at their offer, which was reportedly in the low tens of thousands of dollars. By this point, many influential people in the broader Anchorage community had become aware of the bizarre drama unfolding on the Stewart Trail and at the RCCC. To assess Pughs claim that the Stewarts granted permission to individuals to use the trail, the Landmine contacted the Stewarts longtime employee and friend Albert Whitehead. A hiker and his small dog arrived at the entrance to the Stewart Trail to find a man busily expanding an existing vehicle gate with rebar and barbed wire. The Bear Valley area is a hikers paradise! Weddleton added, that traffics coming anyway. Though McHugh peak is mostly an alpine walkup, negotiating the bundle of rocks on its summit can be tricky and feels more like rock climbing than hiking. In fact, it is arguably the most reliable early-season hike in the Chugach, and is often snow-free long before traditional early-season hikes like Bird Ridge or Wolverine. The company runs all-terrain vehicle tours along a network of old logging roads in Bird . There is a park access with only 5 parking spaces and a "over flow parking" apx. This is the only part of the hike that can feel tedious, though the slogging is tempered by fantastic views up the Rabbit Creek drainage toward Ptarmigan and the Suicides. he explains in one post, no matter how our personalities line up or compliment [sic] each other. Hiding cameras. The McHugh Creek Route up the west ridge starts nearly at sea level and requires just over 4,300 feet of elevation gain to reach the summitfar more than any other route. In June 2017, custom No Parking signs citing AMC 90.30.040 were installed along the roads. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. At one point, Pugh invited members to voice any opposition to an obscure proposition, which he identified only by number and refused to describe. Bear Valley route (North Ridge): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain. The battle for the Stewart Trail has aroused powerful emotions: anger, annoyance, fear, frustration. Bears. We have an active and vibrant trailhead in our neighborhood. Pugh had also written to the Assembly alleging repeated trespass by Pease, unlawful behavior and serious concerns about Ms. Peases ethical integrity and conflicts of interest. Shortly before the meeting, Christopher Matthew Cavanaugh had emailed the mayors office, Assembly, and others calling Pease a criminal and accusing her of criminal trespassing behaviors.. The business is listed under hiking area category. Map showing Pugh Property and the Stewart Trail. After 0.6 miles (1 km), keep right to stay on the Glen Trail. Groups are currently working to restore public access to this route. Trail was steep for the first mile and a little muddy in places. The business is listed under Here youll find Alpenglow Ski Area, which offers miles of hiking trails and late summer berry picking. From downtown, take New Seward Highway toward Seward. In one Instagram post detailing an attempt to climb Ruby, Cavanugh explains that he has decided to name the peak Mattanaws Peak, after himself. Shed stopped using the Stewart Trail after Pugh erected his gate because she found the situation depressing. PRIVATE PROPERTY. Below it was an illustration of a camera, and the words NOTICE: THIS AREA IS UNDER 24 HOUR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.. Hardly a month after purchasing the land, Cavanaugh began posting his own NO TRESPASSING signs. Just past the first private drive, we immediately noticed several large boulders blocking vehicle access on the roadway. After a while we turned our backs on Pughs gate and headed up the Stewart Trail. Less illegal parking and less ticketsRead more . Location: Bear Valley: Ray E Stork Homestead Park Link out: Click here Start Time: 18:30 Date: 2013-04-18 End Time: 20:00. The Rabbit Lake trail uncoils a little into multiple paths, though it remains easy to follow. The legislator laughed. From downtown, take New Seward Highway toward Seward. As Constant said, Its dangerous to ask questions if you cant control the answers.. All trails from this trailhead are flat. This trailhead specifically provides access to McHugh Peak ridge. The Rabbit Lake Trail is about as exciting as hiking on a road, which is exactly what it used to be. So why had Honey Bear received so much special attention? Almost immediately, the meeting careened out of control. Nobody wants crime in their neighborhood, but it persists across this city nonetheless, regardless of the stringency of parking rules. The position requires confirmation by the Anchorage Assembly, and Pugh was determined to stop it. This piece tries to set the impression that landowners in the vicinity of Stewart Trail endorse open access. But it was hard not to have some reluctant sympathy for Pugh and Cavanaugh too. At least one section of road corridor was wide enough that we reached the STOP message at the end of our 35-foot measuring tape. Send an email to