Penguin Peak

Penguin Peak rises to 4,304 feet in Alaska. The Penguin Peak Trail covers 3.5 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 3,067 feet of elevation gain — a steep, sustained climb. It's rated Hard overall.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.5, gaining roughly 2,600 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 276 feet, the route tops out near 3,343 feet. You'll cross above treeline on the way up, so the upper route is exposed to weather — check the forecast and turn around if conditions build.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 60.97989, -149.42396 (tap for driving directions). Arrive early on weekends — trailhead lots at popular peaks fill quickly, and cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.

When to Go

Late May through October is the main season. Snow and ice linger into spring and return early in fall at this latitude and elevation; in winter this becomes a different, more serious undertaking requiring traction devices and warm layers.

Know Before You Go

The Hard rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 2.5 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Adelie Point, Bird Peak and Chinstrap Peak — each has its own guide on this site.