Alaska’s Chugach State Park is a vast swath of wilderness located at the eastern doorstep of Anchorage. It’s a place that’s gorgeous in any season; and in the winter, it's hauntingly beautiful when its waterfalls freeze into dramatic ice sculptures. Interested in seeing this magic? Here’s what we think you need to know about the frozen waterfalls in Alaska during winter at Chugach State Park!
On the western edge of the park, there’s a waterfall that few people visit – Barbara Falls.
It’s only about 20 minutes from Anchorage and is located near a suburban neighborhood. The waterfall's access trails are part of the Eagle River Greenbelt system.
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The waterfall plunges 25 feet down a small gorge and in warmer months, you’ll hear the roar of the falls as you approach.
The trail to the falls is only about a mile in length so it’s relatively easy to navigate and it’s a good spot to visit with kids.
You’ll want to dress warmly when you visit these frozen waterfalls in Alaska so you’re able to comfortably linger and admire the winter beauty. Ice cleats are a good idea too, especially at Barbara Falls. It really is one of the most fun ways to spend the winter in Alaska.
If you love discovering wild waterfalls, Alaska has options that are nearly endless. Here are 8 waterfalls that are incredibly easy to reach. And we'd love to know if you are aware of any other waterfalls in Alaska that we should highlight! Let us know in the comments section below!
If you’d like to explore winter hikes in and around the area, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails website.
If you’re still in the mood for more Alaska adventures, take a look at this video:
Alaska's rugged beauty is known for its vast landscapes and hidden wonders. Among these treasures is Juneau Falls, a charming waterfall tucked away along the Resurrection Pass Trail on the Kenai Peninsula. This moderately challenging waterfall trail in Alaska offers a mix of dense forests, open meadows, and stunning mountain vistas, culminating in the serene and picturesque Juneau Falls. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a nature enthusiast, this trail promises an unforgettable adventure through some of Alaska's most captivating scenery.
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Alaska's vast wilderness is filled with awe-inspiring landscapes, and hidden within this rugged beauty on the Kenai Peninsula lies a trail that leads to a charming, tiny waterfall.
The Juneau Falls along the Resurrection Pass Trail offers a wonderful experience for nature lovers, showcasing the serene beauty of a lesser-known yet captivating waterfall.
As you hike along the Resurrection Pass Trail, the sound of rushing water grows steadily louder, building anticipation for the sight ahead.
Upon reaching Juneau Falls, you’ll be greeted by the stunning view of water cascading down a rocky cliff, creating a peaceful and mesmerizing scene. The waterfall drops around 40 feet, creating a misty spray that cools the air and adds to the enchanting atmosphere.
The hike to Juneau Falls is approximately 5.1 miles round trip from the trailhead.
The trail is well-maintained and offers a moderately challenging hike for hikers with some experience. The path winds through beautiful Alaskan scenery, including dense forests, open meadows, and stunning mountain vistas.
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Juneau Falls is best visited during the summer months, from June to September, when the weather is milder and the trail is most accessible.
During this time, the lush greenery and blooming wildflowers add to the trail’s beauty, creating a picturesque backdrop for your hike. Additionally, the longer daylight hours of the Alaskan summer provide ample time to explore and enjoy the surroundings.
As you hike along the Resurrection Pass Trail, you will encounter diverse flora and fauna.
The trail is lined with vibrant wildflowers, including lupines, fireweed, and forget-me-nots, adding bursts of color to the lush greenery. Towering spruce and birch trees provide a cool, shaded canopy, while patches of tundra plants add to the diverse botanical landscape. Wildlife enthusiasts may spot moose grazing in the meadows, black bears foraging in the forest, and a variety of bird species, such as bald eagles, ravens, and songbirds.
The Resurrection Pass Trail, which leads to Juneau Falls, is located near the town of Cooper Landing, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula.
Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor to the Kenai Peninsula, this trail is the perfect escape. Pack your hiking boots, bring your camera, and prepare to fall in love with the tiny waterfall hiding along this breathtaking trail.
Have you ever hiked this waterfall trail in Alaska? Let us know in the comments below! Don't forget to swing by REI to upgrade your hiking boots.
Practically all of Alaska is a natural wonder, if you ask us, and compiling a list of bucket-list attractions within The Last Frontier is certainly not an easy task. Our state is teeming with beauty, whether you love the epic scenery of our mountain ranges or our countless miles of hiking trails. One thing that pretty much any nature lover can agree on is that there are some remarkably stunning Alaskan waterfalls. Next time you find yourself Googling "waterfalls near me," here are a few that you might want to check out.
First off, a caveat: there are dozens of named waterfalls in Alaska, but some of the very tallest cascades are not easily reachable. In this section, we've done our best to pick out some of the more towering waterfalls that can still be reached (or at least seen) by a typical hiker. If you're looking to find the biggest waterfalls in Alaska, here are some of the best:
Need To Know Ebner Falls can be seen from the Perserverance Trail.
The Perserverance Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike in Juneau that is perfect for waterfall lovers, as you'll actually get to see two cascades on the trail. This place also has quite a bit of history: it was the very first road built in Alaska, and was home to a railroad that went up to Perserverance Mine. The trail is great for both hikers and mountain bikers, and the view of Ebner Falls is quite lovely. The stunning falls are about 150 feet or so, falling in two sections. It's also a great spot for a picnic!
Need To Know Nugget Falls is also known as Mendenhall Glacier Falls.
One of the great things about Alaska's remote and rugged landscape is that "Alaska popular" doesn't mean anywhere near the crowds you'll find at popular destinations in the lower 48. Nugget Falls is a two-tiered waterfall fed by Nugget Creek. It drops an impressive 377 feet in total and is interesting because it is both fed by runoff from a glacier (Nugget Glacier feeds into Nugget Creek) and lands in Mendenhall Lake (which is fed by the Mendenhall Glacier). The falls can be reached by an easy hike that includes plenty of wildlife.
