Harp Mountain is known as the easiest 5,000-foot peak in the Chugach Mountains, but the steep ascent makes it a challenging climb.
Tucked away at the end of Hiland Road in Eagle River, this hike takes you up the ridgeline and rewards you with incredible views.. that’s if you don’t get socked in.
In this post, I’m going to share how to hike Harp Mountain in Eagle River, Alaska.
Hike Harp Mountain in Eagle River
Traditional Land: Dena’ina (Visit Native-Land.ca to identify whose land you live, work, and play on.)
Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 2,593 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: Yes
How to get to Harp Mountain:
- From Anchorage, head north on the Glenn Highway
- Exit the highway at E Eagle River Loop Rd.
- Take the first right at Hiland Rd.
- Follow Hiland Rd. until the end of the road
- Park on the side of the road
Please be respectful of the NO PARKING signs. There is space to park up the road. The Harp Mountain trail starts at the end of the cul-de-sac.
Read more: 5 Best Hikes in Eagle River
We headed out midday and had to hike through low visibility. And then it started to snow. I couldn’t believe it because it was almost June. But, that’s Alaska for you.
I ended up hiking the trail again the following summer and got some amazing view with clear skies!
Through The Alders
The trail to Harp Mountain isn’t obvious and it can be hard to find. You will find the trail to the right of the “No Parking” signs and to the left of the driveways. A small trail will be found at the edge of the tree-line.
You’ll start climbing through the alders. The trail can be muddy here especially after snowmelt or a day of good rain. Shortly, you will see a small sign in the woods and you will take a left here. Do not go straight. It won’t take too long before you make it out of the trees.
A Steep Climb
The trail up Harp Mountain isn’t technical but the climb is steep. In just under 1.7 miles, you will climb 2,593 feet to reach the summit. The trail up consists of a lot of loose rock and shale. It’s a good idea to bring some hiking poles with you.
The best part about hiking any ridgeline is that it’s all open and you will get awesome views almost immediately. The trail is pretty clear as you climb the ridge.
Socked in at 5,001 Feet
Just when you think you’ve reached the top of Harp Mountain, you realize that you’re actually on a false peak. This is just the first false peak because Harp Mountain has four false peaks in total.
Once you reach the top of Harp Mountain you will usually be rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding area, including Hanging Valley, Eagle and Symphony Lakes, and even all the way out to Turnagain Arm.
Unfortunately, the first time I hiked to the top the views consisted of a lot of nothingness. We were socked in and it was snowing big flakes, so we turned around and headed back down the mountain.
When I hiked the trail again, the skies were so clear and the views were insane! It really makes a difference going when the weather is good!
A Fast Descent
Even though it’ll take you a couple of hours climbing up, you will find that the way back down will take you half the time.
As we hiked down Harp Mountain it stopped snowing and became much clearer. The valley started to open up and we could see Rendezvous Ridge across the valley.
The hike to Harp Mountain will take you less than three hours to complete. I really enjoyed this trail!
Happy hiking!
Read More
5 Ultimate Hikes in Eagle River
Hike Barbara Falls in Eagle River
Hike Eagle and Symphony Lakes in Eagle River
What to Wear Hiking in Alaska (Summer)
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Do you have any questions on hiking Harp Mountain in Eagle River? Let me know in the comments.
I like your website. Having just done this hike today, I think your description of of the distance is unclear. In the trail summary section near the beginning of the page, it says that the trail is “3 miles roundtrip”. It is actually closer to 6.5 miles roundtrip, or 3+ miles each way. It’s a great hike.
Thanks for catching that Tim. I actually need to make a few edits to this post, including some new images! Yay.
I’ve done Harp many times, including just a few weeks ago. My trackers show an average 3.4 miles round trip. I think your 3.5RT is right. 🙂