Mt Roberts, Juneau
Another great item for your to do list in Juneau is the Mt Roberts Tram and possibly the hike to the top of Mt Roberts itself.
Google maps makes everything look small. The Tram ride is in red and the hike path is highlighted in Pink on the map. For $30 a person you can take the tram from sea level to the 1,500’ elevation on Mt Roberts. This is about the halfway point up the mountain and just about at the top of the treeline. There is a small hiking loop at this point you can take for some very nice scenic’s views of the mountains. Yes it sounds like a lot for a short Tram ride so if you have way to much energy you can opt for the hike but it is rather strenuous.
Instead, what we did was take the tram and hike from there to Gold Ridge, which for our purposes we’ll call the top. From the tram its about 1,500’ in elevation over 1-1.5 miles and the view is stunning on a clear day. If we ever get back we will try and set aside enough time to continue on to the official top of Mt Roberts but that looks like it could take a while. Your largest obstacles would be finding a clear day and picking a time of year without the route being covered in snow.
Exposure is the term used by hikers to describe hikes where you have a shear drop next to the trail where you can plummet to your death, or at least areas where those with a respect for heights will have problems. The exposure on this trail was low so I could recommend it to most anyone with the stamina to walk to the top. It will take longer than you think. Don’t get suckered by the three or four false ridges. You’ll know when you get suckered, you will say to yourself “I’m almost at the top I can see it”, and then hen you get there, you’ll see that your still “almost there”, lol.
1. Google Maps Terrain view. Red is the Tram, Pink is the hike
2. The Tram ride
3. View from picnic benches near the Tram area
4. Beginning the hike
5. Part of the Louise in High Places collection
6. Another False ridge
7. Tunda at the top of Gold Ridge
8-10. Views, Views, and more Views
11. Here the trail forks, behind me goes to Gold Ridge and ahead would be the route to Mt Roberts peak.
12-16. Hiking along Gold Ridge
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