You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Experienced This One Incredible State Park In Alaska
By Courtney|Published July 17, 2016
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Courtney
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Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
This magical place almost has a cult-like following throughout Southcentral Alaska. As you drive around town you will notice bumper stickers that say things like “I heart the Chugach.” The addiction is raw, rugged and really, really real. For locals, it’s not one bit of a surprise to hear that this spectacular place made the list of 10 Best State Parks In North America or the list of 10 Places In Alaska You Must Explore by Camping Life magazine. It is huge and most easily accessible to Alaska’s largest and most populated city of Anchorage.
With breathtaking beauty and endless outdoor activities that you can enjoy all year long, this state park is the warm and fuzzy place that Alaskans keep near and dear to their hearts. And if you’ve never explored it for yourself, you are certain to feel the same way after reading below and making your first trek into the Chugach. But be forewarned; the addiction game is strong, so if you get hooked – don’t say that we didn’t warn you!
495,000 acres of land make up what is one of the four largest parks in the United States. And as if the size along didn't give it away - there is truly something for everyone throughout this special place.
Endless hiking trails can be found and easily accessible throughout the Chugach. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or expert hiker, you are certain to find multiple hiking trails that will suite your comfort level perfectly.
Mountains are huge and plentiful throughout the Chugach. If you are needing to channel your inner John Muir and feed into your "the mountains are calling and I must go" urge, you are certain to be lucky in love with the Chugach. With so many options to choose from, you'll fill up your bucket list for the next decade just researching some of the epic summits to bag.
If you want to hike in and stay overnight in the backcountry, you guessed it - lots of options! Even in the wintertime there are great places to pitch a tent to get warm and cozy.
If pitching a tent isn't really your cup of tea and you prefer to have hard walls on all sides of you, there are lots of state cabins that you can find all throughout the Chugach. Reservations are required through online booking but the fees are minimal and the memories that you are bound to make are sure to make it all completely worth every penny!
But as with everywhere else in Alaska, it's important to always be bear-aware when you're enjoying the great outdoors. Tons of different wildlife can be found in the park including bears, moose, lynx, caribou and much more.
Checking out a gorgeous waterfall is one of those things that no one can turn down. And luckily for anyone exploring the Chugach, there are lots of waterfalls inside the park that are known to pop up out of nowhere and completely blow your eyeballs away with excitement.
Many different lakes can be discovered all throughout the Chugach. During the fall months the colors are bright, beaming and totally magical. Look out for great berry picking opportunities along the way as well and enjoy a tasty treat before you jump in head first! 😉
Fishing, swimming, kayaking and boating are some of the most popular ways to enjoy these pristine lakes.
Are you as obsessed with outdoor life in the last frontier as we are? Check out these 15 incredible hikes under 5 miles in Alaska and get ready to check off every single one of them this summer!
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