Alaska Lake via Gold Creek Trail

The hike to Alaska Lake on Gold Creek Trail is a varied, enjoyable hike. If you’re prepared for a few chilly creek crossings and some overgrowth, the views are lovely. Bring wading shoes and bug spray for this trail.

The hike begins from the trailhead off the road, following a very chill trail past Gold Creek Pond. Continue to Heli’s Pond, going left on Starwater Drive, then continue onto Chikamin Peak Road and take this past the pond.

Continue past the pond into Gold Creek Trail. Here, most of the families destined for the ponds will turn around and you’ll have some more solitude. You’ll roughly follow the creek, crossing numerous times. While the trail gets overgrown, the path remains easy to follow.

Where the path splits, say left onto Alaska Lake Trail, which is well marked. This is the steepest section of the trail. You’ll follow a stream to the lake, crossing over some large boulders and dealing with overgrowth, but the lake is worth it. From here, you’ll want to retrace your steps back to the trailhead.