Government Peak: It’s worth every drop of sweat to reach stunning views at the top

Government Peak is a legitimate big mountain, packing a respectable 3,800-foot elevation gain up to its 4,781-foot peak. And the views are worth every drop of sweat on this challenging trail!

This is hike 13 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska, and coincidentally enough it is also one of 13 fantastic hiking trails in Hatcher Pass.

Which Way Will You Go?

There are two ways to the peak: The ultra-gnarly race trail, which I understand to be every bit as challenging as the racer’s trail up Mount Marathon in Seward; or the much more civilized hiker’s path that goes first to Blueberry Knoll, then follows trail markers up a ridge to Government Peak itself.

I understand you can also ridgewalk from April Bowl/Hatch Peak to Government Peak (or the other way around, of course), but this isn’t something I’ve done yet.

Hiking Government Peak From Blueberry Knoll

This is the route I recommend taking to reach the top of Government Peak. Here’s how it breaks down:

When you first drive into the parking area, look for a large, wooden sign that sits flush against the road on your right. I find this the easiest place to enter the web of trails at the base of the mountain. Once there, follow signs for the Blueberry Knoll trail, which starts moving steeply up the flanks of the mountain after about a mile.

You’ll pass at least one sign for a side trail marked for “Government Peak,” nearly buried in the brush. Those are horribly brushy spur trails connecting with the racer’s trail. Stay on the Blueberry Knoll trail and you’ll hit one more signed intersection a very short distance before Blueberry Knoll itself. That’s where you should turn north to continue through low bushes, quickly gaining the toe of an obvious ridge.

That ridge will carry you the rest of the way up the peak, but it takes a while, and some of the grades along the way are steep enough that on the way back down, I find it easiest to sit and scoot — especially if the grass and tundra plants are at all wet.

Unless things have changed substantially since my last visit, the footpath along this ridge to the top is a little patchy, and you can expect to follow low reflector poles planted in the tundra. Because of that, I’d reserve this hike for a clear day. It’s not a fun type of place to be socked in with low visibility.