The Ramp West Ridge Trail

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Parking at the Glen Alps Trailhead requires a $5 parking fee per day or an annual Alaska State Parks pass.

This trail has an extremely difficult rating due to exposure at the very top of the peak.

The Ramp is #75 of the Chugach State Park Peaks as listed on Peakbagger.com. While there is a long approach, at 5,240 ft., the Ramp is one of the easier 5,000 footers and provides stunning views of the Turnagain Peaks, the Chugach front range, and the Anchorage bowl.

The route described here is the southwest ridge approach, which is normally accessed from the Glen Alps Trailhead via Powerline Pass Trail and Ship Lake Pass Trail.

Immediately after crossing the creek at about the 1.2-mile mark on Ship Lake Pass Trail, stay left when the trail forks to follow Hidden Lake Trail as you aim for the ramp-like ridgeline between the valley floor and the O'Malley ridgeline. The trail will fork several times. Hidden Lake Trail offshoots to the north heading to Hidden Lake; stay right here.

As you gain in elevation, the ridgeline will start to have larger rock formations, but the trail is well traveled all the way to the top of the ridge. Once on top of the ridge, follow the trail just south of the ridgeline all the way to the peak. The last 30 ft. or so are quite exposed, but the footing is good and use of hands is not necessary. Standing at the very top is also not recommended due to extreme exposure on the north face.