<p>I took this photo on a hike to Crow Pass and Raven Glacier in July 2009. This might be the best short day hike in Alaska. The trail head is a few miles from the town of Girdwood (30 miles south of Anchorage). The trail to the pass is about 4 miles with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet. There are several routes to the pass - steep or switchbacks. Once you get to the pass there is a Forest Service cabin and Crystal Lake, about 1/2 mile from there is Raven Glacier - absolutely amazing. The trail then continues to the Eagle River Nature Center about 18 miles away.
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Crow Pass is also a major running event - runners try to complete the 23 mile trip in 3-4 hours (yes, they are insane). We took a more leisurely pace and enjoyed the great Alaskan scenery - this is really a magnificent hike - check it out!
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/72213316@N00">Frank Kovalchek</a> from USA
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/3815724385/">Stitched shot of Raven Glacier near Crow Pass, Girdwood, Alaska (view on large)</a>