Considering Crow Pass for a Fourth of July hike? Several miles of the quintessential Alaska hike are closed to hikers, runners and the rest of the public, according to Chugach State Park rangers.
Hikers can still leave the Eagle River Nature Center and head about five miles in, according to most recent updates Tuesday from the Chugach Park Facebook page. But from there hikers will be forced to turn around. A brown bear was sighted just off the trail on July 1 protecting a recent moose kill. And as of Tuesday, the trail remained closed between the Dishwater and Icicle Creek campgrounds until further notice.
These trail camps are all located on the nature center side of the Eagle River crossing. There were no warnings or closures reported on the Girdwood/Crow Pass side.
The Crow Pass Trail is a scenic 22-mile route traversing the Chugach from Girdwood to Eagle River. Travelers go up and over the pass, and across snowfields with spectacular views of Raven Glacier before fjording the frigid Eagle River for a long hike to the nature center. Dozens of hardy athletes run the entire trail during the annual Crow Pass Crossing. This year's race is scheduled for July 21.
Read a nice account of the hike here.
For updates or more information call the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at 267-2811 or the Chugach State Park at 345-5014.