Gulkana Glacier trail begins by following Phelan Creek. Gulkana glacier part trail, part route in red. TRIPS. Take one part sketchy suspension bridge, add in 360 degrees of stunning mountain views, and top it off with an incredible ice arch at the foot of a glacier; that’s exactly what you’ll get and more when you make the trek out to the Gulkana Glacier. This could be a good turn-around point if you don’t want to venture too far. Gulkana Glacier Suspension Bridge. Map and descriptions for numerous trails near the entrance and Visitor Center to Denali National Park. Gulkana Glacier and surrounding peaks (Source: USGS). The last mile or so of the road is rough, but we made it through and camped Friday night at the end of the road. 6 miles long. Full FTC Disclosure. Gulkana Glacier Trail Footbridge: Location: Paxson vicinity, Alaska, USA: Image Set Contributor: Patrick S. O'Donnell: Related Image Lists: All from Patrick S. O'Donnell All in Alaska All in USA All Pedestrian Suspension Bridges If you decided to hike all the way, you can climb on top of the glacier. save. Trails for all walkers and hikers. When did you last visit? Sometimes water or snow can prevent you from driving that far. Keystone Canyon is a gorgeous 3-mile long canyon with enormous waterfalls and cliffsides near Valdez, Alaska. Gulkana Glacier . Hiking Castner Glacier During Winter. I decided to try out Gulkana Glacier as it was on the way to meet up with some friends later that weekend and seemed like a pretty accessible hike. The accumulation area consists of four adjacent cirques with east, south, and west exposures and the ablation … Sign up at our office in the Student Recreation Center, online via myNookRec or over the phone at 907-474-6027.. Read more. Party: Eric Troyer Trip Location: Chena Dome Trail, 29 miles officially, but probably more like 30 or 31. Hello! Continue north along Phelan Creek until you come to a junction with College Creek and bear a slight right at 1/4-mile from the summer trailhead. While it was still marked with cairns occasionally, it was vague and snow patches appeared before long. Gulkana glacier abuts Canwell galcier; a large drop off overlooks Canwell. Gulkana Glacier is a glacier that flows from the ice fields of the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range. It’s not a difficult hike, but not something I recommend if you don’t have much experience hiking. Hi! It’s an easy 3-mile hike to reach the toe of the glacier and it should only take you around one hour to get there. ABOUT ANDREA KUUIPO PRIVACY POLICY AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE TRAVEL RESOURCES CONTACT, (Visit Native-Land.ca to identify whose land you live, work, and play on. Riley and I went out for another trip in September, this time in the Alaska Range. We weaved around several patches and post-holed through the biggest ones. (Bad knees, hip, etc) would the bridge be ok for her? My mom wants to do the bridge but has is not great physical shape and doesn’t get around great. Keep an eye on your time, as you return the way you came. Gulkana Glacier a glacier in Alaska. ft. single-family home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. The USGS has been conducting research here since the 1960s and there is a USGS Hut at the high reaches of the glacier built in 1968. Image ID: 1002575; Photographer: Zachary Sheldon; License type: Royalty Free; Max Screen Size: 4896 X 3264 pixels; Max Print Size: 16.32 X 10.88 inches @ 300 dpi It’s not a difficult hike, but not something I recommend if you don’t have much experience hiking. A few other cautions, remember this is bear territory. I can confirm, the bridge is fine and the trail is in great shape and pretty easy to follow. I’ve heard of people crossing it last week, and haven’t seen any notices from the Alpine Club. Gulkana Glacier seen from Isabel Pass, about 12 miles north of Paxson, Alaska in September, 2010. Pictures. Traditional Land: Ahtna (Visit Native-Land.ca to identify whose land you live, work, and play on.) It’s definitely one of the longest suspension bridges in Alaska that I’ve seen. Comparable nearby homes include 281 Dinali, 376 Duckwoods Ln, and 45 Impala. Gulkana Glacier Overlook We waited for a good weather day, and packed for a 2 day overnight trek. Gulkana Glacier is one of the easiest glacier hiking experiences you can find in Alaska! I hiked here a few years ago but this time we decided to spend the night. It’s only about 2.5 miles long and is fed by two small accumulation areas. Gulkana Glacier 2012 (Kinney) The trailhead for this special hike is located at the end of a two mile gravel road that exits the Richardson Highway to the east, a few miles north of Summit Lake. The idea is to head up to a small ridge just under 3800 ft in elevation. I may earn commissions if you shop through the affiliate links on this page. ... Bear Creek “Trail” ... Gulkana Glacier… There are usually a few cairns once you get higher up. A trail description and image describes the character, special features of the trail, and safety