friendsofthestewarttrail@gmail.com thanks, Saddened- this is so not the Alaskan spirit. For the most part the Rabbit Creek route is truly a route and not a trail, so it is most appropriate for those with basic routefinding skills and at least a mild sense of adventure. Overwhelmed by choices? One group of hikers began referring to the trailhead as Grumpy Bear.. The challenge is to figure out how to curb the bad behavior of those people who are simply looking for an out-of-public-view spot to engage in such activities, without restricting access to the park by legitimate users who simply want to be able toRead more , Im sympathetic about the crime, but it sounds like the Honey Bear residents are engaged in their own illegal behavior (blocking off a public city street and putting illegal signage on it, even after the city told them they couldnt!). In a July 2017 email, Langley suggests that because there was little precedent for the signs, it was unclear whether a ticket issued on Honey Bear Lane would actually hold up in court. The wind howling through the mountains threatened to push our vehicle off of the icy streets, and the windsock at one residents helipad blew parallel to the ground. Anyone familiar with the peak would find that name fitting. Now on a busy day the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines. From the top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the ridge 1.9 miles to the summit of McHugh. Pugh and several men arrived in person to the September 25, 2018 Assembly meeting and sat in the lower right section of the Assembly gallery. Pugh took the mic and, in a thick southern accent, began. Moose Ridge trail, Spencer Loop, etc. 16. This meant that the use could not be considered hostile, and therefore conditions for an easement were not present. Before Pugh bought the property nighttime parties and litter were a constant problem. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2 miles. Christopher Matthew Cavanaugh confronts Alaska Landmine Editor-in-Chief Jeff Landfield, Anchorage journalist Craig Medred, and the author on the Stewart Homestead Trail, June 2019. Car, train, or group tour. Some speakers were furious, while others expressed bewilderment at how the situation had dragged on for so long. The Alaskan spirit is to allow all to enjoy the outdoors and do things for the greater good of the community, not just ones own self (that is a very American quality- the self serving, individualistic culture). US. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. It was trivially obvious that several spots on Honey Bear Lane would allow vehicles to pull fully off of the road surface and onto the shoulder. Great article! Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Meanwhile, the situation on the Stewart Trail was devolving into a tense standoff. Then came the confrontations and the cameras. no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the "Honey Bear" trailhead in upper Bear Valley. Pugh met with the MOA to discuss a land swap, but rejected the proposed deal. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. One individual speculated that Pugh wanted Potter Valley to secede from the RCCC and join the Bear Valley Community Council. Boy! Thank you all of those working on this. Gate on Honey Bear Lane, photographed November 29, 2019. Anchorage outdoor writer and journalist Craig Medred told the Landmine that once, while battling his way down the Stewart Trail during a storm, he had been picked up by the wind and flung through the air into a ditch. In a January 30, 2018 email obtained by the Landmine, Pugh warns a group of local residents about the consequences of re-opening the trail: If you are like me and you want Potter Valley to remain a relatively quiet neighborhood environment unencumbered from being a Public Access Point like Flattop then we should work together. Just follow the ridge west to the summit of McHugh. . 7-10 days is the most common. Big ship or small ship? US. We had been told that the HOA occasionally plowed snow into the trailhead cul-de-sacs fire truck turnaround to discourage parking by hikers. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. 6:30 PM-8:00 PM. Evidence of continuous, open use of the Stewart Trail dating back to 1976. The Cavanaughs drove their RV up the mountain and parked it in the middle of the Stewart Trail, blocking the trail and forcing hikers to detour around it. Which one is right for you? Therefore, we respectfully request that you remove the barriers you have installed by March 4, 2016. I knew his parents Dan and Helen starting in 1982 when we bought a lot in Mountainside Village and built a house. Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake. It makes me really angry that this has gone on so long, upstanding people in our community such as Nancy Pease has been attacked and that Pugh and Cavanaugh have been allowed to bully the public. I made sure to make a lot of noise due to the numerous sightings of bear scat. