Rendezvous Peak: A great first summit for the entire family
If you’re just starting out or want a fun, short afternoon hike, Rendezvous Peak is a fantastic peak to bag. This little mountain’s summit is at 4,105 feet, but once you’ve driven up into the ski area you only need to ascend 1,440 of that to reach the top of the mountain. I would call it a moderate hike overall, and well-suited for the entire family.
Most of this hike is within the boundaries of the Arctic Valley ski area, so from a hiker’s standpoint this is a summer-only trail.
The hike up Rendezvous Peak is hike 31 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage, and is mentioned as part of hikes 39 and 41 in Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska.
| Round Trip: 3.4 miles | Nearest community: Eagle River, JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) |
| Elevation gain: 1,440 feet | Typical season: June to October |
| Parking fee: $5 or Arctic Valley membership | Nearby trails: Mount Gordon Lyon, Rendezvous Ridge, Rendezvous Ski Loop, Eagle and Symphony Lakes |
Rendezvous Peak Trailhead Directions
Take the Glenn Highway northeast from Anchorage. After about two miles, take the signed exit for Arctic Valley. Continue straight on this road through a golf course, through a gate that is closed at 10 p.m., and finally over about 6 miles of unpaved washboard to reach Arctic Valley Ski Area. I recommend parking in the upper parking area (on the left as you drive in) to be close to the actual trailhead.
Please be aware that the access road crosses military land, and that the ski area borders on military land. There are fines for trespassing and access may occasionally be closed if the military is conducting maneuvers/exercises in this area.
Hiking Rendezvous Peak
There are lots of footpaths in this valley, but two primary ways to get up Rendezvous Peak. The obvious main trail starts behind the café and takes you straight up to a saddle between Rendezvous Peak (on the right) and Mount Gordon Lyon (on the left). You can also reach the saddle by taking the marked, gravel-clad trail straight out of the parking area; it heads up the opposite side of the valley from the main trail, then crosses over a small footbridge to join the main trail.
Once you’ve hit the saddle, just turn right and pick your way up the semi-established trail to the rocky peak of Rendezvous.
If for whatever reason you don’t want to go up to the saddle, take that main trail behind the café and look for a footpath that heads off to the right well before you reach the saddle. This steep, often slippery trail leads up to the shoulder of Rendezvous Peak, and from there you can easily walk the rest of the way to the summit.
Linking Up With Other Trails
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can also link a hike up Rendezvous Peak with trails from the nearby South Fork Eagle River trailhead. However, the South Fork trailhead is at a lower elevation than the trailhead for Rendezvous Peak, so if you do that link-up as a round trip you’ll be adding quite a bit of elevation gain to your hike.
Lisa Maloney
A long-time Alaskan, Lisa has written three award-winning guidebooks including "Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska" and "50 Hikes Around Anchorage." She also served as senior editor of Alaska magazine and has written hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles about her adventures around the state. Learn more about her at http://maloneywrites.com.
