Pictures and Information abut hiking in and bicycling from Chugach State Park in Anchorage, Alaska.

See More/Pay Less With Flattop Mountain Shuttle

	Driver explains how to hike Flattop in the parking lot. You will also receive a handout explaining the hike so that there's no doubt where to go and when to return. Click here for the handout/directions on how to hike Flattop. View
	The parking lot and the short, paved "Overlook Trail" from the north side of Flattop's Blueberry Hill Trail. View
	Two hikers discuss what route to take on a section of the headwall. The rest of the hike including the loop around Blueberry Hill, and the parking lot are in the background below. View
	Hikers pick their routes along the headwall just below Flattop's peak. View
	While driving to the trailhead, some make new friends in the van and then hike together. Others hike alone. View
	In July and August, you can pick berries. Some like to find a quiet spot, read and enjoy the views. Whatever the season, because you're in Chugach State Park, you're experiencing nature. This picture was taken in fall. View
	Looking back at the Flattop trail from the top. View

O'Malley Peak is your next best choice.

Elevation: 5,150 feet. A much-less-traveled and longer alternative directly across the valley from Flattop. It takes the average hiker 2.5 hours to summit and 1.5 hours to descend. If you've already hiked Flattop and want something different, O'Malley is your next best choice.

From the parking lot walk down either of the two trails between the caretaker's cabin and Flattop's introductory steps. The trails merge at the Powerline trail. Take a right. Take your first left off of the Powerline trail. Hike down, cross bridge, walk on boardwalk and then take a quick right on a narrow sometimes muddy trail. Shortly after taking this right, the trail curves and takes you where you wanted to go when looking up from below. When you summit the first ridgeline, take a right. Keep going.

As you can see from the pictures below, awesome views await. Monitor the clock and stick to the turnaround time so you get back to the shuttle on time. If you don't want to worry about time, the Hike/Bike Combo allows you to do both at your own pace.

	Boardwalk and bridge over creek near start of O'Malley trail facing Flattop. View
	Looking north from O'Malley Peak this photo shows Flattop's southern profile and its elevation gain. Stand on the flat rocks in the foreground for a thrilling view. This is the point most hikers who choose O'Malley will have to turn around in order to make it back to the van by 4pm. View
	Zooming in on Flattop's summit from O'Malley Peak. Hiking to Flattop's "broad summit has long been the classic afternoon hike near Anchorage." 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska. View
	Looking west from O'Malley's spine. Powerline trail is on left. Parking lot is visible after clicking on "View." A fast hiker can make it to where this photo was taken in one hour. View
	Downtown Anchorage and Knik Arm framed by rocks along O'Malley trail. View

Walk the Powerline Trail if you don't want to hike up a mountain.

The Flattop trailhead is halfway up the Powerline trail. If your knees can't handle hiking up and down mountains, this very wide and flat trail is a pleasant way to experience Chugach State Park.

East of the parking, for about 3-miles, there are numerous hikes on either side of the Powerline trail/valley. O'Malley Peak and hiking up the backside of Flattop are the two most popular choices. Sometimes people ride their rented mountain bikes up and over the peak to Indian and then ride back to Anchorage along Turnagain Arm. You'll need to be in great shape and it will take about five hours to tackle this ambitious option.

West of the parking lot the Powerline Trail descends into Far North Bicentennial Park where there is great single track. Click here for Hike/Bike Combo.

Powerline Trail looking east or going up. Bottom of Flattop's northern flank is on right.

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On the right is the ridgeline leading to the second peak behind Flattop. The Powerline trail heads up into the Chugach to the left far below.

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North fork of Campbell Creek meanders in the bottom of valley next to Powerline Trail. View from Flattop's north flank.

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While driving to the trailhead, some make new friends in the van and then hike together. Others hike alone.

In July and August, you can pick berries. Some like to find a quiet spot, read and enjoy the views. Whatever the season, because you're in Chugach State Park, you're experiencing nature.

O'Malley Peak is your next best choice.

Walk the Powerline Trail if you don't want to hike up a mountain.