Trail description:

The Reed Lakes trail leads to two glacial lakes nestled in the heart of the Talkeetna Mountains. The path starts from an unpaved parking lot, which after a short walk downhill, makes it's way through a valley surrounded by granite peaks. Eventually the ruins of an abandoned mine, Snowbird Mine, will be reached at about the 2 mile point. After passing the ruins, the trail will head uphill over a series of switchbacks. Eventually it gives way to a rocky pass that entails a fair amount of bolder-hopping and route-finding. The trail can be hard to follow here, so stick close to the stream. A small marsh will then be passed on the right, followed by another series of switchbacks. Shortly after tackling this second major uphill portion, Lower Reed Lake will come into view. A few small streams will need to be crossed from this point on up, some of which result in scenic waterfalls which cascade over the various cliff faces nearby. The last portion of the trail is fairly easy-going, just before reaching the final destination, Upper Reed Lake, at the end of the valley.

Difficulty:

Overall I'd say pretty moderate. The uphill portions are generally separated by easy-going stretches. The roughest part is probably the bolder hopping around the mid-portion of the trail, which requires some careful footwork.

Directions:

From Anchorage, Head East/Northeast on the Glen Highway. Continue on the main route towards Wasilla. Shortly after the Palmer/Wasilla exchange, look for an exit to Trunk Road. Take the exit, then head right. Stay on this road until it eventually 'T's onto Palmer Fishhook Road. Take the left turn, and head north into Hatchers Pass. Follow this route for a quiet a ways until you find a turnoff onto a dirt road on your right, marked for Archangel Valley. Take this route, and after passing Archangel Creek follow the dirt road for about a fifth of a mile until you should find the parking lot, marked by a sign for the Reed Lakes trail.

Additional Information:

There's an info board at the trailhead containing a lot of additional information about the hike, along with a description of Snowbird Mine and a history of the area. There's an optional adventure beyond Upper Reed Lake - the remains of a B-29 bomber lie over the ridge (about 2 miles further in) on a glacier, where it crashed in the late 1950s.