Williwaw Lakes

Chugach State Park, Alaska State Parks (Anchorage Hillside, Glen Alps or Prospect Heights trailheads)

The Williwaw Lakes are a string of alpine lakes tucked below the north face of Mount Williwaw, in Chugach State Park just above Anchorage. ALASKA.ORG calls Williwaw the highest peak in the Front Range. The trail to the lakes doesn’t climb much, but it takes some miles to get there. Alaska State Parks lists it as a long day hike or a backpacking destination.

Alaska Llamas & Outdoors notes the trailheads are a short drive from downtown Anchorage.

The hike

There are two ways in. Alaska State Parks says the Williwaw Lakes are reached from the Glen Alps or Prospect Heights trailheads, both via the Middle Fork Loop Trail. From Glen Alps it’s 5.9 miles to the first lake with about 800 feet of gain. From Prospect Heights it’s 7.4 miles with about 1,500 feet. Adventures of Nicole says the Glen Alps start uses the smaller, lower lot past the big one most people use for Flattop.

From Prospect Heights, ALASKA.ORG describes hiking more than a mile up through the woods on the Wolverine Bowl Trail, then a few miles up the Middle Fork Loop Trail. It says you have to walk about 3 miles just to reach the start of the Williwaw Lakes Trail, which is about 4 miles long. It warns the Williwaw Lakes Trail isn’t in the best shape, with bogs and mud that slow you down.

Within about a mile on the Williwaw Lakes Trail, ALASKA.ORG says, the west face of Mount Williwaw comes into view, a great triangular mass at 5,445 feet that dominates the upper valley. The trail heads east to the first lake. Beyond that, the lakes are scattered up the valley below the peak. Adventures of Nicole counts nine lakes and says you can camp near any of them. The Alaska State Parks guide adds that the lakes can also be reached via the Ballpark Trail, and that the open alpine terrain around them invites exploring. AllTrails says dogs are welcome on a leash.

The Alaska Llamas & Outdoors blog calls the hike one of the most beautiful in Chugach State Park. It says the upper lakes reward you with views and possible sightings of Dall sheep, moose, coyotes, foxes, and waterfowl. It also describes a longer loop: over the pass above Walrus Lake, around Long Lake, and down the North Fork of Campbell Creek back toward Prospect Heights. The writer prefers going the other direction, camping at Long Lake, crossing the pass the next day, and hiking mostly downhill from Walrus Lake to the trailhead.

That loop crosses into different territory. The Alaska State Parks guide says part of the North Fork Campbell Creek valley is on Fort Richardson and requires a Recreation Access Permit. It says to contact Fort Richardson for access rules. AllTrails lists a longer Williwaw Lakes loop at about 20.8 miles and warns of a handful of stream crossings, so waterproof footwear helps.

Komoot warns about muddy conditions in spring and early summer, and sudden weather changes, including strong “williwaw” winds.

For a flatter overnight in the same park, see the Eklutna Lakeside Trail.

Tips

Start from Glen Alps for less climbing. Alaska State Parks lists 800 feet of gain from Glen Alps versus 1,500 from Prospect Heights.
Plan for mud. ALASKA.ORG says bogs and mud on the Williwaw Lakes Trail often make for slow going.
Cook on a stove. Alaska State Parks says open fires are prohibited except in a portable camp stove.
Camp at least half a mile from the trailhead. That’s the Alaska State Parks rule for this trail system.
Check military access for loops. Routes into the North Fork Campbell Creek valley may cross Fort Richardson land.

Camping

Alaska State Parks says camping is allowed only more than half a mile from the trailhead and that open fires are prohibited except in a portable stove. Adventures of Nicole says you can camp near any of the lakes but must carry in your gear and carry out your waste. AllTrails notes good camping spots by the lakes that let you split the long loop over two days.

Inside Intel: The upper lakes are where campers head. Alaska Llamas & Outdoors says making it to the upper lakes brings stunning mountain views and possible wildlife. For the longer loop, the same writer’s go-to camp is Long Lake, then crossing the pass above Walrus Lake the next morning so the hike out is mostly downhill. For a simple out-and-back, Adventures of Nicole says any of the nine lakes will do.

Trail facts

Distance: About 12 miles round trip to the first lake from Glen Alps; about 15 from Prospect Heights. Loops run about 19 to 21 miles.
Route type: Out and back, or loop
Difficulty: Moderate (Alaska State Parks). Muddy stretches.
Elevation: 800 feet of gain from Glen Alps; about 1,500 from Prospect Heights (Alaska State Parks). Mount Williwaw 5,445 feet.
Campsites: Dispersed near the lakes, more than half a mile from the trailhead
Water: Lakes and streams. Treat all water.
Permits: None found for camping; Fort Richardson access permit needed for parts of the North Fork Campbell Creek valley
Fires: Portable stoves only
Trailheads: Glen Alps or Prospect Heights, Anchorage Hillside
Last verified: September 28, 2026

The Lowdown

Camping by the Williwaw Lakes:

Campers split the long loop at the upper lakes, often Long Lake. If you sleep on your side, these tips cover pads, pillows, and picking a good spot to pitch.

Get the side-sleeper tips →

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.