Anchorage from Flattop Mountain - Anchorage, AK - Cityscapes on Waymarking.com

In Anchorage, on top of Flattop Mountain on the edge of the Chuggach Mountains, you have a great panoramic view of Anchorage and the Cook Inlet.

Flattop is within Chuggach State Park, and is the most climbed peak in Alaska. At 3510 feet, it is a modest sized mountain compared to the peaks behind it, which rise, 4000 feet and more. It has a distinctive 'mesa' shape that give the mountain its name. There are at a few trails to it. We went to the entrance at Glen Alps, which is west of the mountain. Follow Glen Alps Road up the slope, then follow the signs to the parking lot. You are above 2400 feet at the parking lot. The Flattop Trail starts with stairs, but don't expect the trail to be just a series of stairways. The slope becomes easy after that, then you have a choice at a fork. You could follow the Flattop Trail straight up the mountain - but this way is very steep and treacherous. You could go right and cross over a pass between Flattop Mountain and Blueberry Hill, then approach the mountain up a rocky face. This is still a challenge but easier than the first route. Thus, this trip is for those people who are at pretty physically fit.

Once you get to the table-like peak, you are rewarded with great views all around. The main part of the city of Anchorage, a city with about 250,000 people is to the northwest. Downtown is just north of a sharp point in the Cook Inlet. The airport is at that point. There aren't many tall buildings in the city, but if you have reasonable seeing conditions, you can make them out with little trouble. The city also extends around the mountain to the south.

The park is open during daylight hours, so, though this would be a great place for night viewing, it isn't allowed - nor would I recommend climbing this mountain at night.

There is a fee at the Glen Alps parking lot. As the person I was with had a full season pass. The web site has the fee at $5 for parking.

Source:

Chuggach State Park
(visit link)

City Name: Anchorage View Type: Over Land Location Type: Natural High-Point City Lights: no Terrain: Fee: 5.00 (listed in local currency) Distance: Not listed

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