Middle Fork Loop: One trail to (kind of) rule them all

Middle Fork Loop is one of the best-connected trails in South Fork Campbell Creek Valley. In fact, it’d be faster to give a list of trails that Middle Fork Loop doesn’t intersect or overlap with.

All told, this ring hike (get it?) connects in some way to the trails for Wolverine Peak, Near Point, Williwaw Lakes, South Fork Rim, and Lost Cabin Valley/Basher Loop. It also overlaps the section of the Powerline Pass trail that connects the Prospect Heights trailhead and Glen Alps trailhead, so you have your choice of two convenient access points.

This is hike 46 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska, and hike 21 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.

Hiking Middle Fork Loop

These directions assume you’re starting the loop from my favorite spot, the Prospect Heights trailhead. Even though Prospect Heights is smaller than Glen Alps, it’s typically easier to find a parking spot at Prospect.

With that in mind: Take the obvious access trail, then turn left onto the signed Powerline Pass trail, which winds along the forested hillside for almost a mile before you cross a large bridge over South Fork Campbell Creek. Continue on past the ridge and when you reach the marked intersection with the Wolverine Bowl Trail, follow the signed right turn to stay on Middle Fork Loop.

The signage on this trail is much better than it used to be, so nowadays it’s just a matter of continuing to follow the posted signs — although it’s always smart to have a map or at least a GPS-mapping app as a backup. When you reach the signed intersection with the Williwaw Lakes trail, you’ll know you’ve hiked almost 4 miles from Prospect Heights.

The next major intersection you’ll hit is a four-way intersection with the old and new trails up Little O’Malley Peak. Turning right to stay on Middle Fork Loop (signs might be for the Glen Alps trailhead or Powerline trail). In short order this’ll bring you to a long boardwalk and bridge, followed by an uphill stretch as you climb back up to the Powerline Pass trail.

Said trail is actually a gravel maintenance road at this point (although no vehicles are allowed). Turn right to point yourself back toward the Prospect Heights trailhead, which at this point is roughly 3 miles away. Or, if you want to end your hike after just 6 miles and staged a second vehicle at the Glen Alps trailhead, watch for the signed left turn (and increase in foot traffic) that marks the access trail linking Powerline Pass to Glen Alps.

Check Out That Beautiful Trail Work!

For my money, Middle Fork Loop is one of the best-maintained — and most frequently improved — trails in the Chugach front range. If you’ve never wielded a pulaski, shovel gravel, or otherwise helped build or improve a hiking trail, it’s worth imagining how much work goes into creating even a short stretch of what you’re walking on. It’s really something else!

Pictures of Middle Fork Loop

One of the most interesting aspects of this trail is getting to “window shop” the hikeable peaks in the valley; for example, it crosses right underneath Wolverine Peak. But the weather doesn’t always cooperate, and that was the case when I hiked through to take pictures. So, here’s a glimpse of the trail as I saw it: A misty, magical land of gentle hills and close-up views of tiny microclimates.