Seward Highway to Hope — Turnagain Arm Coastal Bench and Resurrection Pass Approach
Gold rush ghosts and bore tides on the Kenai backdoor.
The run off the Seward Highway at the Hope Road junction — about 70 miles south of Anchorage — drops you into one of Alaska’s best-kept overland secrets. Hope is a legitimate gold rush ghost town with a working population of around 200, and the road into it runs along the north shore of Turnagain Arm with bore tide views that will stop you cold. From Hope, the Resurrection Pass Trail Road climbs into the Chugach National Forest on a maintained gravel track that transitions to rougher stock road as you push toward the upper trailhead at 2,600 feet. Berry-picking pull-offs, Dall sheep on the upper scree, and glacier-fed creek crossings are the mile markers here — plus black bears moving through willows in late summer.
This is an accessible run for a stock high-clearance 4×4, though the upper Resurrection Creek section benefits from skid plates and decent ground clearance, especially after rain softens the track. The Hope Road itself is well-graded gravel — 17.5 miles from the Seward Highway. Drive it May through October; shoulder months mean soft shoulders and washout risk. Dispersed camping is permitted in the Chugach National Forest. Fuel up in Anchorage or Girdwood — Hope has no gas station. Cell service drops out past the Hope junction and stays out all the way to the trailhead.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2600 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Hope, Alaska |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Chugach National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Chugach — Resurrection Pass Trail Chugach National Forest main page |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Tacoma handle this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a 4Runner or Tacoma will get through in normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more margin on the water crossings, but factory clearance is workable if you're not pushing it after heavy rain.
When does this route typically open and close for the season?
May through October is the reliable window. Spring breakup can leave the trail soft and rutted into late May, and early-season snow can shut the upper sections by October — sometimes sooner. Check with Chugach National Forest before a shoulder-season run.
Do you need a permit or pay any fees to drive this route?
No permit is required for the overland route itself. If you're camping at developed USFS sites near Hope or Resurrection Pass trailhead, there are nightly fees — dispersed camping along the route is free under standard Chugach National Forest rules.
What's the hardest section and what makes it technical?
The water crossings are where this trail earns its high-clearance requirement — depths vary significantly with rainfall and snowmelt, and they can catch you off guard if you haven't scouted first. The approach to the Resurrection Pass elevation gain is straightforward but the surface gets loose and eroded in spots above 2,000 feet.
How far is the nearest fuel stop, and is there any cell service on the route?
Gas up in Anchorage or Girdwood before dropping south — Hope has extremely limited services and no reliable fuel. Cell service is essentially zero for the entire run, so download offline maps and have your comms sorted before you leave pavement.
Trail track
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