추가치 산맥‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪14‬개의 천연기념물

This hike goes between Girdwood and Eagle River. It's a beautiful hike that covers a lot of various terrain.

From the parking lot, a good path leads to the viewpoint

This is about as far as you'd want to go on the sometimes steep, unstable and unofficial gravel "path" that parallels the glacier. You do get some amazing views here, but all the warning signs you hiked past are there for a reason. This isn't the safest trail on the planet, and it's very easy to suddenly notice you're walking on the glacier itself, as the rock and dirt you started on merge seamlessly into the ice itself. Don't believe me? Look for the glimmers of blue and blue-white ice peeking out through the grime, and trace the source of the miniature waterfalls spilling down near the trail. They're fueled by melting ice.

When the weather is clear, you have a great view of the mountains and the coast off Anchorage from up here.

From Bodenburg Butte you have a great 360° view of the surrounding mountains and the Knik Glacier, which feeds the Knik River of the same name. The butte itself was also formed by glacial activity. The panoramic view is definitely worth the strenuous climb (including a staircase with 527 steps).

Follow the gravel path

Blueberry Knoll is named for the plentiful berries that populate its slopes in autumn—but this is such a popular area that they get picked out very quickly. Blink, and you'll miss them! You'll hike right past the knoll on your way up Flattop, or you can treat it as its own destination, hiking a complete loop around it to enjoy the views in all directions before you head back down.

The views from Flattop Mountain's plateau summit are spectacular. On a really clear day you can see the Alaska Range, and sometimes even Denali (tiny in the distance) from here. If you have the time and energy, you can also hike farther along the ridge to the southeast. There are two ways to hike up Flattop Mountain: From the Canyon Road AKA Rabbit Creek Trailhead, which you need a car to reach, or from the Glen Alps Trailhead, which you can reach with a car or via the Flattop Shuttle (see https://www.hike-anchorage-alaska.com/). If you're hiking from the Glen Alps Trailhead, the trail includes a bit of steep scrambling near the summit. Be careful and watch for loose rock!