Moose Pass: A vast area for outdoor activities

Willow Hetrick/Turnagain Times Ptarmigan Lake is a glacial-fed lake high in the Chugach mountains. There are many areas along the lake for a lunch breaks and overnight camping.

Willow Hetrick/Turnagain Times A view of Lost Lake. A picnic along this lake offers the perfect half-way stopping point while hiking the Lost Lake/Primrose Trail.

By Willow Hetrick
Turnagain Times Moose Pass Correspondent

Moose Pass originally became a settlement during the gold mining era. Soon after, the Alaska Railroad was built. Throughout the town, visitors can witness the 1900-1920’s era. In the heart of the town is Ed Estes’s wooden water wheel and sharpening stone next to the grocery store. At mile 23 of the Seward Highway, visitors can still drive by the “Alaska Nellie’s Homestead” which has been part of the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. Alaska Nellie came to Alaska in 1915, and quickly received a contract with the railroad providing government employees room and board. Visitors can still drive down the homestead and look across the railroad track to the waters of Kenai Lake. A bike trail runs from the “ball diamond”, which is a half mile north of town, to the south end of town along Upper Trail Lake. Joggers, kids on bikes, moms with strollers, horseback riders and folks just out walking the dog have made the community a friendly get-together place. Moose Pass is the convenient base for a variety of hiking, camping and fishing excursions. Trails to Johnson, Ptarmigan, Crescent, and Carter lakes, campgrounds at Trail River and Ptarmigan Creek are all popular, and discussed below.

Area Trails
There are dozens of scenic hiking trails scattered throughout the Chugach National Forest, many within a short distance of Moose Pass. Below is detailed information about some of our most popular trails. For more detailed trail information, see the Chamber’s website at: http://www.moosepass.net/hiking.html. Trails are in order as you would pass them driving south from Anchorage to Seward.

Devil’s Pass:
Trailhead is on west side of Seward Highway, Mile 39. Trip Time (one way): 5-6 hours, Difficulty: Moderate, Length (one way): 10 miles, Elevation Gain: 1400 feet. This trail travels through beautiful country. In the beginning the hike is through old cottonwood trees, but further on hikers will experience the Alaskan alpine.

Carter Lake:
Trailhead is at Mile 34, Seward Highway. Trip Time (one way): 2 hours, Difficulty: More difficult, Length (one way): 3.3 miles, Elevation Gain: 955 feet. Although this trail is straight up the entire time, once you get up to the lake, there are wildflowers fields for miles.

Johnson Pass Trail: South Trail head: At Mile 32.5 Seward Highway, pull into Forest Service signed pullout for trailhead (west of Upper Trail Lake). Trip Time (entire trail): 2
-3 days, Difficulty: easy, Length (entire trail): 23 miles, Elevation gain: 1,000 feet. This trail meanders through the spruce forest along Trail Lake and into Johnson Pass. If you desire to hike the entire 23 miles, you will reach the North Trail head in Turnagain Pass.

Vagt Lake Trail:
At mile 24 of the Seward Highway, turn east onto Lower Trail Lake Road and park at the lakefront. There is a trail sign in the parking lot. Trip Time (one-way): 1-2 hours, Difficulty: easy, Length (one-way): 1.5 miles, Elevation Gain: 300 feet. This trail is a local favorite day hike for quick fishing. The trail is very well-maintained and the lake offers a great place to picnic and dip your feet in the water before heading home.

Ptarmigan Creek Trail:
At Mile 23, Seward Highway, turn east into Ptarmigan Creek Campground. The trail begins at the south end of the campground. Trip Time (one-way): 3 hours, Difficulty: more difficult, Length (one-way): 7.5 miles, Elevation Gain: 450 feet. Be sure to take your camera on this hike! The trail follows Ptarmigan Creek into the mountains, then hikers will cross avalanche chutes until the trail drops back down to the lake where there are campsites and a perfect picnic area to enjoy your lunch while looking over the glacial fed lake.

Primrose Trail:
At Mile 17, Seward Highway, turn northwest and travel 1.5 miles to Primrose Campground. Trail sign and trailhead in campground. Trip Time (one way): 4-5 hours, Difficulty: more difficult, Length (one-way): 8 miles, Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet. The trail starts out in the spruce forest for the first few miles and then to the alpine terrain. Small lakes are scattered on either side of the trail, and on a sunny day hikers can see mountains for miles.

Grayling Lake:
Trailhead is on the west side of the Seward Highway, mile 13.2. Trip Time (one way): 1 hour, Difficulty: Easy, Length (one way): 1.58 miles, Elevation Gain: 450 Feet. This trail is a great one for a short break from driving. While you will never get out of the spruce forest, the lakes that are hidden at the end of the trail are perfect for relaxing along the banks.

Lost Lake Trail:
Milepost 5, Seward Highway, at Lost Lake subdivision-up gravel road follow signs to parking. Trip Time (one way): 3-4 hours, Difficulty: more difficult, Length (one-way): 7 miles, Elevation Gain: 1,820 feet. This trail connects with the Primrose Trail, but starts near Seward. Once you are out of the trees, be sure to turn around and look at the town of Seward from miles above.

