The Whole Family Will Love This Easy And Beautiful Winter Hike In Alaska
By Megan McDonald|Published January 31, 2019
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
Alaskans are always looking for another great spot to hike, and if it’s something accessible to the whole family- even better! The Winner Creek Trail is Girdwood is an excellent hike even during the winter months. With a short 40 minute drive from Anchorage, it’s easy for guests to the state to visit, too! Check out this awesome winter hike in Alaska:
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, since the time of publication, the hand tram has since closed.
The Winner Creek Trail is a 6.4 mile "easy" rated trail.
The trail is located in Girdwood, Alaska. There are two entrances to the trail. One behind Alyeska Resort, and another entrance is on Crow Creek Road. During winter, the best trailhead to enter is behind Alyeska Resort.
In the summer, the trailhead that starts on Crow Creek Road steeply descends into a gorge for approximately one mile to the creek and falls.
There is a hand tram suspended over the water that you manually need to pull yourself across with. There is sometimes a wait to use the tram in the summer, as it can take a little time to pull.
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In the winter, however, the tram is closed to all visitors. If you take the trailhead from Crow Creek Road in the winter it will be a very short, steep hike out and back.
Therefore, we highly recommend starting at the Alyeska Resort, otherwise you'll have a very short hike! The hike from the resort is almost 2.5 miles to the tram before you will have to turn around. This makes for a lovely day hike.
It's approximately .2 miles after the bridge to the hand tram that travels across Glacier Creek. Make sure to check trailhead signs for the current hand tram status!
The trail is wide enough to handle hikers and snowshoers, especially if the snow is deep.
There is plenty of parking available at both trailheads. The parking lot at Alyeska Resort is a large lot with free parking, and you can park there and walk up to the tram. The trailhead is located behind and to the left of the tram. If you're parking on the Crow Creek Road, there is also a smaller sized free parking lot.
Winner Creek Trail is a classic, and since it’s not too long, many Alaskans have brought their whole family out to enjoy it. Have you hiked it before? Did you make it to the hand tram? Let us know in the comments below!
