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Signature picks · Hatcher Pass Hiking

Reed Lakes Trail

A genuine alpine hike above Hatcher Pass: mountain scenery, a rock and boulder section, and alpine lakes at the end — rewarding even if you turn around before finishing the whole route.

The alpine terrain and boulder section along the Reed Lakes Trail above Hatcher Pass

How far do you want to go?

  • Short tasteAbout 1-2 hoursWalk the approach and turn around whenever the terrain or your time runs out — still real alpine scenery, no boulder section required.
  • Valley outingAbout 3-4 hoursReach well into the boulder section and alpine terrain without committing to the full route to the lakes themselves.
  • Full routeMost of a dayThe complete hike to Reed Lakes and back, with real elevation gain and the boulder section throughout — the significant hike this guide is written for.
StrenuousFlexible: one hour to a full day

Who this suits

Guests who want a significant, active hike in the Hatcher Pass area and are comfortable with boulder terrain and real elevation gain. For an easier Hatcher Pass day, see our Hatcher Pass & Independence Mine guide instead.

A plan that works

  1. Set expectations as a significant hike, not a stroll — alpine terrain, a rock and boulder section, and meaningful elevation gain on the full route.
  2. This is genuinely flexible: a short taste from the trailhead, a longer valley outing into the boulder section, or the full route to the lakes are all real, worthwhile versions of this hike — you do not have to reach the lakes to have a great time.
  3. Prior working figures put the full round trip at roughly 8 and a half miles with real elevation gain — worth checking current numbers before you commit to the whole route.
  4. Check current Archangel Road and trail conditions before you go — access to the trailhead can itself be the limiting factor.

Plan your visit

View trailhead in Google Maps

Check current Archangel Road and trailhead access conditions before you go.

Drive and timing, honestly

  • No drive time is stated from either property — none has been measured.
  • The drive into Hatcher Pass and the trailhead approach are the same regardless of how far you go once you're on foot — see the flexible on-site time breakdown below for what actually varies.

What we won’t promise

  • We cannot promise ordinary passenger-vehicle access to Archangel Road or the trailhead — worth checking current conditions.
  • We would not treat the roughly 8.5-mile, ~2,000-foot figures as confirmed official numbers — they're prior working figures.
  • We cannot promise trail conditions, snow-free dates, or weather.
  • We would not call this an easy or short hike.

Practical notes

  • Pack real hiking layers and footwear — the boulder section and alpine exposure are real.
  • This pairs with the rest of a Hatcher Pass day, including Independence Mine, if you want to make it a bigger trip.

Local context

Around Hatcher Pass

Where Reed Lakes Trail sits within Hatcher Pass — open any of the mapped places directly, or explore more of the area below.

Hatcher Pass geographic orientation: Fishhook and Hatcher Pass Roads, the Archangel Road branch, Reed Lakes, Independence Mine, Summit Lake, April Bowl, and surrounding trails and waterways.
AnchorageHatcher Pass in Southcentral

Choose a place to view on the map

Map keyMain roadSeasonal vehicle accessTrailRiver / significant streamTrailhead / accessMajor destinationOrientation map · not for navigation

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Where this fits regionally

Hatcher Pass, on the wider Southcentral map.

View on Southcentral map