Crow Pass is a popular short distance through hike in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains.

The route is frequently hiked as a long day-trip or single night backpacking trip. Crow Pass Trail is approximately 22 miles in length, traversing from Girdwood, AK to the Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC) in Eagle River, AK.

In the first week of August we took off on a Friday afternoon from Girdwood ready for an overnight backpacking trip.

A thick ceiling of fog covered many of the mountains and obscured visibility along the way. From the Crow Pass Trail parking lot we climbed steadily uphill toward the Mine Ruins. At the mine ruin junction we took the upper switchbacks toward the Summit Cabin. Along the way we spotted a group of goats out on a distant mountain slope.

At the Summit Cabin the fog settled and chilled the air. Conditions were marginal and certainly called for gloves and layers. Through the fog we spotted a group of 11 mountain goats on a hillside overlooking the cabin.

That evening we proceeded along the trail, passing the looming Raven Glacier. The trail turns into a steady descent as you pass the Glacier.

We hiked through sunset and eventually walked the last two miles to our planned campsite in the dark. We stopped prior to our first water crossing (Eagle River) where there were multiple established campsites.

A few friends who started the trail later eventually joined us by 1 AM. We were elated to know they made it to our site safely despite the low visibility. On their way the group spotted mountain goats, a black bear and had a close encounter with a bull moose.

The next morning the group, now grown to seven, got a late start following breakfast. We began the day with our first water crossing through a chilly glacier fed creek. Most of the group continued to rock crocs through our second crossing down the trail.

The middle of Crow Pass Trail is largely a narrow, rolling, winding route through brush and along cliff embankments. Nevertheless, the available views are stellar, showcasing a grand mountain pass.

Berries peaked throughout the pass. A handful of sockeye salmon exposed themselves in a deep pool along the Eagle River. Moose tracks and bear scat speckled the trail.

The final few miles to Echo Bend felt like a slog. After Echo bend the trail turns into well maintained ERNC trails. We followed the trails to the Nature Center sending a few people in lead to start the car shuttling process.

On the way out we made a quick stop by the ERNC boardwalk to catch a view of the valley. We were greeted by a perfect scene – a mama moose and calf up close with a tranquil sunset beyond. This was Christian’s first moose encounter.

Overall Crow Pass Trail was a great bucket list weekend trip for the group. I encourage anyone to check it out. Ensure you have logistics planned for shuttling and mind water levels for your water crossings.

Thanks for reading! Find more articles like this here!