The Perch and Icicle Creek: A wonderfully flat(ish) hike on the Historic Iditarod Trail

The Perch and Icicle Creek are just two of the notable destinations along the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Yes, that Iditarod! This strength of relatively flat, easy — but long — trail is also part of the 24-mile Crow Pass traverse, which most people hike starting from Girdwood, passing through Crow Pass and by Raven Glacier before crossing Eagle River and tackling this long, flat stretch that ends at Eagle River Nature Center.

The funny thing is that while I, and many others, quickly dismiss the trail around the Perch and Icicle Creek as a boring tail end to the long hike over Crow Pass, I find it to be a delightful day hike on its own.

This is hike 40 in my guidebook 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.

Hiking to the Perch and Icicle Creek

This hike starts (and then continues) on the main trail behind the Eagle River Nature Center. What you might or might not know about that trail is that it’s actually part of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, which still exists around the state in a patchwork of maintained and neglected sections.

This section is very well-maintained, to the point that you don’t really need any special instructions: Just follow the signs as the trail more or less follows the ever-changing braided channels of Eagle River. Sometimes the river rushes right past the trail or even devours or floods parts of it; sometimes it’s tucked away in the trees. But you’re never terribly far away.

One of the biggest landmarks of the trail — and one of the most popular turnaround points for a day hike — is The Perch, which you’ll find about 4.2 miles from the nature center. It’s a distinctive rock knob with a very mild dome, offering a commanding view up and down the river valley. You’ll also pass a few creeks that, depending on the season and water levels, may be entirely dry or may be rushing and require a ford.

The beauty of a long, flattish trail like this is that you can choose your own endpoint; just turn around and head back any time you want. I chose Icicle Creek (a broad wash at 5.8 miles from the trailhead) as a turnaround point because if you hang a right and follow a footpath through the samplings on Eagle River’s floodplain, you’ll reach a “beach” with views of a tall, gushing waterfall on the far side of the river.

There are lots of small footpaths wending through the saplings here, so pay close attention to where you’re going and how to get back to the main trail, which by this point has started to narrow from its broad beginnings.

Notable Landmarks/Waypoints

Here’s a list of the creeks and other notable landmarks you’ll pass along the way to the Perch and Icicle Creek. All distances given are from the Eagle River Nature Center.

• 2.6 miles: Trail bends left in the crook of the river and passes the final intersection with Dew Mound Loop.
• 3 miles: Echo Bend, a lovely riverside area with a few primitive campsites.
• 4.2 miles: The Perch
• 4.7 miles: Dishwater Creek
• 5.3 miles: A series of three (usually) bridged creeks.
• 5.8 miles: Icicle Creek

Pictures From Hiking to the Perch and Icicle Creek

Choose Your Water Carefully

If you need a drink, it might be tempting to filter water straight from Eagle River — and of course you can in a pinch. But the water is very silty, which can clog your water filter quickly. It’s best to get your water refills from clear-running tributary creeks when you can.

Resources for Hiking the Crow Pass Trail

If you’re thinking of hiking the entire Crow Pass trail, I highly recommend starting in Girdwood, not Eagle River; there’s less elevation gain that way. Hiking out via the Perch and Icicle Creek might seem boring, but most hikers find it nicer than suffering up a steep mountainside when you’re already fatigued.

Make sure you research the entirety of the trail, and recent trail conditions, first: Lots of people do it safely every summer, but it also features a couple of notable water crossings and is one of the busiest places for rescues by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, when people who didn’t research the trail beforehand find themselves unexpectedly in over their head.

The Eagle River Nature Centers provides a helpful page of Crow Pass trail information, and staff at the are very helpful in relaying conditions reports from hikers who recently came through the pass. You can also check out reports of recent trail conditions on the Crow Pass Trail Facebook page.

Watch the Water Levels

Heads up: This trail may be flooded or washed out during times of high water, and an otherwise simple water crossing can quickly become hazardous when water levels are running high.