Hiking Flattop

Due to it's location in Anchorage and sweeping views of the Turnagain Arm to one side and Alaska Range to the other, Flattop Mountain is the most popular hike in Alaska. It's also one that some assume is more of a walk in the park rather than treat it as the serious mountain that it is. Those who  attempt to hike it wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops are likely to be one of the weekly rescues requiring an $8,000 medevac flight off the mountain after spraining an ankle. (Don't be that guy!) It's 3 miles 1158ft of gain and rated as difficult.

Here's a picture taken from the parking lot at Glen Alps Trailhead! Yes, this place is amazing!

We love the tiny section of forest. 

Lots of steps!

This is as high as we took the kids. They stayed here with Daddy while I climbed the most difficult part to the summit.

Because it is a flat-topped mountain, you have completely different views as you walk around the edges which was a fun way to experience it.

Here I'm at the top looking down at the kids waiting on the rocks below.

While we were hiking back down, we watched a person paraglide down the mountain.

 We completed this hike on June 7 when there was still snow on the ground. 

The kids of course figured this was a good time for a quick snowball ambush.

We also stopped here for a brief dance party and then the kids sang, "I Can Only Imagine" a very special song for our family. A long-time favorite of ours that miraculously played on the radio during the 7 minutes it took to drive our babies home from the hospital that very first time. To hear them sing it now just fills my heart with happiness.

This trail system is fantastic for moose sightings. We saw quite a few from the trail, but none as close as this one we saw in someone's yard as we drove past to leave!