Hope Point hike
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Hope Point hike
Difficulty Rating:
The hike up Hope Point Trail is a fun and challenging hike to the peak of Hope Point. This route rewards with amazing views of Resurrection Creek Valley, Turnagain Arm, Fire Island and Cook Inlet.
Getting there
From Anchorage, take Seward Highway towards south and go around 70.3mi until you reach intersection with road towards Hope on your right. Take the right turn. Follow Hope Highway for another 16.9mi. As you approach Hope, the road will narrow down bit by bit. Take left before entering Porcupine Campground (where the Hope Highway ends) and you’ll shortly reach your car park.
About
| When to do | July - September |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Family friendly | No |
| Route Signage | Good |
| Crowd Levels | High |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Hope Point
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Hope Point
The Hope Point Hike is challenging but very rewarding! The views from the top of Hope Point are amazing, however, there are several things you need to be aware of when preparing for your hike to Hope Point: always be ready for the weather to go bad even on the sunniest days – strong sudden winds and rain is very common in this part of Alaska. Also, don’t forget to take lots of water with you as there won’t be any water sources along the trail and you will be exposed to the sun (if it’s sunny, of course) on most part of this hike. Beware that some parts of the trail might get a bit slick after rainy days.
To hike to Hope Point, take the trail from the car park – it’s well marked and hard to miss. Point Hope shares the trailhead with Gull Rock Trail. In the first part of the hike, you will be walking through the woods, and shortly after beginning Gull Rock Trail will split away, so stay on Point Hope Trail (take left at the junction). After crossing the Porcupine Creek, you will start ascending. The old trail to Hope Point used to be very steep, but a new switchbacking path was put between 2015 and 2016 to reduce the erosion damage and make hiking the Hope Point more pleasant.
Soon you will reach the tree line, so continue on the wide path. The trail will get a bit harder here as the path will get steeper. The views of Turnagain Arm will slowly emerge and motivate you to go higher up.
After reaching the rock cairn, continue on.
The last part of the trail to Hope Point might take a bit of scrambling and using your hands. You will know when you’ve reached the summit because of the summit marker, and the views are just breathtaking! Observe Resurrection Creek Valley, Turnagain Arm, Fire Island, and Cook Inlet.
Find other amazing hikes around Anchorage:
Insider Hints
Stay in Porcupine Campground – beautiful campsite on the shore of Turnagain Arm.
Take your binoculars with you – Turnagain Arm is a good place to spot beluga whales!
Visit Hope and Sunrise Museum to check the photographs and artifacts from Gold Rush times of Turnagain Arm.
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Katrine Ford 4 years ago
Great trail! worth the hike, the scenic view will make you wanna go back.
Prince Ng 4 years ago
Excellent hike! Tons of amazing views and photo opportunities! I was lucky enough to spot some beluga whales!
athena1985 5 years ago
Very engaging views. Starting this hike early was one of the best decisions we've made. Aside from the fact that there were very people, we also got to enjoy some morning magic and enjoy the peacefulness of the trail and surroundings.
Michael Rivera 5 years ago
We spend a total of 5.3 hours to complete this hike. It was really rewarding. The chilly air at the top was invigorating!
Monsiur Solo 5 years ago
Incredibly thrilling hike that takes lots of stamina to finish! It was pretty challenging for me as I do not exercise regularly.
Athena H. 5 years ago
The view from the top was exceptional - capturing the scenery of lakes and valleys.
Jedi Fox 5 years ago
The views were phenomenal. I would rate it as a moderately difficult hike. Bring lots of water!
Julia Totman 5 years ago
One of the greatest hikes you should definitely do if you could! Despite the elevation gain, the trail was not that technical and pretty safe.
Tyler Sledge 5 years ago
The trail was very slippery because it rained a few hours before we started. It was really troublesome. It would have been better if the weather was great!