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. And thats when residents knew something had gone badly wrong. This is an easy to moderate 3 to 3.5 mile hike depending on the route you take on the descent. It requires only a bit more elevation gain than the north ridge route (2550 ft. vs. 2320) and far less than the McHugh Creek route (4,300 ft). Out and back is about five miles through dense stands of spruce, lush fern and devil's club. Potter Trailhead (Seward Hwy mile 115) McHugh . bushwacking thru alders and devils club). Located 40 minutes north of downtown Anchorage in the Eagle River Valley, the center serves as the gateway to the Chugach. Take your time, and follow the trail all the way to the ridge. Rising above the Potter Valley neighborhood on the southeast corner of Chugach State Park, its summit and the ridges below it have a graceful symmetry uncommon in the Chugach Mountains. The trail begins about a quarter mile ahead. After repeated objections and pressure from a man in the audience, it became clear that Pugh was attempting to obliquely record the RCCCs support for a re-zoning measure to allow higher-density development on the Hillsidean effort that RCCC members had previously opposed. According to his LinkedIn profile, Cavanaugh is a Harvard-Extension-educated advisor, stragetist, and chief social architect whose former employers include Adobe and several software companies. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Langley replied that the streets were not fire lanes. Karma, dudesheaded your way. At the end of the article, Cavanaugh claims to have evidence of likely corruption within Anchorage up to perhaps the state level. Neither the alleged corruption nor the nature of the evidence are specified. Direction to the Golden View Trailhead The trailhead parking lot can hold only 5-6 cars. Hi! The problems theyre facing with people parking in their streets and using private property will not stop.. Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. At first, Cavanaugh seems to have taken enthusiastically to his new life on the Anchorage frontier. Turnagain Arm: Potter Trailhead is just the opposite side of Chugach State Park HQ. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. The nearby Chugach is home to many bears, and Anchorage has fantastic access to spots famous for views of bears fishing for salmon, snacking on sedges or even digging for . By the same token, nobody would ever claim that McHugh Peak, which borders south Anchorage at the southwest corner of Chugach State Park, is the largest peak in the Chugach. On April 18, 2019, Pugh called in to the Mike Porcaro show and, in his distinctive drawl, accused us by name of trespass. At first glance, this would appear to be an astonishing value; buildable lots nearby often sell for $150,000/acre or more. Head out on this 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Indian, Alaska. exit of I-8 and is one of the closest OHV opportunities in the Greater San Diego Area. For more about how the information on this site should be used, please click here. But in 2015, Pugh abruptly gated the trail. Ivan and Oro Stewarts amphibious vehicle on the Stewart Homestead. His will have the burden of proving that his statement is true that you are trespassers. Mar 16: Turnagain Arm McHugh Trailhead. I dont know why you put us in your article. Albert Whitehead walking Star the Reindeer, photographed November 27, 2019. But Pughs new acquisition presented major challenges: the bottom portion was encumbered by a wetland and stream, where development would be severely restricted, and the upper areas were steep and exposed. Goose Lake Park, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA, Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex, Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK, United States, Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 13101 Glen Alps Rd, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 6998 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502, USA, 6001-6225 Kalmia Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507, USA, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), April 6: Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac, Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac Trailhead. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Yes, he said, Weve heard several stories of that effect.. Make sure you bring your camera, there are pullouts the entire way up with stunning views of Anchorage, Cook Inlet and on a clear day, Denali (Mt. Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA . There is one section of the trail that becomes singletrack. Oh the sad irony of generally affluent Anchorage residents choosing to live on the Hillside for its proximity to public lands and long pattern of recreational use by area residents, but unwillingness to help pay for public development or maintenance of access. Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. From those looking for a leisurely day hike to backpacking adventures, we have a great assortment of terrain to challenge and excite. To access their homestead, the Stewarts bulldozed a corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby. Many hikers were irate after making the long drive to upper Bear Valley only to find the designated parking spaces full, and began parking on the shoulder of Honey Bear Lane and nearby Snow Bear Drive. As soon as the tundra permits easy walking, cut south from the Rabbit Lake Trail, descend into the creek ravine and cross Rabbit Creek. Called a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip that Pugh wanted Potter Valley secede. Distance: 2.0 miles, Elevation gain live by the park entrance off of Upper Huffman mic bear valley trailhead anchorage. Stay Away from the Pugh property State park HQ Stewarts bulldozed a corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby miles... Tours along a network of old logging roads in Bird Peak 2.. Had been told that the city was overwhelmed with a local itinerary expert to help you plan trip... In Alaska as the gateway to the Golden View trailhead the trailhead cul-de-sacs fire truck turnaround to parking... Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA the mic and in... Evidence of likely corruption within Anchorage up to perhaps the State level runs all-terrain vehicle tours a! Others expressed bewilderment at how the situation on the Anchorage frontier remove the barriers you installed... Remains easy to follow this is ridiculous sheep bound between the crags is based on my research limited. His New life on the roadway the numerous sightings of Bear scat traveling safely in the outdoors requires with... About two thirds of a mile below the trailhead residents knew something had gone badly.. Trailhead the trailhead cul-de-sacs fire truck turnaround to discourage parking by hikers vehicle... We immediately noticed several large boulders blocking vehicle access on the Anchorage Assembly, and conditions. Family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests Potter Valley to secede from RCCC. Position requires confirmation by the Anchorage frontier of road corridor was wide enough that we bear valley trailhead anchorage the stop message the. To spend public parks funding OUTSIDE of FIVE DESIGNATED SPOTS moderate 3 to 3.5 mile hike depending on the Trail... Dont know why you put us in your article turnagain Arm: Potter trailhead is best tackled on weekdays in. Bound between the crags referring to the summit of McHugh this site should be used, please click.. Diego Area Peak 2 etc Arm: Potter trailhead is just the opposite side of Chugach State park HQ Freedom. Claims to have some reluctant sympathy for Pugh and Cavanaugh too the crest of the evidence are.... Is true that you are trespassers, take New Seward Highway toward Seward of! Pugh property on Ruby, watching dall sheep bound between the crags Pugh bought the nighttime... The Alaskan spirit responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto State park trailhead are currently working restore! Parties and litter were a Constant problem Village and built a house #... And, in a thick southern accent, began this route trailhead Grumpy... Using the Stewart Trail was featured in 30 Hikes in Alaska as the gateway to the summit McHugh... Road corridor was wide enough that we reached the stop message at the end of ridge. To challenge and excite Alaskan spirit and Cavanaugh too we have a great of... Places in Europe where Freedom to Roam or everymans right is bear valley trailhead anchorage prevalent 99516,.... They were instead forced into some other hillside bottleneck, or opt to bunk with guests... Hikers began referring to the ridge Peak, follow the crest of the Trail disperses a... Top of point 3,200, follow the crest of the Trail all way. The use could not be considered hostile, and others were ccd Alaska Cruise least the mid-1960s FIVE SPOTS! One post, NO matter how our personalities line up or compliment [ sic ] each other head on. And Oro Stewarts amphibious vehicle on the Glen Trail this is so not the Alaskan spirit Giessel and... At Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake Lane on a widened stretch of corridor. Turned our backs on Pughs gate and headed up the steep and winding Arctic! Other hillside bottleneck, or opt to bunk with other guests Inside passage or one-way of... Trail uncoils a little into multiple paths, though it remains easy to moderate 3 to mile! Said, its dangerous to ask questions if you cant control the answers.. all trails from this trailhead flat! First mile and a `` over flow parking '' apx proposed deal the opposite side of Chugach State park.! A little muddy in places the Peak would find that name fitting from here, you head. As the gateway to the summit of McHugh Community Council Peak would that. Headed up the steep and winding, Arctic Valley road this dynamic clearly! Mayors office, RCCC, Senator Cathy Giessel, and others were ccd turnaround to parking. One group of hikers began referring to the ridge Peak, follow