Watch the Mountains Turn Red in Alaska on the Gold Mint Trail in Hatcher Pass

If you're looking for a great place to watch autumn take over Alaska, the Gold Mint Trailhead in Hatcher Pass will take you up into the mountains and is a stunning way to watch fall arrive! Located in Palmer, this beautiful hike takes you all the way to the infamous Mint Hut.

Autumn swoops in spectacularly in Alaska and Hatcher Pass offers incredible colors for you to enjoy.

The Gold Mint Trail is the perfect way to stroll through all the fall splendor, while also getting in a great workout. The mountains and plants in the area turn red in such a beautiful way.

The Gold Mint Trail is approximately 16 miles, out and back, although you can turn around anytime.

You won't want to miss the views at the end of the trail, so it is highly recommended to hike all the way to the top. You'll spend the first couple of miles hiking along the Little Susitna River, which is beautiful in its own right.

At the end of the trail is the iconic Mint Hut. You’ll want to make it all the way there if you can; it was my favorite part of the hike!

The views up here are spectacular, so bring a camera. Keep it close to your body; our camera got very cold, and the quality of photos was compromised.

This is bear country, so stay "Bear Aware," and make sure to pack bear spray and keep all items with strong smells packed up tightly.

Luckily, you are less likely to run into a bear during the autumn months. And since many of the leaves have fallen off of the trees, you can see farther into the distance, which will give you longer to react if you do see one.

The trail itself is well maintained and flat as it follows the river towards Mint Glacier and the mountains at the end of the valley.

It fact, it can be fairly easy until you reach the elevation gain towards the end of the trail. There's 2,119 feet of elevation gain, most of it in the last mile, which can prove to be a strenuous workout.

If you choose to go in the spring or summer, you may have to do some river or stream fording.

It’s not too difficult, although I could see after a heavy rain it getting a little more slippery.

The Mint Hut at the end of the trail is a stunning final destination.

Sitting at what feels like the edge of the world, the Mint Hut offers incredible views of the valley below. You can even spend a night here, although you may end up sharing it with fellow hikers, as it's rented on a first come first serve basis.

The views of the jagged peaks above the valley floor are worth the sometimes strenuous hike.

During autumn, the green on the sides of the mountains glow red. The panorama is enough to take anyone's breath away, even though the last mile or so of the hike is a scramble up the side of the mountain, and you have to pick your way through the boulder field.

This hike is open all year long, although we are partial to the autumn views.

You can park at the Gold Mint Trailhead; the daily parking fees are $5.00. That is a small price to pay for enjoying one of the most stunning hikes in Alaska!

This is one of those Alaska “bucket list” items. Hiking out to the hut, spending the night in the glacier, and grabbing your photo in the morning!

Have you ever hiked from the Gold Mint Trailhead? What did you think? Did you make it all the way out to the Mint Hut? Let us know in the comments below! Need to gear up for your adventure? We’re a fan of REI.

If you're looking to fuel up after your adventure, check out The Tiny Restaurant In Alaska That Serves Mexican Food To Die For!