considerations. If you want to experience a fun glacier hike, the Gulkana Glacier trail near Paxson, Alaska, will take you across a cool suspension bridge. History Local name shown on … Drive the Richardson Highway about 69 miles from Delta, just past Isabel Pass, the Richardson Monument, and Gulkana Glacier overlook. I heard the bridge may be out? The Gulkana Glacier suspension bridge, built by the army corps of engineers, crosses glacier fed College Creek, on the way out to Gulkana Glacier. The Gulkana Glacier area has much to offer, including day-hiking possibilities, backpacking or mountaineering expeditions, or just a roadside view of the glacier on the drive between Valdez and Fairbanks. The trail turns right and heads into the brush. Description for a few backcountry hikes possible near the Worthington Glacier starting at 2-miles and up. Access to the College Glacier begins at the same location as the Gulkana Glacier Hike. Gulkana Glacier, AK weekend trip. Fall 2020 Trips. Turn left on the gravel road leading up the valley and drive about 3.5 miles, or as far as your vehicle will make it. Hiking and travel guide to Alaska. 0 comments. Visited Saturday, April 22. Mostly level ground, some walking on large rocks, and a suspension bridge! From this point you have a 7-mile paddle to the end of the lake to its outlet where after 3 miles you join the Middle Fork. The common put in is at the camping wayside at Paxson Lake alongside the Richardson Highway at the Paxson Lake Campground at mile 175. It’s possible to see the Castner Glacier ice cave during the wintertime. The Meiers Lake-Middle Fork trail begins at Mile 169 Richardson Highway and passes through forest, bog, and alpine tundra as it winds its way back to the confluence of the Middle Fork. This trail includes an amazing suspension bridge and amazing glacier views! The median list price per square foot on Gulkana Glacier Ln is $115, $ less than this home. Unknown Glacier (former tributary to Canwell) – 15 August 2017” → Tagged 4x4 Trail , Alaska , Canwell Glacier , Gulkana Glacier , hiking 2 Comments Search for: (My mom thought the bridge was terrifying, but I thought it was fun. Gulkana Glacier, Alaska - August 2016 approach pt 2 of 2 - Duration: ... Angel Rocks Trail - Fairbanks Alaska - Duration: 2:59. Could always try a few steps and see. If you are feeling more adventurous, there are numerous mountaineering and glacier traverse from the Gulkana Glacier. Of the total homes on Gulkana Glacier Ln, 98% are … Thank you! 75 Gulkana Glacier Ln is a house in Martinsburg, WV 25403. A researcher measuring the thickness of the snow at Gulkana Glacier (Source: USGS). College Glacier is a relatively short, receding, and thinning glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range near the Richardson Highway. I haven’t heard that it’s out, I’ll have to start asking around. There’s sometimes a couple of social trails here and they kind of meander in and out of each other. There’s also a cool looking gorge on the left side of the glacier and some crevasses higher up that look like fun areas to further explore another time. I wish to expand these guides and tutorials and keep them freely available, however, creating them is time-consuming and web-hosting isn’t free. Castner Glacier . Venture down south on the Richardson Highway to the Gulkana Glacier situated in the Delta Mountain Range. I spend quite a bit of time hiking in the backcountry of Alaska to find gorgeous sights that few people ever see. This property was built in 2019 and last sold on January 30, 2020 for $220,000. My focus in photography is mainly landscape and wildlife. Gulkana Glacier Suspension Bridge. In this post, I’m going to share how to hike Gulkana Glacier in Alaska. 6 miles long. Then hike the rest of the way into the glacier. The guidebook Delta Range: A Mountaineering Playground by Stan Justice is available in Fairbanks at Beaver Sports. Riley ready to go. Riley and I went out for another trip in September, this time in the Alaska Range. Please don’t park on the airstrip; it does get used. Drive in as far as your vehicle will allow (my Ford Focus made it a couple miles). A very sad reminder that these beautiful places are quite unforgiving of mistakes. The Gulkana Glacier trail starts at the end of the road. Go as far as you like and explore the area, it’s gorgeous. Most can be stepped over fairly easily, you might get your feet wet on hot days when the snow is melting. 11. The easiest hike to a glacier available in the Alaska Range. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Fall 2020 Trips. For somebody afraid of heights (like myself) it was frightening and also amazing to stand near the edge and look down hundreds of feet to the miles-long glacier running below. Turn on this road; after about two miles, there will be a gravel airstrip on the right. Mile 67 on the Richardson, at the Richardson Memorial, take the gravel road to the east. Alaska Guide Co. is based in Valdez, Alaska and seeks to educate people on Alaska through adventure tours and online informational resources. In 2015 a vigorous outflow creek blocked direct access forcing parties to traverse over unstable moraine until they could get on the glacier tongue. To get to the Gulkana Glacier cross the suspension bridge and follow the trail two miles until the trail peters out. The Gulkana River is an approximately 80-mile long river that can be done in 5 to 7 average length days. If you find this content helpful or enjoyable, please consider donating a small amount. The Gulkana Glacier trail opens up early on and you’ll be able to see the glacier from a distance. There is a dirt road that leads northeast. For somebody afraid of heights (like myself) it was frightening and also amazing to stand near the edge and look down hundreds of feet to the miles-long glacier running below. The trail eventually peters out. We met up with the group in a parking lot at UAF and spent some time making sure everyone had crampons that fit their shoes. The hike out to the glacier is approximately 7 miles out-and-back, is moderately steep in a few places on a dirt road, unmaintained trail, and interpretive trail. Northern lights over the researchers’ cabin in 2014 (Source: USGS). Image ID: 1002575; Photographer: Zachary Sheldon; License type: Royalty Free; Max Screen Size: 4896 X 3264 pixels; Max Print Size: 16.32 X 10.88 inches @ 300 dpi Transportation, equipment, food, and a … Based on Redfin's Martinsburg data, we estimate the home's value is $175,336. report. TheTrekPlanner 772 views. The night was spent in a small cabin used by researchers and other hikers. Access to the College Glacier begins at the same location as the Gulkana Glacier Hike. Want to know the ingredients for an epically awesome day hike? Alaska State Parks Trail Guides provide a variety of information about a particular trail or trails. The hike requires you to find your own trail for a bit, and the terrain can be challenging. If you have concerns about Gulkana Glacier Trail, send those in and we will forward those on to proper care takers. If it’s clear you should be able to see your destination, the glacier becomes visible. Because of the proximity to the highway, this area is frequently used by the military for training as well as by numerous educators and university researchers studying hydrology, glaciology, geology, climate and more. Participants must drive their own vehicles to and from the site. share. Gulkana Glacier is located about 175 miles southeast of Fairbanks, so the day began at 7:00 AM in order to have as much time as possible on the glacier. Please read attached Itineraries for any trips you are interested in for more information about the trips. The Gulkana Glacier Trail is a great afternoon hike–about X MILES long—complete with two swinging drawbridges to cross before you reach the glacier. Wire suspension bridge over Gulkana River on pedestrian pathway Location Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska Status Open to pedestrians only Design Wire/cable suspension Approximate latitude, longitude +63.21386, -145.49615 (decimal degrees) 63°12'50" N, 145°29'46" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") Approximate UTM coordinates The main trunk of the glacier has a southerly aspect, and is fed by four cirques with west, south, and east aspects. It’s fairly common to see any of these working or training along the way or out on the ice. If you only have time to hike to one glacier in Alaska, I wouldn’t suggest that you choose Gulkana Glacier. Crossing the bridge provides access to a path that leads to Gulkana Glacier. Gulkana Glacier 1967 (USGS) When I was an instructor at the Northern Warfare Training Center, we’d go to the Gulkana glacier for some rope-team training. The hike out to the glacier is approximately 7 miles out-and-back, is moderately steep in a few places on a dirt road, unmaintained trail, and interpretive trail. Wolverine Glacier is also located in Alaska, but is found in the Kenai Mountains on the coast. Gulkana Glacier is one of USGS’s two “benchmark” glaciers in Alaska, for which it has been patiently gathering data on an annual basis for the last fifty years. Posted by 1 day ago. The hike begins along the road. It is accessible by gravel roads from the Richardson Highway near mile post 197 at the Richardson Monument, just two miles north of Summit Lake and 12 miles north of … The “trailhead is a few parking areas approximately another 2 miles in (4 miles total). map disclaimer. I did this hike in 2013 and it was amazing! By now you should be mostly out of the brush. Purchasing prints and wall art also helps. A woman walking across a swing bridge, Gulkana Glacier trail, Delta Mountains, Alaska Range, Alaska, USA - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock Sales: 888-649-2990 Sell I really appreciate your support! We weaved around several patches and post-holed through the biggest ones. The trail is primarily used for hiking and trail running and is best used from May until October. Sign up at our office in the Student Recreation Center, online