Chugach State Park, AK: Flute Glacier

With gorgeous lakes and a permanent icefield set between towering peaks, the sights here scream big Alaska. But the combination of trail hiking, easy scrambling, basic routefinding, and novice-friendly creek fords say start right here. The 19-mile out-and-back route follows the South Fork of Eagle River into the Chugach Mountains. And though the first half of the route, to Eagle Lake, is popular with Anchorage locals, few hikers venture where you’re going–to Flute Glacier.

Follow the boardwalk from the signed trailhead; it quickly gives way to a trail that winds through stunted spruce. After a mile the track breaks out into waist-high willow, where you’ll find blazing pink fireweed and plentiful blueberries in late summer. At mile 4.5, just before a bridge at the outlet to Eagle Lake, you have a choice. During high runoff periods, stay north of Eagle Lake, following a faint user trail (left) across talus slopes in order to avoid fording Eagle River 2.5 miles farther up-valley. In late summer or dry spells, it’s faster and easier to stay on the main trail, past the remnant hiker’s shelter, on the ridge above Symphony Lake (itself a sweet destination for a shorter trip).

To reach the Flute Glacier, follow user trails southeast from the shelter along the south shore of Eagle Lake. After short stretches of alder bashing, you’ll break out onto gravel bars along the upper Eagle River. Ford the stream where it flows around a large terminal moraine, and head upstream along the north bank. At mile 8.2, scramble up a steep, 300-foot boulderfield, passing left around a cliff-band waterfall. The terrain levels out until just before the glacier toe, where a loose second climb tests your patience after the first one. You’ll find broad, flat campsites beneath the second step; pack crampons if you want to explore farther, on the ice.

MORE INFO: Alaska Public Lands Information Center, (907) 644-3661; nps.gov/aplic/center

-Mapped by Steve Howe

Trail Facts

• Distance: 30.1

Waypoints

WPT001

Location: 61.232563, -149.456022

South Fork trailhead

WPT002

Location: 61.209971, -149.430143

Bridge

WPT003

Location: 61.210766, -149.427109

Ford

WPT004

Location: 61.184678, -149.38629

Bridge: Go left and north of lake during high water. Otherwise, go right.

WPT005

Location: 61.176835, -149.38063

Old Shelter

WPT006

Location: 61.173377, -149.315701

From lake, follow user trail southeast

WPT007

Location: 61.157004, -149.287362

End near Flute Glacier

Clouds circle peak

Location: 61.175364, -149.379044

Sweet views near start

Location: 61.210105, -149.438095

South Fork of Eagle River

Location: 61.209609, -149.430199

Rain clouds move in

Location: 61.196875, -149.407196

Shoreline

Location: 61.17735, -149.383163

Rest Stop with views

Location: 61.172715, -149.315872

Camp

Location: 61.173377, -149.362564