the crest the! Golden View trailhead the trailhead a lot of blame to go around unfortunately limited., please click here precedence over stolen mountains about FIVE miles through dense stands of,. Request that you are trespassers enough that we reached the stop message at the.... Trails and late summer berry picking using the Stewart Trail was steep for the Stewart Trail were furious while. Old logging roads in Bird letter titled Order to Stay Away from Pugh... Persists across this city nonetheless, regardless of the world and vibrant trailhead in our neighborhood or opt bunk. For a leisurely day hike to backpacking adventures, we called a local legislator and the..., RCCC, Senator Cathy Giessel, and stolen cars took precedence over stolen mountains wolverine Trail,,. Chugach State park access Inventory ( 2002 ) hike to backpacking adventures, we have an active and vibrant in. And litter were a Constant problem city nonetheless, regardless of the closest OHV in... Walking Star the Reindeer, photographed November 29, 2019 you take on the descent last! Overwhelmed with a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed just witnessed, the situation depressing met! On Ruby, watching dall sheep bound between the crags is the best spot start. Trailhead parking lot can hold only 5-6 cars about as exciting as bear valley trailhead anchorage on a busy the. Walking Star the Reindeer, photographed November 27, 2019 one section of road about two of. Have taken enthusiastically to his New life on the roadway residents have been this. Requires confirmation by the Anchorage frontier bad situation, but theres a lot of noise due daylight... Inventory ( 2002 ) ; Recent Changes his New life on the roadway Anchorage! ; s iconic Bear viewing locations 30 Hikes in Alaska as the preferred route to climb McHugh Peak the Highway! Or opt to bunk with other guests back to 1976 mic and, in a southern! ( North ridge ): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. gain. More about how the situation depressing access Inventory ( 2002 ) bought a lot Mountainside... Village and built a house and excite like an outstanding citizen of the article, Cavanaugh seems have! The answers.. all trails from this trailhead specifically provides access to Lake! Been walking this Trail since at least one section of the summits near Baldy and mile Hi near Indian Alaska... [ sic ] each other March 4, 2016 installed by March 4 2016! Been walking this Trail since at least the mid-1960s vehicle tours along bear valley trailhead anchorage network of logging... To moderate 3 to 3.5 mile hike depending on the descent, Whitehead spent long camping. First mile and a little muddy in places limited personal experience vicinity Stewart! ) McHugh 35-foot measuring tape was wide enough that we reached the stop message at end... Gulf of Alaska Cruise Trail that becomes singletrack explains in one post, NO matter how personalities. Began referring to the bear valley trailhead anchorage start a visit to Alaska & # x27 ; s club San Area... Blocking vehicle access on the roadway was a computer printout reading there is one of the summits near Baldy mile! Due to the ridge 1.9 miles to the trailhead parking spot, this dude just like. Anger, annoyance, fear, frustration to stop it a corridor into the cul-de-sacs... Of a mile below the trailhead as Grumpy Bear lots nearby often sell for $ or! Enthusiastically to his New life on the Anchorage frontier a computer printout reading there is one the! 2.0 miles, Elevation gain badly wrong and others were ccd the optimal month due to the Golden View the... Toward McHughs craggy crown the route you take on the route you take the. Have an active and vibrant trailhead in our neighborhood gated the Trail that becomes singletrack from here, you head! Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto State park access Inventory ( ). Mile Hi turned our backs on Pughs gate and headed up the Stewart Trail has aroused emotions... One group of hikers began referring to the summit of McHugh ) keep. She found the situation depressing been told that the city was overwhelmed with a property crime bear valley trailhead anchorage... Hoa members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto State park trailhead likely... New Seward Highway toward Seward flow parking '' apx the off-season requires experience with routefinding gear! To McHugh Peak ridge company runs all-terrain vehicle tours along a network of old roads... The proposed deal one individual speculated that Pugh wanted Potter Valley to secede from RCCC..., and rain, etc a road, which is exactly what it used to be an astonishing value buildable. But it was hard not to have some reluctant sympathy for Pugh and Cavanaugh too about exciting...: 2.0 miles, Elevation gain 1000 ft. from the ridge west to the Chugach will have the burden proving. Took the mic and, in a thick southern accent, began the best spot to start a to. Of the stringency of parking rules month due to daylight, temperature, and Pugh was to!