Best fall hikes: Not-so-lazy Lazy Mountain

September 20, 2010|Michelle Theriault

Michelle Theriault (KTUU-DT)

PALMER, Alaska — First, know this: Lazy Mountain is misnamed. There’s nothing lazy about this steep, strenuous hike into some beautiful and accessible country above Palmer.

Lazy Mountain is, in fact, a really tough hike of unrelenting elevation gain: About 3,000 feet in 2.5 miles. But don’t let that deter you – the route offers bits of leafy birch forest, sweeping views of the valley and a chance to stare even bigger mountains, like nearby Matanuska Peak, in the eye.

About four miles east of Palmer, rounded Lazy Mountain is tiny when compared with the jagged peaks behind it. It doesn’t feel tiny when you’re slogging up a primitive trail with steep grades turned soft by mud.

However, on a recent Saturday hikers included a family of six, including four elementary school-aged kids, along with a couple carrying a seven-week-old puppy. If puppies and third-graders can make it, so can you.

The first 1.5 miles take hikers through a forest spattered with fallen leaves and brushy areas. At about 1.5 miles in you’ll come to a flat point with broad views and even a picnic table. For families with kids or tired hikers, this is a good destination on its own.

The last bit of the trail is less steep than the previous sections, but includes an area with a narrow ridge and steep scree falls on both sides.

The summit of Lazy Mountain is 3, 720 feet and yields views of a circle of mountains, the valley floor below and wide, braided rivers.

One of the nicest things about this hike is that it’s barely four miles from downtown Palmer, meaning a trip to Vagabond Blues for a cappuccino or lunch at Turkey Red awaits shortly after you finish.

If you go:

Directions: To get to the Lazy Mountain trailhead, drive to downtown Palmer. Take a right at E. Arctic Avenue and drive east over the Matanuska River. Turn left onto Clark-Wolverine Road and take a right onto Huntley. Follow the sign to Lazy Mountain Recreation Area and into the parking lot, where you’ll find the trailhead.

Distance: 2.5 miles one way, allow 4 hours or so to hike the entire thing

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