The Ester Dome Trail consists of Inner and Outer Loops, and those multiple options are not the only bonuses that come from hiking in this area near Fairbanks, Alaska. The beauty of an Ester Dome hike includes both the thick forest and the occasional glimpses of a panoramic view along the way. From a trailhead that starts 1.5 miles up Ester Dome Road, the Inner Loop goes 2.7 miles and the Outer Loop travels 5.8 miles. There’s also an option of combining the two trails to make one big hidden overlook trail in Alaska.

Hikers are rewarded with overviews of the Ester Dome area at various points on the way to the top.
Daniel Baillargeon/alltrails
Autumn colors are a big attraction of the Ester Dome area, making for a pleasant walk through the forest.
Kent Blunt/alltrails
Fairbanks is famous for the aurora borealis, or northern lights, that are intermittently visible from late August through April, including Ester Dome vantage points.
www.hepherson.com/Moment Open via Getty Images

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The valley unfolds below the road that leads to the trailhead. In contrast, much of the trail is enclosed in the forest.
AllTrails User/alltrails
The combination of fall colors and sunset creates an ideal dynamic for hiking in the Ester Dome area.
FairbanksMike/flickr
The sunset and pine trees team up for some spectacular scenes.
FairbanksMike/flickr
The variety of trees and vegetation is a key feature of the Ester Dome trails, alternately offering an enclosed forest setting and wide viewing positions.
FairbanksMike/flickr

The Ester Dome trails are accessible year-round, although the winter days are short in Alaska. In the summer, the days are so long that hikers can start their treks early in the morning and in the evening. Have you ever been on this hidden overlook trail in Alaska? Let us know in the comments. For more information about visiting Fairbanks, see the city’s tourism website.

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Ester Dome Road, Ester Dome Rd, Ester, AK 99709, USA