via myNookRec or over the phone at 907-474-6027.. For those in good shape, hike over the rugged moraine looking for ice caves and other cool glacial features, or hike all the way to the “intersection” of the three branches of the glacier. We decided to visit an easily accessible glacier, Gulkana Glacier, off the Richardson Highway. While it was still marked with cairns occasionally, it was vague and snow patches appeared before long. Upcoming Trip: August 8, 2020 CANCELED due to unpredictable weather. Gulkana Glacier We had quite the time this summer, from adventuring in Alaska to celebrating a wedding on the beaches of Florida and catching up with family and friends in St. Louis. Then hike the rest of the way into the glacier. mainstem Gulkana. A trail profile illustrates the changes in elevation along the trail. You will gain just over 350 feet of elevation by the time you reach the toe of the Gulkana Glacier. An alternate, and much more difficult, option involves starting on the Tangle Lakes along the Denali Highway, and paddling south, portaging from one lake to another to a point where the Middle Fork begins. (The official trail guide also shows 8300 feet elevation gain, but my GPS said it was almost 9300) Access: Two trailheads: Miles 50.5 and 49.4, Chena Hot Springs Road Trip Date: Saturday, May 30 Trail or route conditions, wildlife sightings and any highlights […] Gulkana Weather Forecasts. Close. TRIPS. You will most likely have a larger stream crossing to get on to the glacier on the southeastern moraine (at the margin). I'm Andrea Kuuipo. The road out to the trail head is a fairly easy dirt road but the last 1/4 is quite rough and the very last bit requires high … N of Paxson, Alaska Range. Good four wheel-drive and clearance may get you in further. College Glacier is a relatively short, receding, and thinning glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range near the Richardson Highway. If you don’t feel up to the full hike up to the glacier, you do get a good view of the glacier about 1.5 miles in from the unofficial trailhead, making for a fun 3-mile hike. I'm a lifelong Alaskan and I help adventurous women build their confidence in the outdoors. The night was spent in a small cabin used by researchers and other hikers. Gulkana Glacier 2012 (Kinney) The trailhead for this special hike is located at the end of a two mile gravel road that exits the Richardson Highway to the east, a few miles north of Summit Lake. After leaving Haines and driving my thirty year old decrepit Toyota pickup across the Yukon to the Northwest Territories border, followed by penetrating the Alaskan Interior and riding my bicycle into the Wrangell Mountains by way of the splendid Nabesna Road, it was time to get down to some mountaineering. It was a lot of fun, and the scenery was spectacular!! The sq. Mostly level ground, some walking on large rocks, and a suspension bridge! For those in good shape, hike over the rugged moraine looking for ice caves and other cool glacial features, or hike all the way to the “intersection” of the three branches of the glacier. Bring a GPS or map and compass and know how to use them. You can help support this guidebook by purchasing prints or making a small donation below. Maps, photos, and information. ... Bear Creek “Trail” ... Gulkana Glacier. :P) I bet it has retreated a lot since then though 🙁, If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi. After you cross the suspension bridge, you will follow the trail up over a hill and gradually descend towards the creek. Here's a short video I slapped together of our hike on the Gulkana Glacier last weekend. The Gulkana Glacier trail opens up early on and you’ll be able to see the glacier from a distance. The hiking trail is faint in spots, but should be easy enough to make out. These links help support this website and keeps the content free. Gulkana Glacier – still very far away… The trail faded out after the first mile. There are numerous hiking trails in the area. Gulkana Glacier Hiking Trip This relatively well-known hike is a good option for an easy day out surrounded by superlative scenery, as well as a possible access point for the bouldery, but mercifully un-brushy high country that surrounds the Gulkana Glacier Valley. Castner Glacier . hide. mainstem Gulkana. heads on Icefall Peak, trends SW to its 1950 terminus at head of Gulkana River, 14 mi. If continuing on to the glacier, there will be a few stream crossings. It’s an easy 3-mile hike to reach the toe of the glacier and it should only take you around one hour to get there. If you have insights you would like to share we welcome those as well. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Gulkana area. We mainly saw a lot of dwarf fireweed and bird vetch. This property was built in 2008. This is just south of the Captain Wilds P. Richardson monument (Mile 197.6), which offers an excellent roadside view of the glacier. You will only have to hike for about five minutes before you reach the suspension bridge that takes you across Phelan Creek. Pictures. The night was spent in a … It shouldn’t be too hard to find the main trail. If not, could always have a nice walk along the river. