Near Middle Fork Loop
Powerline Pass Trail at Glen Alps. Chugach State Park, Alaska
Near Middle Fork Loop
Flattop ridge from Middle Fork. From left to right there is Ptarmigan Peak, Flaketop, Peak 3 and Peak 2. Flattop is off the picture to the right.
Near Middle Fork Loop
View of Anchorage as we climb above tree line.
Near Middle Fork Loop
Moose below O'Malley Ridge.

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Hike Route

Middle Fork Loop

4.0 (5 Ratings)
A terrific loop option with a third of the climbing of the Wolverine Peak out-and-back.
9.6
mi
Distance
1,450
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Fall ColorsRiver/CreekViewsWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
9.58mi
Distance
1,450ft
Elevation Gain
1,450ft
Elevation Loss
30%
Max Grade
2,246ft
High Point
996ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
To access this featured hike, head to the Prospect Heights Trailhead and head northeast on the Wolverine Bowl Trail. Follow this trail as it bends to the north and then east with some nice views of the city. After ~1.4 miles, look for a right-hand turn onto the Middle Fork Loop Trail.Continue your climb through this thinned forest, parallel to the South Fork Campbell Creek. At 3.7 miles, cross the Middle Fork Campbell Creek and continue south around the toe of O'Malley Peak (5,150') to the southeast. Around the five-mile point, the trail will begin to bend to the right (west). Continue for another three-quarters of a mile until you arrive at the Powerline Pass Trail. Turn right here to begin your return journey. Start your final, short ascent on this wide trail before reaching the high point of this hike just after turning right onto the Blueberry Hollow Trail. From here, continue north onto the South Fork Rim Trail as it returns to the Prospect Heights Trailhead.
History & Background
Trail maintenance on the Middle Fork Loop Trail is aided through a grant given in 2016 from REI to the Alaska Geographic Association.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Zander Gopfert