Baldy and Blacktail Rocks: Actually 4 peaks in one

I could have just named this post “Baldy” or “Baldy in Eagle River,” but Baldy and Blacktail Rocks are such a package deal, it makes sense to include them both.

Still, most of the traffic along this trail focuses on its first peak, Baldy, a modest 3,020-foot summit that is reached by a lovely series of switchbacks. If you remember this as a straight up-and-down scramble, the trail has changed and is well worth another visit. It’s now one of the family-friendliest hikes in Chugach State Park, and a great first, moderate-difficulty peak to bag.

This is hike 31 in Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska and hike 33 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.

Hiking Up Baldy

There are two old roadbeds at the uphill end of the parking area. Taking the right-side trail, then watching for the kiosk on your left that marks the trail proper, sends you up the newly constructed switchbacks that work their way up the mountain, offering lovely views from its flanks. If the trail branches, continue on the switchbacks instead of zooming straight up the mountain.

Those lovely switchbacks might seem to vanish when you hit a particularly rocky, eroded section of the mountain, but look sharp: The trail does actually continue, albeit as a smaller footpath that can take a bit of effort to spot in the rocks.

I consider this trail the nicest start up Baldy and Blacktail Rocks (the latter for those who care to persevere). It crosses only public land, avoiding the land access issues and mud that come with taking that other road out of the Baldy and Blacktail Rocks parking area.

Land Access Issues With the “Homestead Trail”

If you were to take the leftmost road leading out of the trailhead, it leads through a small homestead and up what may be variously referred to as the back side of Baldy, the Wallace trail, the Homestead trail, or just the easy way up.

This trail eventually leads to the top of Baldy, too, but it crosses that private homestead land and, with the new(ish) switchbacks on the front side of Baldy, isn’t actually the easy way up anymore. I would consider it harder, because you have to pick through a maze of social trails and avoid often-muddy areas along the bottom of the mountain, then deal with steep, eroded ground further up.

Once upon a time the landowners, the Wallace family, offered free permits for people to hike across their land. They have since issued a request for hikers not to trespass. The Wallace family tends to post communications about land access on their website, wallacebrothersmountain.com.

Going on to Blacktail Rocks

Let’s get back to hiking Baldy — and beyond. If you have the time and energy, Baldy and Blacktail Rocks (the next peak in the ridge behind Baldy) make a wonderful pair of goals. All you have to do is keep walking the broad ridge behind Baldy, working up to the obvious rocky point ahead of you: That’s the summit of 4,390-foot Blacktail Rocks.

Continuing Past Baldy and Blacktail Rocks

But Baldy and Blacktail Rocks aren’t all you can do on this ridge. Continue walking the same ridgeline in an arc around the valley and you can reach 4760-foot Roundtop Mountain; or turn southeast from Blacktail Rocks to ridgewalk your way to 5,011 Vista Peak. Some ambitious hikers who get up early enough for a long day will tag all four peaks in one go.

Or, if you want a shorter loop option, consider hiking up the Ptarmigan Valley trail, which deposits you in the valley between Baldy and Roundtop, then find one of the many social trails established in that valley, hike up onto Baldy, and then back down to the Baldy and Blacktail Rocks trailhead. (You’ll need to set up a car shuttle.)

Please note: The distances and elevation gains I’ve listed for each successive peak behind Baldy and Blacktail Rocks are on the assumption that you’re taking a more or less direct path to only that mountain. You’ll log quite a bit more distance and elevation if you hit multiple peaks.