July 5, 2024.
2.6 mi. | 1100’ ele. gain | 2:15 hr.
In looking for a quick hike along our driving route, I found a description of the Lion’s Head Trail. It looked to be short but steep, providing views of Matanuska Glacier from the top. I’d read some trip reports that mentioned calling the number on a sign in order to get permission to do this hike, since it crosses private property.
We pulled into a giant pullout right off Glenn Highway and walked over to the gate, hoping we’d have cell service. However, there was no sign and it appeared the hike was generally open to the public. There were other cars in the lot and I heard voices on the trail. So, off we went. We followed the access road to a cell tower and then picked our way up one of many muddy user trails braiding up the slope. At several points we used handy roots and rocks as handholds to help pull ourselves up. Despite hearing, and occasionally seeing, several other groups, we rarely crossed paths due to the maze of trails.
About three-quarters of the way up, we finally began to get some views of the surrounding mountains. The views improved the higher we climbed, enticing us to continue all the way to to top. The three of us audibly gasped as we peered over at the leading edge of the Matanuska Glacier. It was just like the visuals I’d seen in nature documentaries, but here it was in real life! The medial moraines curved along with the river of ice like lines on a racetrack. Wildflowers spewed out from cracks in the rocks at the summit. Talk about a big bang-for-the-buck experience! We could hardly believe the incredible sights all around us.
It is one thing to read about glaciers in a book. It’s another to take a boat up to the edge. And it’s something else to get an overhead view and notice how the pieces connect. How each icy finger reaches down from neighboring peaks to join into one long extension of ice. How there’s so much dirt and rock on much of the glacier that it doesn’t look like ice at all. How the hills and mountainsides below the glacier reveal how much ice used to be there before it melted away. Since we all share an innate curiosity about the natural world (and the beauty helps too), we sat there for some time trying to take it all in. Despite the grueling climb and all the associated grousing, we were all happy that we did it.
The hike down went by so fast as we excitedly shared what we loved about the experience. It’s really fun to get out with people who also love flowers and landscapes and rocks. We enjoyed geeking out together, taking lots of pictures and investigating cool plants and natural phenomena. I know that 25-year old me would have never stopped the car to do a hike less than 10 miles; I appreciate that 45-year old will stop the car for literally any reason to walk around.
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