Hike Reed Lakes, Palmer

What: An amazing hike in Hatcher Pass in the Mat-Su area visiting two beautiful glacially fed lakes. At 8.7 miles with 2200 ft of elevation gain rated as Hard.

When to go: Ideally accessed in the peak summer months between June and September. Depending on snow fall, the trail may not be clear until July. Total hike should take roughly 5 to 6 hours.

How to get there: https://goo.gl/maps/oWNedwpSSNrJQZ5A7
Alltrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/reed-lakes-trail

Tips:

• The trail head for the hike is fairly small and the area can get quite packed on a popular weekend; you should be able to find a parking spot along the road but it may add some distance to the hike.
• The hike does have some boulder hopping – the boulders are large but the distance is fairly short.
• It’s worth hiking all the way to the upper reed lakes – many people turn around at the lower lake, but the upper lake offers even better views.
• For an extra adventure, you can hike up the bomber pass to the bomber glacier at the end of the Reed Lakes trail. This involves hiking up a steep scree slope, descending a steep slope onto a glacier, and glacier travel – all of these are risky & can add quite a bit of time to your hike, so make sure you’re prepared if adding that section. If you make it to the bomber glacier, it’s worth hiking a little ways out to see a crashed bomber from 50+ years ago that’s preserved in great shape.