Hike up Flattop Mountain
Anchorage, Alaska
Details
Distance
3.4 miles
Elevation Gain
1300 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Dwayne Parton
Flattop Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in Anchorage, Alaska and it's easy to see why. This recognizable landmark offers a 360 degree view of the Chugach Mountains, Cook Inlet, Anchorage, and Alaska Range making it a prime spot to watch the sunset and enjoy Alaska's scenery.
This moderate to difficult climb starts at 2200 feet and gets progressively difficult as you get closer to the top. It will cost $5(cash or card) to park at the Glen Alps Trailhead where you will find a set of well maintained trails accessing different parts of the valley including O'mally Peak.
Flattop Mountain Trail is a climb but there are plenty of places to stop, rest, and enjoy views of Mt. Denali, the Sleeping Lady, and Anchorage as the trail traverses along the mountain. Even if you don't have time to summit it's worth the short drive out of town to catch the view just few hundred yards from the trailhead.
The saddle is a great place to assess your comfort level as the trail near the summit becomes steep, requiring some rock scrambling. The summit is a football field sized area with plenty of places to sit, picnic, or even camp. Camping is allowed 1/2 mile from the trailhead and does not require a fee for groups less than 12. Depending on the time of year, Flattop is also a popular place to view the Northern Lights, ski, and paraglide.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Reviews
This short, steep hike offers panoramic views of Anchorage as a reward. I definitely wouldn't call it "easy", but this is definitely a very popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Incredible scenery for being so close to town.
4.0
Did the hike mid-October... fresh snow-covered made it an increasing challenge the higher up you got. Great way to spend 2-3 hours
5.0
Flattop Mountain is a fun, half-day hike for intermediate and experienced climbers. The trail starts out through some beautiful patches of trees and is a constant uphill climb for most of it. The last portion of the trail to the peak is rather technical, steep and I wouldn’t recommend you bring small children, especially in the off-season when the trail is covered by heavy snow. Overall, this is a fun way to escape the city and get an amazing view of the mountains and downtown Anchorage. I highly recommend you wear proper hiking boots or shoes and use poles to help maintain your stability on the mountain.
3.0
A great hike close to Anchorage for views of the city and Cook Inlet. Hikeable in the winter with snowshoes or skis.
4.0
Very nice, the beginning of the trail is pretty easy and gets harder as you go. The last part to the very top is basically bouldering. The views are unbelievable and you can see all of anchorage. You don’t have to get all the way to the top for a great view but it was a fun challenge to get up there!
4.0
There are better options from this trail head. Little O’Malley is a bit less traveled and has a better climb. Flattop is nice but gets crowded and if you take the main trail it gets sketchy, especially for kids, people with mobility issues. They are working on a new approach on the south side which should improve.
3.0
A challenging hike this wraps around and is mostly exposed views. Usually in the summer you will be hiking with lost of tourists and locals. The last bit is kind of like bouldering, I almost gave up with 5 minutes left- a girl was screaming, a guy was clearly scared, and I was just tired! But so worth getting to the top!
4.0
Can't beat the views at the top! Fun hike up and an even more fun slide/hike down. This was recommended by all the locals. The response we got from people after the hike was "Awesome! Did you slide down on your butt??" We responded, "Yes!". Sliding probably cut out 1/4 mile of hiking. We hiked to the Flattop at the end of March were it was a little icy on the trail. Micro spikes would have been helpful as I would have felt a lot safer on the way up.
5.0
I did this hike with the family a couple summers ago, I really enjoyed the hike. We got there in the early morning, and some what beat the crowds. It is one of the closest hikes to Anchorage, thus a lot of traffic. Still worth fighting the crowds for the views.
4.0
My wife and I hiked this route on a sunny day at the beginning of September. The parking lot was full with a lot of people on the trail. Although we enjoyed the hike we found it overcrowded. There were lots of families which is great but then the trail is not well maintained and can be dangerously slippy and scrambly in places, particularly near the top. It would be really easy to get hurt here, especially on the way down. Wooden steps that would once have been safe have been eroded and now have gaping holes between them. Wooden slats slope away and are covered in gravel. It's an accident waiting to happen. There were lots of dogs on the trail and so lots of dog poop - not many owners seemed interested in cleaning up their animals' droppings. I wouldn't recommend this trail to anyone - hike another one close by for similar views in a nicer, safer setting.
2.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike O'Malley Peak
Hike to Rabbit Lake & McHugh Peak
Hike to Rabbit Lake and the Suicide Peaks
Drive along Turnagain Arm
Bird Ridge Trail
Hike the South Fork Valley Trail, AK
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy