Crow Pass Trail
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Crow Pass Trail
Difficulty Rating:
The Crow Pass Trail near Alyeska Resort is a beautiful moderate route that leads to Crow Pass. You will pass by beautiful Crystal Lake along the trail and will be rewarded with a great overlook to Raven Glacier.
Getting there
From Girdwood, take the North turn on Crow Creek Road. After around 7.0mi you will reach the dead-end. That is where you will find the trailhead.
About
| When to do | June - October |
| Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
| Family friendly | No |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Crow Pass Trail
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Crow Pass
The hike on Crow Pass Trail is a great route. Combine this with a Tram ride at Alyeska Resort for a great day out near Anchorage.
The Crow Pass Trail is a good hike with a steady elevation gain and a good quality trail. Bears are common in surrounding territories, so have your bear spray with you and ensure you learn about bear safety beforehand. In addition, we suggest against hiking during the snowy season, as the trail has a high risk of avalanches.
Start your hike to Crow Pass by taking the trail from the carpark. After around 0.5mi of walking through lush vegetation, you will rise above the treeline. This is where Crow Valley starts, and the views of surrounding mountains are amazing.
Shortly, you will reach a junction. Both paths lead to the same point, so you can take either. The difference we have noticed is that the left path takes you closer to beautiful waterfalls, however the one on the right is more pleasant to walk on. You will pass Brenner Mine at this point.
After almost 1.0mi these trails will merge back into one and you will pass along Crow Pass Cabin that sits near Crystal Lake.
Continue for a short while and you will reach Crow Pass where you can observe amazing views of the valleys, surrounding peaks and beautiful Raven Glacier. If you want, you can even walk closer!
Return the same way you came.
Trail highlights
Raven Glacier
Raven Glacier sits at an impressive 2500ft tall and is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Chugach Mountains. The highest parts of the Raven Glacier provide a mountaineering route called the Raven Headwall that leads to a famous glacier called Eklutna, which is located on the other side of the mountains.
If you hike the Crows Pass, about 3.0mi in from the trailhead, you will see the most spectacular views of Raven’s Glacier. If you continue another mile, you can actually touch the toe of the glacier and get an up close look at its gnarled and rugged shape and texture.
Find other amazing hikes around Anchorage:
Insider Hints
Spend night camping at Crown Pass Cabin.
If you’re up for adventure, you can take a one-way backpacking trip to Eagle River. This 22.4mi long trail is very challenging, but so rewarding! It includes crossing rivers, climbing ladders, going through thick foliage and passing through bear habitats.
Approaching the Raven Glacier is definitely worth it – you can even touch it!
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Suzy TQ 4 years ago
The waterfalls along the way are breathtaking & refreshing. Crow Pass in the summer has an abundance of wildflowers and mountain goats.
Jenny Kimmel 4 years ago
The Crystal Lakes was magnificent! You'll never run short of amazing views in this hike.
Rowan Sanders 4 years ago
Super fun and do-able for most people, probably need to be in at least somewhat decent shape to climb but I would not call it overly exhausting.
Michael Rivera 5 years ago
It was nice to be surrounded by immense beauty once in a while. It does something great for my well being.
Monsiur Solo 5 years ago
The weather was fantastic. We got to take otherworldly shots.
Jedi Fox 5 years ago
Very beautiful hike. There is a steady gain in elevation, but it's not that hard.