Trail description:

From the trailhead, follow the trail for a hundred feet or so before reaching a post, and head left. Take the Turnagain Arm trail for a short distance until reaching yet another post; follow the indicated route (McHugh Creek) right and head uphill. From this point until about the second mile, the trail makes it's way up the slope across several switchbacks. About a mile into the hike, a rocky outcrop known as "Picnic Table Rock" juts out from the left-hand side of the trail. Either take a right (before reaching it), or take a 10 minute diversion for the view it offers - and take a right immediately afterwards (continuing left will lead to Mugh Peak). From this point on, the trail takes a steady course to the east, and the forest gradually thins out. Once the valley is reached, a view of North Suicide Peak greets the oncoming hiker, roughly 4 miles away in the distance, followed by South Suicide Peak shortly thereafter. From here on the trail begins to follow a more gentle course and eventually meets up with McHugh Creek further in. As the trip reaches it's final mile, the trail can become difficult to make out, but is complimented by a few cairnes (piles of rock) which serve as markers. After walking over a few final mounds of loose rock near the end of the valley, an impressive aqua-blue Rabbit Lake comes into view, nestled directly below the precipitous Suicide peaks.

Difficulty:

Moderately strenuous. Practically the entire trail heads uphill, and the trail itself is long enough to warrant a slightly more difficult then average rating. On the other hand, the inclination tends not to be especially steep (especially after the halfway point), so it's not exactly an overly difficult hike.

Directions:

From Anchorage, head south on the New Seward Highway. Shortly after passing Potter Marsh, look for the Chugach State Park headquarters on your right. Continue for about another 3 miles from there and the McHugh Creek parking area will be on your left (it's rather large and hard to miss). The trail starts from the top-left section of the higher parking area.

Additional Information:

There tends to be a lot of wildlife on or near this trail; I've seen dahl sheep, moose, and even bears while hiking here. This could also make a great backpacking trip, as there are plenty of nice places to set up camp surrounding the lake.