Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Goat Haunt Mountain

strenuous Experienced HikersPhotographersSolitude Seekers
10 mi Distance
2,200 ft Elevation Gain
6-8 hours Estimated Time
roundtrip Trail Type

What to Expect

This ten-mile roundtrip climbs relentlessly from sea level through dense coastal rainforest before breaking above treeline into wide-open alpine terrain. The lower stretches are rooted and muddy — expect to pick your way through sitka spruce corridors where the trail feels more like a creek bed after rain. Once you clear the trees, the landscape transforms: bare rock, wind-scoured ridgelines, and views that justify every switchback. From the summit area, you're looking down at tidewater glaciers calving into fjords, with the Fairweather Range stacking up on the horizon like a wall of ice and granite. The exposure up top is real — there's nowhere to hide from wind or weather. This is a trail for strong hikers who want to earn one of Southeast Alaska's most dramatic panoramas without needing a bush plane to get there.
Experienced HikersPhotographersSolitude SeekersSummit BaggersGlacier Views

Safety Advisory

Above treeline, you are fully exposed to weather that can shift from sunshine to driving rain and near-freezing wind in under an hour. Pack layers and a waterproof shell regardless of the forecast.

Brown bears are active throughout Glacier Bay's backcountry. Carry bear spray accessible on your hip, make noise on blind corners, and know the difference between a bluff charge and a real one.

The upper ridge has loose scree and steep drop-offs with no guardrails or fencing. One wrong step on wet rock near the edges could be catastrophic — stay well back from cornices and ledges.

Trail Details

Distance 10 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain 2,200 ft
Difficulty strenuous
Estimated Time 6-8 hours
Trail Type roundtrip
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Goat Haunt Mountain

Pro Tips

Trail Tip

Start early — cloud cover and fog tend to roll in by early afternoon in Glacier Bay, and you want clear skies for the summit views. A 6 AM departure gives you the best odds.

Trail Tip

The lower trail holds moisture like a sponge. Waterproof boots with aggressive tread are non-negotiable, and trekking poles will save your knees on the steep, root-laced descent.

Trail Tip

Bring a wide-angle lens and stop at the first major clearing above treeline — the composition looking back down the fjord with glaciers on both sides is the shot most people miss because they're focused on reaching the top.

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1 campgrounds, 12 trails, 736K annual visitors

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