This Scenic Highway In Alaska Is Absolutely Stunning And You Need To Take It
Just north of Anchorage is this easy scenic drive up to the top of Rendezvous Peak. From this vantage point at almost 3000 feet, you get a spectacular bird’s eye view. See all of downtown Anchorage and across the Cook Inlet. Bring your camera and stop all along the way to capture the mountain vistas. There is also an abundance of wildlife in the area and you are quite likely to see a moose or two. Enjoy this scenic drive for a quick getaway from the hubbub of Anchorage to the fresh air of the Chugach Mountains.
Directions: From downtown Anchorage, take the Glenn Highway north 6.1 miles and turn onto Arctic Valley Road. It is a 45-minute drive to the top.
Arctic Valley Road takes off from the Glenn Highway and heads up Rendezvous Peak. Leave the busy traffic behind and cruise up this small, winding mountain road.
The road curves up the mountain for 45 minutes of peaceful, country driving. There are plenty of pullouts to stop at and take photos, as well as trails to explore.
Anchorage can be grey and rainy much of the time, but that doesn't stop the bright fall colors from popping through.
Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner | Flickr
From the higher up spots, you can see the whole city of Anchorage and surrounding areas. The Cook Inlet is radiant and you can see the large forested island in the middle of the Turnagain Arm named Fire Island.
Arctic Valley Road turns into Ski Bowl Road and leads to the Arctic Valley Ski Resort. In the winter, this is a fully functional ski resort and in the summertime it is used for hiking, camping, music concerts and weddings.
Even farther up, the Rendezvous Peak Trail leads to the top and affords the most glorious 360 views of the area. But don't worry, the drive itself will fill your eyes will mountain vistas without any hiking required.
