Flattop Mountain Trail

Flattop Mountain Trail climbs to the summit of the most-climbed peak in all of Alaska, a distinction that speaks both to its accessibility from Anchorage and the breathtaking rewards that await at the 3,510-foot summit. The trail begins at the Glen Alps trailhead in the upper hillside above Anchorage and immediately enters the open tundra that characterizes Chugach State Park's lower elevations.

The climb is steep and unrelenting, gaining most of its elevation in a compact distance as the trail switchbacks through low-growing blueberry, crowberry, and Labrador tea shrubs. The upper section transitions to exposed rock scrambling that requires the use of hands in places, and the final approach to the distinctive flat summit plateau is a memorable scramble across fractured granite. The summit experience is extraordinary, with Anchorage sprawling across Cook Inlet below and the Alaska Range visible on the horizon on clear days.

The panoramic view from Flattop encompasses Cook Inlet, the Kenai Peninsula, Mount Susitna, and on exceptional days, the distant summit of Denali rising above the clouds 130 miles to the north. Moose are frequently visible in the lower tundra sections, and Dall sheep inhabit the upper ridges above the trail. This peak has introduced more Alaskans and visitors to the joy of hiking than any other in the state, and ascending it is an essential Anchorage experience that rewards the physical effort many times over.