Easiest from Cozihaus on Blodgett Lake
Tier C · Hatcher Pass Hiking
Gold Cord Lake
Gold Cord Lake is Hatcher Pass's shortest real alpine-lake payoff — roughly 1.7 miles round trip with about 800 feet of gain, starting from the Independence Mine area. It's a genuine alpine lake at a much smaller scale of commitment than Reed Lakes Trail or Gold Mint Trail.
Who this suits
Guests who want a real alpine lake without Reed Lakes' or Gold Mint's bigger commitment — good for families or a shorter add-on to an Independence Mine visit.
A plan that works
- Position this as the short alpine-lake option at Hatcher Pass — Reed Lakes and Gold Mint are the bigger commitments.
- Pairs naturally with an Independence Mine visit rather than needing its own dedicated day.
Drive and timing, honestly
- From the Independence Mine area, Hatcher Pass; see that guide for the destination-level framing. No drive time is separately stated.
- 1 to 2 hours.
What we won’t promise
- We cannot promise current trail or snow conditions, or current Independence Mine State Historical Park hours and access.
Practical notes
- A much smaller scale of commitment than Reed Lakes or Gold Mint — the short alpine-lake option here.
Part of Hatcher Pass
Hatcher Pass & Independence Mine
Explore the broader Hatcher Pass area — nearby hikes, scenic stops, and current access context.
Continue exploring Hatcher Pass
Food & provisioning in Palmer →View Hatcher Pass mapLocal context
Around Hatcher Pass
Where Gold Cord Lake sits relative to the rest of Hatcher Pass — no dead end here, open anything else nearby directly from the map.
Schematic — direction is real, distance is not to scale. Nothing here is placed at a street address. Roads and Summit Lake shown for orientation, from the same real coordinates as the points above.
Getting around Hatcher Pass
Hatcher Pass Road is the main corridor through the area. Summit Lake and April Bowl sit close together higher in the pass, while Reed Lakes is reached from the Archangel Road side. Independence Mine makes a useful central reference point.