Bodenburg Butte: The best Alaska hike for people who like counting stairs
Yes, this title is a little tongue in cheek — but Bodenburg Butte (or more specifically, the West Butte Trail up Bodenburg Butte) is one of just two truly stair-intensive hikes in Southcentral Alaska. The other is the front-side trail up Flattop Mountain, where the fill has eroded out from between the slats that frame the steps, leaving you tiptoeing uphill on the slats themselves, or doing impromptu agility drills as you high-step through the gaps between them.
The steps on Bodenburg Butte’s West Butte Trail, on the other hand, are in very good repair — and if you believe a sign at the start of the hike, there are 505 of them. That’s where we get back to the counting thing: I’ve tried to count the steps a few times, and the furthest I’ve gotten before losing track was 300-something. I invite someone who’s better at staying focused to finish the job.
I’d call this trail moderate in difficulty, but it’s quite short and the views from the top are spectacular, given the butte’s diminutive size.
This is hike 22 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska, and hike 49 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.
| Round Trip: 2.6 miles | Nearest community: Butte/Palmer |
| Elevation gain: 720 feet | Typical season: Year-round |
| Parking fee: $5 or Mat-Su Borough parking pass | Nearby trails: Lazy Mountain, Lazy Moose, Pioneer Peak, Palmer Rail Trail (AKA Palmer-Moose Creek Railroad Trail) |
Bodenburg Butte Trailhead Directions
West Butte (Mat-Su Borough Access, main trail): From Palmer, take the Old Glenn Highway south to the first intersection with Bodenburg Loop Rood. Turn right then, after about 0.5 miles, turn left on Mothershead Lane. Follow signs for the West Butte trailhead.
If you’re coming from Anchorage, take the Old Glenn Highway and turn left at the second intersection for Bodenburg Loop Road; then turn onto Mothershead Lane.
This trailhead has a $5 parking fee (credit cards accepted), or buy a Mat-Su Borough parking pass.
Sandvik Family/South Butte Access: Starting from Palmer, take the Old Glenn Highway south and turn right at the second intersection with Bodenburg Loop Road. If you’re coming from Anchorage, that’ll be a left onto the first intersection with Bodenburg Loop Road.
After a little more than 0.5 mile, you’ll see the small, unpaved parking lot on your right. As a bonus, you can also stop in for a tour at the family’s reindeer farm, just on the other side of the road. Their tours start at a reasonable $13 and are lots of fun.
As of the last time I visited, parking at the Sandvik trailhead cost $3, cash only.
Hiking the Main Bodenburg Butte Trail
The hike up the West Butte trail, AKA the main Bodenburg Butte trail, is very straightforward: From that main parking area you can see the trail heading toward the butte, just on the other side of a small road. Once you hit the side of the butte, the trail spends much of its time zig-zagging up the butte’s north side at an angle that would be unmanageable without all those stairs.
As it is, there is one big boulder in between stairs that represents a momentary scramble, but there is a cable in place for support. Said cable also serves as handrail on some of the stair steps, but pay attention to what you’re grabbing: Parts of it are loose or unanchored.
Eventually the trail wraps around to the west side of the butte for its final ascent. The summit itself is a broad knob of glacier-carved rock, with a couple of well-placed benches to take in those great views.
Although both the trail up Bodenburg Butte and the height of its summit are short by Alaska standards, it stands isolated in a big patch of agricultural land. That means attaining the lofty, 850-foot-high perch of its summit gives you sweeping views in every direction including massive Pioneer Peak looming over you, a glimpse of the Knik Glacier in the distance, and watery Knik Arm off to your west.
A Second Bodenburg Butte Trail
If you wander over to the south side of the summit and look down, you can see the sandy, eroded trail coming up from a second trailhead, variously known as the Sandvik trailhead (because it’s on private land owned by the Sandvik family) or the South Butte Trail (because it’s on the south side of the butte). It’s roughly the same length as the West Butte Trail, and some ambitious folks will hike up one side of the butte, down the other, then back up and over again to get to your car.
If you choose to park at the Sandvik trailhead, be warned that the South Butte Trail is steep and very dusty in spots. Definitely don’t hike up this side during high winds — you’ll be cleaning sand out of your hair and clothes! Make sure you pay the trailhead parking fee; last time I checked it was $3, cash only, but it’s been a while so that amount may have changed.
Recommended For You
Seven Lakes Trail: Actually there are four lakes, but who’s counting?
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.
