Williwaw Lakes Trail

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Parking at Glen Alps or Prospect Heights requires a $5 parking fee per day or an annual Alaska State Parks pass.

The Williwaw Lakes Trail is a very scenic trail below several of the tallest peaks in the Chugach front range to a series of beautiful tarns, known as the Williwaw Lakes. The low grade and the abundance of water makes this trail a very popular backpacking trail. Those that enjoy elevation gain also have the opportunity to summit Mount Williwaw, East Tanaina Peak, Koktoya Peak, and Mount Elliott, among others, which are all some of the tallest peaks in the Chugach front range.

The trail can be accessed from either Prospect Heights or Glen Alps Trailheads and connects with the Middle Fork Loop Trail, North Fork Campbell Creek Trail, and the Ballfield/Black Lake Trail, as described by the Williwaw Lakes via the Ballfield.

From the Middle Fork Loop Trail, there is a posted sign for the Williwaw Lakes Trail, that directs you into the Middle Fork Campbell Creek valley. The trail is easy to follow, but even on a very dry summer, the trail somehow remains wet and muddy in certain spots. There are quite a few game/human trails throughout the valley, some of which will try to lure you to the north side of the creek, but the actual trail does not cross the creek until after the first Williwaw Lake.

Continuing up towards the pass, the beauty of the landscape really pops as the brilliant blue lake water is a stark contrast to the brown and green rock/tundra, and you've gained enough elevation to look back down the valley. Once you've reached the pass, there is an undefined transition to the North Fork Campbell Creek Trail that can take you down the North Fork Campbell Creek valley back to civilization.

This trail is predominantly easy with moderate elevation gain near the pass.