GIRDWOOD, ALASKA
Girdwood started off as a supply station for gold miners at the turn of the century and was originally known as Glacier City. The village was moved 2.5 miles up the valley to its current site when the neighboring Turnagain Arm shoreline was downgraded by 10 feet as a result of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake.
Today, Girdwood is a 2,000-person full-service town that draws skiers in the winter, hikers in the summer, and artists all year long. Fine dining establishments, a variety of lodging options, and a vibrant local culture entice both locals and tourists to Alaska.
The temperate rainforest and beautiful mountains of the Girdwood region may be explored on a variety of hiking and bike paths. Alyeska Resort is close to the start for the well-known Winner Creek Trail, which travels three miles through a beautiful forest to the Winner Creek Gorge.
The Crow Pass Trail is the most remarkable hike in the region. It is a magnificent alpine trail that passes by remnants of a gold-mining operation, a waterfall, an alpine lake, a glacier, and occasionally Dall sheep and black bears on the hillsides above. The 23-mile Crow Pass Trail, a favorite route for overnight hiking trips, may be completed in its entirety by the very daring. It runs from Girdwood to Eagle River.