Resurrection Pass Trail

Chugach National Forest, Seward Ranger District (Kenai Peninsula, Hope to Cooper Landing)

The Resurrection Pass Trail crosses the Kenai Mountains for about 38 miles, from old gold-mining country near Hope to the Kenai River near Cooper Landing. One Alaska guide calls it by far the most popular multi-day backcountry route in Southcentral Alaska. It’s a well-built trail with gentle grades, eight reservable Forest Service cabins, and designated campsites with bear lockers.

Expeditions Alaska calls it a maintained trail system ideal for backpackers new to Alaska. You still need to plan for bears, cold weather, and a car shuttle.

The hike

The Forest Service describes the trail as climbing from 500 to 2,600 feet over 39 miles. Visitors can reserve one or all of eight public-use cabins, fish in Trout, Juneau, and Swan Lakes, and climb the ridges that line the route. The north trailhead is 4 miles up Resurrection Creek Road from mile 15 of the Hope Highway. The south trailhead is on the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing.

ALASKA.ORG says the trail links historic gold-mining areas near Hope with a trailhead near Cooper Landing close to the Kenai River. It notes only a few steep grades and a generally smooth walking surface, and says fit mountain bikers sometimes ride the whole route in a day. One guide calls it well maintained and suggests June through October as the best season.

From the north, the Forest Service trail sheet lists Caribou Creek, Fox Creek, East Creek, and Devil’s Pass cabins at roughly 7, 11.5, 14.5, and 21.7 miles. The trail climbs out of spruce and aspen forest into alpine tundra with wildflowers. Resurrection Pass itself sits at about 2,600 feet.

Two side trails meet near the pass. ALASKA.ORG says the Summit Creek Trail peels off in Resurrection Pass, and the Devil’s Creek Trail descends from the cabin area about 2 miles to the south, at roughly 21.5 trail miles from Hope and 16.7 from Cooper Landing. The Forest Service notes you can exit on the 10-mile Devil’s Creek Trail to the Seward Highway for a shorter 31.7-mile trip.

Heading south, the trail drops past a chain of lakes. The Forest Service sheet lists Swan Lake, Juneau Lake, Romig, and Trout Lake cabins at about 12.8, 9.5, 9.0, and 7.3 miles from the south trailhead. Several cabins sit on lakes where fishing is part of the draw.

ALASKA.ORG highlights two side trips. Many hikers spend an afternoon climbing about 1,600 feet up the ridge west of Resurrection Pass for a panorama that includes Denali and the Alaska Range to the north and the Harding Icefield to the southeast. And Devil’s Pass Lake, less than a mile down the Devil’s Creek Trail in a V-shaped alpine valley, is what experienced trail users often call the gem of the trip, with good fishing for Arctic grayling.

The Forest Service lists moose, black and brown bears, caribou, wolves, marmots, Dall sheep, mountain goats, ptarmigan, and grouse among the wildlife, with hunting in season. It also warns about Giardia in the water.

Recreation.gov’s cabin listings stress preparation. The cabins have no electricity, potable water, mattresses, bedding, or cooking gear. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a stove, and food, and be ready for extended stays in poor weather.

For another Kenai Peninsula overnight on the Iditarod National Historic Trail, see the Johnson Pass Trail.

Tips

Reserve cabins early. Cabins are by reservation only through Recreation.gov. Campsites are the alternative.
Arrange a shuttle. One itinerary notes there’s no public transportation, so plan your ride from the far trailhead in advance.
Store food in the bear lockers. Guides describe lockers at campsites and cabins. Carry bear spray and keep a clean camp.
Treat all water. The Forest Service warns about Giardia.
Watch the season. One guide suggests June through October. The Forest Service advises against the first 4 miles of the south end in winter because of steep, icy side hills.

Camping

Camping is at designated campsites or in the cabins. The Forest Service trail sheets mark designated campsites and backcountry toilets along the route and describe bear boxes for food storage. One guide counts 16 designated campsites, most with a bear-resistant food locker and a backcountry toilet, and says most sit near a cabin and a water source. The eight cabins require a reservation. Contact the Seward Ranger District at (907) 288-3178 for current conditions.

Inside Intel: Devil’s Pass Lake is the spot experienced hikers talk about. ALASKA.ORG says trail regulars often call it the gem of the trip, and it’s a short walk down the Devil’s Creek Trail from the Devil’s Pass cabin area. For the classic view, plan an afternoon on the ridge west of Resurrection Pass, where many hikers go to see Denali and the Harding Icefield on a clear day. One writer who hiked south to north booked Juneau Lake Cabin for the first night, about 9.5 miles from Cooper Landing.

Trail facts

Distance: About 38.4 to 39 miles one way
Route type: Point to point, or out and back from either end. The Devil’s Creek Trail offers a 31.7-mile alternative.
Difficulty: Moderate. Gentle grades and a smooth surface for most of the trail.
Elevation: From about 500 feet to 2,600 feet at Resurrection Pass (Forest Service)
Campsites: Designated sites, most with bear lockers and toilets; eight public-use cabins by reservation
Water: Creeks and lakes. Treat all water (Giardia).
Permits: Cabin reservations required; no permit found for campsites
Bear and food storage: Black and brown bears. Use bear lockers; carry bear spray.
Trailheads: North: Resurrection Creek Road, 4 miles from mile 15 of the Hope Highway. South: Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing.
Season: June to October for hiking
Last verified: September 28, 2026

The Lowdown

Cabins with no mattresses:

The Forest Service cabins here don't come with mattresses, so bring your own pad. See which sleeping pads testers rate best.

See the picks →

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.