Explore Sitka - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Pretty snowy and slippery in mid-April. Make sure you’ve got good boots! Overall enjoyable, fairly easy hike with some nice views.
Very diverse landscape and scenery, just beautiful! Some steeper stairs and rock steps in the beginning then evens out. Bear protection is recommended, as anywhere in Sitka..
Great trail for in-town. Steel and rocky but manageable for sure! Picnic rock at the summit has incredible views of town, the Pacific, and baranof island behind you. The trail gets muddy when it’s wet but not treacherous. Bear spray or gun is recommended. If you go a faster pace it can be 2.5 hrs picnic rock and back You can go further to verstovia peak(aka arrowhead) but it gets very cliffy and rocky
reviewed 
This was an awesome trail, I went up in March and was knee deep in snow, had to turn around early because my dog was too short to make it through the snow. Still fun though, amazing views even in the beginning, and I definitely will try again when it’s a little warmer!
Love love loved this hike. Holy straight up but loved the changing of scenery throughout the hike and a killer view at the top for sure!
We did Indian River and then ran to this trail to check it off the box before leaving Sitka. It was really pretty but steep after quite a bit of climbing prior days. Pretty muddy/slippery as well.
Good as always...about 4-5 piles of bear scat.
trail is well maintained. I'd put it between little si and mount si if your fimilar with the issaquah alps in WA. not hard just a longer grind, very slippery tho.
Well maintained trail and a beautiful cove at the end.
very nicely maintained as of July 2020. climbs steeply after initial flat in wide grade to First Bridge. Nice Rock stairs. Good Boardwalk around the lake. a blown down area has been repaired on the Eastern Shore of Beaver Lake.
This trail is well groomed and accessible for both kids and dogs. Be mindful of wet rocks and some avalanche areas with down trees, but beautiful views of the mountains and several waterfall locations along the way. Benches are provided along the trail and around the lake for a rest or picnic.
Good enough for a day hike when you did not get up early enough to tackle Verstovia or Bear Lake. Very scenic on a sunny day. Watch for bears, as always, when on a hike in Sitka. Try this one early fall when the salmonberries are in full production and there's no need to bring a snack. Bring a bathing suit mid-summer and splash around in a lake in Alaska. Or pack some light fishing gear/oars and hop in the boat at Heart Lake....
Watch for brown bears, particularly during salmon season. They literally walk the path as evidenced by poop. Quite a lot of the trail is made of natural stone steps - which are super slippery most of the year for less stable hikers. Some steep ups and downs make this 'easy' trail tougher for an older guest. A great cross section of ocean life to observe in the shallows during lower tides - follow a foot path through almost any of the picnic areas to get to the 'beach' and enjoy the day exploring!
The view with this trail were amazing and more than I had hoped for! However the trail is a bit difficult to traverse due to the unpredictable roots. Typically I can run down a trail with ease however the rocks and roots can be quite slick. If you can time the hike right with the evasive sun of Sitka, the trail is wonderful and beyond beautiful. Wear your rain gear and bring a camera! This trail was worth the hike and is adequately rated as difficult, some parts of the trail I was climbing due to my short legs. Short people be warned, tall people worry not. I stopped at picnic rock because the trail to Verstovia point was very washed out.
Waterfall galore!! It was a wonderful short and easy hike! I’d say it’s easy rather than moderate. There are a few more difficult parts though if you plan to go around the lake, some of those rocks are completely under the lake now but I found a difficult side path to go over instead. I’d also add that with the trip around the lake it is longer. Roughly 4-5 miles total. It was a wonderful hike with plenty of water falls.
11/11/19. Tons of blow downs