Area Fishing
Carter Lake: This is a beautiful alpine lake above the town of Moose Pass. Access to the lake is via a one-mile uphill hike along a well maintained trail with incredible views of Upper Trail Lakes and Johnson Pass. Fly fishing is practiced from the shore or wading into shallow waters from a few secluded spots. The catch rate is very high, especially when the ice goes out and later in the summer when the rainbows migrate to the creeks. Carter Lake is an ideal candidate for a half day fishing excursion. The hike to the lake starts from the trailhead located at Mile 33 of the Seward Highway.

Crescent Lake: Fishing in Crescent Creek and Crescent Lake is very popular for trophy-size grayling. The lake is accessed by meandering another mile beyond Carter Lake through Alpine Meadows. The lake, which is much deeper and colder than its neighboring Carter Lake, offers grayling and rainbow trout fishing. A popular activity is the lakeside lunch of fresh grayling. There are many small creeks that feed the lake, offering unique fishing opportunities.

Grayling Lake: In Grayling Lake, there is an opportunity to fish for Grayling, and in Meridian and Leech Lakes, fishing for rainbow trout is always nice. The trailhead is located at mile 13.2 of the Seward Highway, and the trails are a short and easy hike to the lakes.

Ptarmigan Creek and Lake: The trail head is located at Mile 23 of the Seward Highway; the river is a short 5-10 minute hike. For lake information, see Ptarmigan Creek Trail information above. Anglers can fly-fish the river down to the mouth of Kenai Lake. In both the creek and the lake, anglers can fish for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. This is a great ½ day trip!

Johnson and Bench Lake: Fishing is good for Grayling in Bench Lake and for rainbow trout in Johnson Lake. Access to the lakes is via Johnson Pass Trail at Mile 32.5 Seward Highway. Bench Lake is 9.3 miles from the Moose Pass trailhead, and Johnson Lake is only a few miles further.

Trail Lakes: These lakes offer a variety of fishing opportunities. This is a spot where spin casting is very popular. It is a great evening or short day activity for youth and novice fisherman or fly fisherman desiring to gain some practice and exercise their gear. Drive directly to lakeside locations and fish for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, lake trout and the rare white fish, but make sure to adhere to lake-front property owners’ wishes.

Kenai Lake: Kenai Lake offers great fishing opportunities for novice and more experience anglers. In the lake are rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, lake trout, and a few white fish. Easy access to fishing on Kenai Lake is at the Trail River Campground, mile 24.2 of the Seward Highway.

Jerome Lake: Jerome Lake is located in a small valley along the right-hand-side of the Seward Highway, mile 38.3. This lake is stocked with rainbow trout and the pullout makes it a nice scenic stop for a bit of fishing or relaxing in scenic surroundings. Guided fishing trips from local residents are available and highly recommended. Visit http://www.moosepassalaska.com/ and click on “Fishing Guides” to explore guiding opportunities. Before fishing in the Moose Pass area, be sure to review Alaska Department of Fish and Game hunting and fishing regulations, as regulations and personal use limits change throughout the summer. Also, all anglers in the state must have a valid fishing license when fishing in any water body of the state.

Area Kayaking, Canoeing, and Boating
Kenai, Trail, and Tern Lakes are all great lakes to launch kayaks, canoes, and motor boats. Campgrounds and day use areas provide boat launches. The shores of Kenai Lake especially offer prime picnic areas because of the smooth, weathered rocks that line the shores. Be considerate of other users and pack out trash and clean fire pits.

Campgrounds and Day Use Areas

Tern Lake Day Use Area This site is a day use site with 13 picnic sites only. At Tern Lake, visitors have access to water, a fish viewing platform, toilets, an information board, fire grates, and picnic tables. This year the Forest Service is conducting stream restoration work at Dave’s Creek, within the day use area. Construction is not predicted to interfere with use of the area, but visitors should be aware and adhere to all warning signs. Tern Lake’s marshy characteristic is a nursery each spring for Arctic terns. These fishing birds fly thousands of miles from Antarctica to nest in the northern territories. They stay only long enough for their eggs to hatch and their babies to grow strong. The lake is named for these Arctic terns. Salmon use this lake as a spawning area and a salmon viewing area gives visitors a good close-up view of the salmon as the swim upstream into the lake. Directions: travel south on the Seward Highway from Anchorage and make a right onto the Sterling Highway. This site is located at Milepost 37.

Primrose Campground This campground includes eight camp sites and no RV hookups. There are water, toilets, tables, fire pits, dumpsters, and a boat ramp which allows easy access to Kenai Lake. Terrain is mostly large spruce trees near Primrose Creek and Kenai Lake. This campsite is located close to the Primrose Trailhead and is adjacent to Kenai Lake. Directions: travel south on the Seward Highway to Milepost 17, turn right on Primrose Road and follow it all the way down to the end, where ample parking is available.

Trail River Campground This campground has 91 sites, including 1 group area, and one loop for large RV’s. There are no RV hook ups. Water, toilets, tables, fire pits, dumpsters, volleyball and horseshoe area (not available if group area is reserved). Directions: travel south on the Seward Highway from Anchorage, turn at Milepost 24.2 on Trail River Road for 2 miles. The campground is between the Trail River and the Kenai Lake.