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Gulkana is monitored very closely by the USGS. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We decided to visit an easily accessible glacier, Gulkana Glacier, off the Richardson Highway. We started our hike a little late in the evening, so we decided to turn around once we felt satisfied with how close to the glacier we were. This home was built in 2016 and last sold on for. Although, crossing College Creek (the approach to College Glacier) over the eery suspension bridge does prove to be somewhat nerve-wracking for some. Especially in inclement weather, navigation can be difficult. Gulkana Glacier is located along the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range. Mostly in the Fairbanks and interior region of Alaska, but always expanding to new areas! It's a Regular size geocache, with difficulty of 2, terrain of 3. Lakeview by the Gulkana Glacier Trail (GC151AX) was created by Arctic-Clan on 9/12/2007. Drive in as far as your vehicle will allow (my Ford Focus made it a couple miles). It highlights many of the climbable peaks accessible by the Gulkana Glacier. Gulkana glacier abuts Canwell galcier; a large drop off overlooks Canwell. You might want to go one at a time to eliminate extra bouncing if the bridge is intimidating. Looking back I’m impressed by how much we were able to fit in. 2:59. This glacier hike takes you across one of the longest suspension bridges in Alaska. Do you have any questions about hiking Gulkana Glacier Trail? If you don’t mind, definitely let me know if you hear anything definitive, that could be a tough crossing with the amount of rain we’ve had this year and now the heat! Don’t travel on to the glacier on snow unless you are familiar with glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Hi! For Alaska snowmachine safety advocate Rich Runser, Saturday's death of a 9-year-old Fairbanks boy who rode into an open hole in the Gulkana Glacier and fell to his death just made me sick. For somebody afraid of heights (like myself) it was frightening and also amazing to stand near the edge and look down hundreds of feet to the miles-long glacier running below. It's located in Alaska, United States.Off the rocky Gulkana Glacier Trail located off the Richardson Hwy, 2 - 3 miles off a gravel road. Please read attached Itineraries for any trips you are interested in for more information about the trips. I’ll update a few items in this guide later this week. Gulkana Glacier Gulkana Glacier is a glacier that flows from the ice fields of the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range.It is accessible by gravel roads from the Richardson Highway near mile post 197 at the Richardson Monument, just two miles north of Summit Lake and 12 miles north of Paxson and the junction with Denali Highway. 16 Gulkana Glacier Ln is a house in Martinsburg, WV 25403. Distance: 6 miles Time: 2 hours Elevation Gain: 358 feet Difficulty: Easy Dogs: Yes. You can stay on the small ridge, slowly descending toward the creek, or drop into the creekbed. (It is currently receding about 0.4 meters each year.) Hopefully this helps a bit. Details. Guides provide access, difficulty, length, and use information. I know some people get a bit scared, especially if anyone else is on the bridge with them because of the swinging. In this episode my friends and I explore the Gulkana Glacier trail. This boardwalk trail in Whittier climbs through the forest and ends at a long-dropping waterfall down a sheer rock face.… Hike Gulkana Glacier Trail in Alaska This glacier hike in Alaska has a long suspension bridge that leads you to Gulkana Glacier.… 472 comments. The Meiers Lake-Middle Fork trail begins at Mile 169 Richardson Highway and passes through forest, bog, and alpine tundra as it winds its way back to the confluence of the Middle Fork. It has a super cool suspension bridge and can be done all in the same day. It’s located in a gorgeous landscape on the south side of the Alaska Range (Delta Mountains) near some spires known as the Hoodoos, just north of Summit Lake and Paxson. First ice cave along the glacier runoff creek. Gulkana glacier abuts Canwell galcier; a large drop off overlooks Canwell. If I can’t find anyone that’s been down there in the last few days, maybe I’ll check it out this weekend. share. Posts about Gulkana Glacier written by justrollingby. It's an out and back about 6 miles total. For Alaska snowmachine safety advocate Rich Runser, Saturday's death of a 9-year-old Fairbanks boy who rode into an open hole in the Gulkana Glacier and fell to his death just made me sick. I hiked here a few years ago but this time we decided to spend the night. I’d be pretty surprised if it ever washed out, the supports are pretty high over College Creek unless something else happened. There are moulins and crevasses that are very dangerous, especially when snow-covered.