Winner Creek Trail

Winner Creek Trail is a popular trail that offers hiking through a forest, using the hand tram, and crossing over many streams and creeks. This is a fun easy hike and great for all ages! This hike begins and ends in a residential area so please be respectful and don't speed through their neighborhood. Note: If you are looking for the quickest route to the hand tram you should go to the Crow Creek Rd trailhead. Please be respectful of the hand tram and read all the instructions before use. You can use a shuttle or you can hike back the same way you came. You can do this hike from either the Crow Creek Rd or the Alyeska Hotel side. Either way, if you need a shuttle you can take the Glacier City transit shuttle bus. For the Alyeska parking lot, park on the north side for easier access to the Winner Creek Trailhead. The parking lot features an outhouse (pit style) and ample parking for a dozen vehicles and RVs. We found an information booth with a free shuttle schedule. The shuttle system is free but they encourage donations so please consider giving one. We walked to the northern side of the resort by the ski resort tram and found the Winner Creek Trailhead sign and began there. Now, after doing this hike, I would recommend starting at Alyeska Resort too. This way, you get a great introduction to the hike and you can build your excitement for the hand tram which is near the end of the trail. We hiked this in the middle of August and found it to be a great time for a visit! The plants and trees were vivid green and most of the streams and creeks were full of water. We didn't see much wildlife beyond some small birds but you can be sure bears and moose visit this area. The entire hike is located inside the Chugach National Forest which is close to 7 million acres - we loved hiking through the tall spruce and birch trees! The trail doesn't gain or lose much elevation. There are lots of fun boardwalks and planks to walk on. At about 1.7 miles into the hike you will come to a sign. Take a left and continue on to the Winner Creek Gorge and hand tram. Winner Creek Gorge is a beautiful area where greenish creek water meets the granite embankment and short cliffs. About .2 miles later you will finally arrive at the hand tram! You can read all about the hand tram and how it came to be on the information plaque. I think it's an amazing creation and deserves all the respect from hikers and visitors. It's very easy to operate. Two people can fit inside the hand tram at a time. You close the gate behind you and then you pull the rope that goes through the middle of the tram until you reach the other side. This process is tiring but if you go slow or have helpers pull you across it will be a quick journey. You will hang about 50 ft above the creek. The hand tram was definitely a highlight and lots of fun! The trail gains in elevation from here but long switchbacks make the hike easy. Most of the hikers it seemed came for the hand tram and we didn't see a single hiker until we were at the Lower Winner Creek (Crow Creek Rd) trailhead. From the hand tram it's about another mile until the end. The trail will eventually fork left or go straight. Go left and it will take you to the Winner Creek Trailhead parking lot off of Crow Creek Road. I have heard about Winner Creek for a long time now and can see why it is a favorite for many! I would highly recommend you do this trail not only for the hand tram but for the beautiful forest and Winner Creek Gorge! This is a great trail for families and pets too!