Eaglecrest Summer Hiking: Nordic Trails & Alpine Route

Key Points

• In summer, Eaglecrest’s Nordic ski trails on Douglas Island turn into a wide gravel route through spruce forest, alpine meadows, and the Fish Creek valley.
• The route reaches Fish Creek and the Treadwell Ditch, an 1880s gold mine aqueduct that’s now a restored trail.
• You can hike Eaglecrest on your own if you have a car. There’s no summer gondola: the city pulled out of the project in May 2026.
• The Alpine Segway tour covers the Nordic route in 3 hours, with transport, training, and a local guide included.

Eaglecrest summer hiking is one of the quietest ways to see Juneau. Once the snow melts, the Nordic ski trails in the Fish Creek valley turn into a wide gravel path through spruce forest and open meadow, with snow still clinging to the peaks above.

It’s also the exact route of the iRide Alaska Alpine Segway tour. Most cruise visitors spend their port day between downtown and Mendenhall Glacier, so this side of Douglas Island stays calm even when the docks are full, which earns it a spot among our favorite places to escape cruise crowds in Juneau.

This guide covers where Eaglecrest is, what the Nordic trails look like stop by stop, the Treadwell Ditch history along the way, and how to see it all on foot or on a guided ride.

Eaglecrest Summer Hiking: Where It Is and What to Expect

Eaglecrest is Juneau’s city-owned ski area on Douglas Island, across Gastineau Channel and about 11 miles from downtown. From December into April, it’s the town’s ski hill. By summer, the chairlifts are parked, and the slopes are left to hikers and berry pickers.

The drive leaves the waterfront behind fast, climbing into the forested valley within minutes. Hikers heading for the Nordic trails park at the Lower Loop lot, 4.3 miles up Fish Creek Road (also called Eaglecrest Road), or at the main ski area lot. Expect gravel underfoot, cool air, and very few people, which is what makes Eaglecrest summer hiking feel so different from the busy glacier trails. Our guide to Douglas Island has more on the island’s old mining towns and coastline.

What Are Eaglecrest’s Nordic Ski Trails?

Eaglecrest’s Nordic trails are two groomed cross-country ski loops in the Fish Creek valley. The Lower Loop runs 5-6 km at about 330 meters of elevation, and the Upper Loop runs 3.3-4.5 km at about 480 meters, according to the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. Skiers know them for winding meadows and rolling hills, with terrain rated from beginner to advanced.

Eaglecrest staff groom the loops with snow cats all winter. What’s left underneath in summer is wide, packed gravel, the kind of surface a Segway X2 and its oversized balloon tires handle comfortably. 

The Alpine Route, Stop by Stop

The Alpine route moves from forest to open meadow to Fish Creek, then finishes with a short walk on the historic Treadwell Ditch.

Spruce and Hemlock Stands

The ride begins under tall Sitka spruce and hemlock. This is temperate rainforest, the same kind that covers most of Southeast Alaska, where steady rain and mild temperatures keep the trees growing for centuries. Our Tongass National Forest guide covers the bigger picture.

Alpine Meadows and Lily Ponds

Then the forest opens up. Meadows dotted with lily ponds spread out below peaks that hold their snow well into summer. 

Fish Creek, the Halfway Point

The water here runs cold and clear with snowmelt, and this is where riders pull over for a locally sourced snack and a stretch. The creek is also salmon habitat. For eagles, bears, and other animals you might spot, our Juneau wildlife guide has the details.

The Treadwell Ditch Walk

For the final stop, you trade wheels for boots: a 10-minute walk along the Treadwell Ditch through old-growth Tongass forest. It’s the shortest part of the tour, and the oldest.

Treadwell Ditch Trail: Gold Rush History on the Route

The ditch beside that path is a roughly 14-mile aqueduct built in the 1880s. It carried water from a subalpine lake at today’s Eaglecrest to the Treadwell Mine, where it powered the stamp mills that crushed gold ore. Treadwell was the largest gold mining complex in the world until it closed in the 1920s.

For about a century, the old ditch trail existed only in disconnected pieces. Trail Mix, Inc. and the U.S. Forest Service led a five-year restoration that added 33 bridges and 25 culverts. In July 2025, the trail was reconnected from Eaglecrest to South Douglas for the first time in over 100 years.

Hiking on Your Own vs. the Alpine Segway Tour

One honest note: if a summit view is your top priority, hike the service road. The Alpine tour stays in the valley and meadows.

Who Is the Alpine Segway Tour For?

The Alpine tour is built for riders who want an off-road, mountain-feeling outing and don’t mind a slightly more technical ride than our coastal route. iRide Alaska’s tours carry a 5-star rating across more than 700 verified reviews. The Alpine tour runs 3 hours, costs $179.95, and includes transportation, personal training, safety gear, a Segway X2, live narration, a local snack, and several photo stops. Every Segway option is listed on our Juneau Segway tours page, and our Juneau cruise itinerary guide shows how a 3-hour tour fits into a port day.

• First time on a Segway? The Coastal Segway Rainforest tour ($164.95) follows a paved bike lane with glacier and Inside Passage views.
• Rather pedal? Our guided e-bike tours are another way off the bus routes.
• Nervous about balance? Read Alaska on Two Wheels (and Balance) to see what the first few minutes feel like, and check the Segway age, weight, and safety requirements before you book. iRide’s FAQ lists ages 13-72 for the Alpine tour.

Expert Tips for Eaglecrest Summer Hiking

These tips apply whether you go for Eaglecrest summer hiking on foot or ride the route with us:

• Dress for cooler air than downtown. The trails sit higher up the valley, so pack a warm layer and a rain shell. Our Segway tour packing list covers the rest.
• Wear closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting damp on the Treadwell Ditch walk.
• Make noise on solo hikes. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game advises talking, clapping, or singing as you go so you don’t surprise a bear, and never running from one.

Conclusion: Eaglecrest Summer Hiking

Eaglecrest summer hiking shows a side of Juneau most port-day visitors miss: old forest, open meadow, a salmon creek, and a piece of gold rush engineering, all a short drive from the cruise docks. With a car and a free afternoon, you can hike it yourself. If you’d rather skip the logistics and hear the story behind each stop, let us take you there.

Planning a 2027 cruise? See how Juneau’s new cruise passenger caps affect when to book your shore excursion.

Related tours: Juneau Segway excursions | Juneau e-bike excursions

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