Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Alaska / Talkeetna Mountains

Reed Lakes Trail

Hatcher Pass State Management Area, Alaska State Parks (Archangel Road, north of Palmer)

Reed Lakes Trail, Talkeetna Mountains
“Reed Lakes Trail, Talkeetna Mountains” by Paxson Woelber , CC BY 2.0 · Source · Resized for the web

The Reed Lakes Trail climbs out of an old mining valley in Hatcher Pass to two alpine lakes below the granite peaks of the Talkeetna Mountains. Alaska State Parks calls it a popular day hike, but guides agree it makes a great overnight. You can camp at either lake, and the upper lake sits just over 4,000 feet, above timberline.

The one real obstacle is a big boulder field partway up, which is slow going with an overnight pack.

The hike

The trailhead is at mile 2.5 of Archangel Road, reached from the Palmer-Fishhook Road. Alaska State Parks lists the trail at 4.3 miles one way with about 2,000 feet of gain and rates it moderate. It allows bikes for the first 1.5 miles and hiking only beyond. One guide puts the trailhead about 1.5 hours from Anchorage and about 45 minutes from Palmer and Wasilla; another says about an hour from Anchorage and 30 minutes from downtown Palmer.

The state’s trail guide describes the route. It first follows an old roadbed through mining remains, which it asks visitors not to disturb, then climbs moderately steep slopes to a boulder field. A trail emerges from the boulders into alpine terrain, passing streams and small ponds before reaching Lower Reed Lake. From there, the trail continues past a waterfall and ends at Upper Reed Lake. Most of the route is above timberline.

The Outbound writer says the first two miles are flat, with a wide trail through a valley surrounded by granite peaks. Then the elevation comes quickly over the next 2.5 miles, climbing switchbacks with views back down the valley. Adventures of A+K says the climb picks up around mile 2, passing a waterfall on the switchbacks before the trail turns rocky.

The boulder field is the part everyone mentions. Adventures of A+K describes a stretch where the dirt trail becomes a boulder field lining a clear creek, with some huge rocks that may be hard for dogs. Lita of the Pack advises following the more worn rocks to stay on route. The Outbound writer, who did the trip as an overnight, found it challenging with a full pack. Andrea Kuuipo Abroad rates the whole hike moderate largely because of the scramble.

Past the boulders, Lower Reed Lake comes into view. Adventures of A+K says it’s about half a mile of climbing from the boulder area. The trail then passes right by a couple of smaller waterfalls on the way to Upper Reed Lake. Adventures of A+K recommends turning around on this climb for a view back down to Lower Reed Lake.

Some hikers continue beyond the lakes to the Bomber Glacier, which AllTrails calls historic. Reviewers who went describe a long, steep boulder field to the pass, recommend crampons, call it a tough hike, and suggest camping at one of the lakes first. This page covers only the Reed Lakes.

The season is short. 90summers says Archangel Road is typically closed from mid-September to July 1, which adds miles if you park at the gate.

For another overnight near Anchorage, see Williwaw Lakes.

Tips

Camping

Camping is allowed near both lakes. 90summers says to camp at least 200 feet from any water. Guides disagree on whether there are designated sites. A 2026 guide says there are a couple of signed tent areas and asks campers to use only those. An older guide says there are no designated sites and suggests using already-flattened spots. Check with Alaska State Parks before you go, and pack out everything.

Inside Intel: Lower Reed Lake is the camper favorite. Adventures of Nicole says it has much better spots than Upper Reed Lake, and the Outbound writer, who camped overnight, found plenty of places to pitch a tent there. If you’d rather sleep by the upper lake, Andrea Kuuipo Abroad points to the south shoreline or a couple of small hills southeast of the shore, about 200 to 400 feet away.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

After the boulder field:

Scrambling boulders with a full pack earns you a good night's sleep by the lake. See which sleeping pads testers recommend.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.