Need To Know You can't actually directly reach the falls themselves, but there's a convenient parking area where you can view the falls just off the highway if you're driving through Keystone Canyon.
Bridal Veil Falls is perhaps most famous for the ice-climbing festival that's held here each winter when the falls freeze over. It's magnificent sight at any time of year, and it's no surprise it made CNN's list of the Best Waterfalls in America. Valdez is a small town right on Prince William Sound, but it's certainly worth a visit to catch a glimpse of this towering natural wonder.
Need To Know The falls are named for the gold miners that once used pitchforks to seek gold in the nearby creek.
Pitchfork Falls towers over 100 feet above the surrounding landscape. This is a powerful waterfall that you can hear roaring from miles away. The falls are deep in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, and the pristine surroundings only add to their mesmerizing beauty.
Best Waterfall Hikes In Alaska
Hiking, especially out here in Alaska, can be pretty tough. The terrain is difficult, and it's certainly not for everyone! However, even the most ardent of couch potatoes has to admit there's something about a waterfall hike that leaves you completely satisfied and feeling like all of the effort was worth it. If you're looking to check out some of the best waterfall trails in Alaska, make sure to visit our friends at AllTrails for photos and trail maps, plus reviews of some of the state's most popular hikes.
Need To Know This one's also known as South Fork Eagle River Falls and Barbara Falls.
While many of us prefer to check out Alaska's waterfalls in the spring and summer, when the snowmelt has the flow at its most powerful, the stunning South Fork Falls is one of our favorite winter hikes in Alaska. Located just north of Anchorage, this beautiful cascade is reached by an easy .7-mile hike that's got very little elevation gain and is perfect for the whole family. The falls measure about 60 feet in height.
Need To Know The trail has quite a few stairs and the area can get muddy.
The Rainbow Falls Trail is a magnificent 1.4-mile out-and-back trail through a scenic rain forest that boasts amazing waterfall views. Does it get much better than that?! Note that due to the steep elevation gain, this is considered a moderately challenging hike. You can learn more about the Rainbow Falls Trail at AllTrails.
Need To Know There are a few rocks you have to navigate around, but overall, this is a fairly easy trail that's very wide and filled with gravel.
Looking for a fairly trail that the entire family can enjoy? The Russian River Falls Trail is a bit long at 4.7 miles, but it's got very little elevation gain and takes you to a beautiful observation platform that overlooks the stunning falls. Visit during the summertime and you might see salmon or even brown bears out hunting, but this is a gorgeous trail to enjoy at any time of year. There's a small parking lot off the access road to the Russian River Campground on Sterling Highway - park there and you'll be at the trailhead.
Need To Know This is a pretty tough trail, so don't head out unless you're an experienced hiker!
The Cedar Falls Trail is pretty rigorous, but it's a beautiful hike that's definitely worth the effort. The entire seven-mile-long round trip trail will take you all the way to Swan Lake. Cedar Falls is one of the state's most stunning waterfalls, especially after heavy rains, when the flow is intense. This is one that's worth taking a road trip for if you love hiking!
Accessible Waterfalls In Alaska
We love a good long trek through the woods, but we realize it's not for everyone. Some of us might be out of shape, or not particularly active, and many are wheelchair users or out with little ones in strollers. Fortunately, there are some wonderful accessible waterfalls in Alaska that require little (sometimes no!) hiking. These are perfect when you're looking for an easy-breezy natural wonder that won't take all day.
Need To Know You can reach Horsetail Falls directly from the Richardson Highway. There's a small parking lot off the road where you can pull off and snap some photos at the base of the falls.
It can sometimes feel like all the natural wonders in Alaska require a bit of effort to reach them - our backcountry can be quite harsh, after all. One waterfall that definitely doesn't fit into that category is the beautiful Horsetail Falls. It's tucked away in Keystone Canyon and it's one of the most accessible waterfalls in Alaska: you can practically drive right up to it! Horsetail Falls is a 330-foot wall of powerfully-rushing water, and it's quite the sight to see in person.
Need To Know If you're looking to spot the spawning salmon, you'll want to visit in July or August. Creek Street is a great place to catch a glimpse of the fish as they make their way upstream.
The Ketchikan area is famous for its salmon, and Ketchikan Creek is the place to see them (at least in the summertime). To reach Ketchikan Creek Falls, all you have to do is walk to the end of Ketchikan Creek Road and you'll enjoy a great view of
this beautiful cascade.
Best Waterfalls Near Anchorage
As the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage has quite a few residents and visitors. While many of the tourists are attracted to the city's rich culture and man-made attractions, there's still plenty of nature to be found near the City of Lights and Flowers. Check out a few of our favorite waterfalls near Anchorage, AK:
Need To Know This is a small waterfall, but it's quite easy to access.
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McHugh Falls might not be quite as impressive as some of the larger falls on this list, but its easy access makes it worth a quick visit. The 20-foot falls are just after the entrance to Chugach State Park along the Seward Highway. While the falls themselves cannot be accessed, you can get a great look at them from a small parking area, and there's no hiking required at all.
Thunderbird Falls are also located in Chugach State Park. While there is a bit more of a hike to reach this one, it's an easy, family-friendly trail that everyone can enjoy. The level trail has very little elevation gain and is only about 1.8 miles - it's even suitable for kids. This is an absolutely beautiful trail, and the 200-foot waterfall is the crown jewel of the hike.
Wow! I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get out and explore! How many of these Alaskan waterfalls have you seen in person?
