Morning Star Gully: ready to find your own way?
Hmmm. What can I say about Morning Star Gully? The views are great with very little elevation gain, and a lot of traffic from rock climbers has helped trample down the trail. It’s also created a nest of interconnecting trails, some of which will lead you to… well, rock climbs.
I note a couple of landmarks, such as they are, in my book write-ups — but the best advice is really to pay close attention to where you’re going (and how to get back), and plan to untangle the web of trails yourself.
Why go to all that bother, if the trip to Morning Star Gully is so convoluted it’s hard to write down on the Internet? Some twisted personalities like myself might actually find it fun. But most people are probably doing it because this short, relatively easy trail (assuming you can find the way) takes you to some rocky bluffs that offer great views over the water for very little effort.
And, did I mention the bluffs over Morning Star Gully make the perfect picnic spot? The only problem is finding your way there. Unless you go with someone who knows the way, it truly can be a problem.
The good news is that there are some very nice trails nearby and, as long as you’ve kept your bearings about you, you can always go back to your car and detour to something that’s a bit better-defined.
| Round Trip: 1 mile | Nearest community: Anchorage |
| Elevation gain: 600 feet | Typical season: All seasons, as far as I can tell |
| Parking fee: No fee | Nearby trails: Turnagain Arm Trail, McHugh Lakes, Bird Ridge, Rainbow Knob, Falls Creek, Bird to Gird |
Morning Star Gully Trailhead Directions
Take the New Seward Highway south of Anchorage. Just before mile marker 110, look for an elevated dirt pullout on your left, bordered by large rocks and curving back toward town. There should be a rock formation with a chopped-off telephone pole on top at the far end of the lot; this landmark is, unsurprisingly, often referred to as “telephone pole rock,” and is the only real marker for the start of the Morning Star Gully trail.
It’s a Real Maze Out There
This is hike 11 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage, but as I wrote in that book, I thought twice about including it due to the maze of trails that’s formed there. Finding your way to the gully means sorting through that maze, so I invite you to grab a copy of the book for detailed directions — but I also recommend using a mapping app or, better yet, paying close attention to your surroundings to help you build a mental map for how to hike out when you’re done.
Or, you could boot up Gaia GPS or your other favorite mapping app and sort your way through the maze of trails on your own. Either way, this isn’t a hike to do when you’re in a hurry or if you’re not comfortable with finding your way!
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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.
