Middle Fork Loop

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Head out on this loop for the best tour of the trails in the Anchorage Hillside Trails area. At over nine miles, this isn't a walk in the park by any means, but the elevation comes in at almost a third of the neighboring, popular option up Wolverine Peak.

Dogs should be leashed in the parking areas but can be off leash and in control on the trails.

To access this featured run, head to the Prospect Heights Trailhead and head northeast on the Wolverine Bowl Trail. Follow this trail as it bends to the north and then east with some nice views of the city. After ~1.4 miles, look for a right-hand turn onto the Middle Fork Loop Trail.

Continue your climb through this thinned forest, parallel to the South Fork Campbell Creek. At 3.7 miles, cross the Middle Fork Campbell Creek and continue south around the toe of O'Malley Peak (5,150') to the southeast.

Around the five-mile point, the trail will begin to bend to the right (west). Continue for another three-quarters of a mile until you arrive at the Powerline Pass Trail. Turn right here to begin your return journey.

Start your final, short ascent on this wide trail before reaching the high point of this run just after turning right onto the Blueberry Hollow Trail.

From here, continue north onto the South Fork Rim Trail as it returns to the Prospect Heights Trailhead.

Trail maintenance on the Middle Fork Loop Trail is aided through a grant given in 2016 from REI to the Alaska Geographic Association.