Wolverine Peak: The mighty giant of South Fork Campbell Creek Valley

I consider the hike up 4,491-foot Wolverine Peak to be one of the most challenging in South Fork Campbell Creek Valley (AKA the valley associated with the Powerline Pass trail and Flattop Mountain) — even though Big O’Malley Peak, which presides over the same mountain, is taller. I suppose that’s because the trek up Wolverine feels like such a steady slog, whereas the hike up O’Malley is broken up a bit more.

With all that said, Wolverine Peak is a mighty mountain and a mighty goal: Its straightforward nature makes it a relatively easy “first big peak” in the front range, and the views… well, the views make it worth getting up that morning.

This is hike 49 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska, and hike 24 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.

Hiking Wolverine Peak

In my mind, I subdivide this hike into two parts: The first is navigating through the various bowl trails to reach the base of the mountain, and the second is the straightforward ascent up Wolverine Peak itself.

From the Prospect Heights trailhead, take the obvious access trail and turn left onto the marked Powerline Pass trail, which spends around a mile swooping along the edge of a forested hillside overlooking Anchorage. You’ll take a bridge across South Fork Campbell Creek and pass a signed intersection with Middle Fork Loop. About 2.1 miles from the trailhead you’ll cross another bridge, which is usually your last chance for water on this hike.

About 2.4 miles from the trailhead, you’ll pass a signed left turn for Near Point. Take the right fork instead, which should be signed for Wolverine Peak.

Thus starts part two of the hike: Settle in for some steady, sustained elevation gain. When you crest the top of a steep knob, at about 3.5 miles from the trailhead, you’ll get a clear view of the ridgeline that leads up and left to Wolverine’s summit ridge. That ridge is the steepest part of the trail, where some will find hiking poles handy — especially for the descent.

At about 4.5 miles from the trailhead, just shy of the ridge crest, you might see a sad pile of rusting, twisted metal. This is the remains of a light plane that became lost in heavy fog in 1956. All aboard were killed in the resulting crash.

Consider Packing Extra Water

Please note: Unless you encounter a lingering snow patch and are set up to melt it, or go out of your way to a small pond that is sometimes present on Wolverine’s mid-level flanks, there is no water on this trail once you’ve departed Campbell Creek. There’s also no shade. Plan, and pack, accordingly.

Views From Wolverine Peak

Here are some of the views you might see from atop Wolverine Peak on a sunny summer day. If you’re feeling particularly motivated, you could explore the obvious ridgelines that connect this to other peaks; bring a topo map (or a good GPS mapping app) and explore.