FATMAP by Strava

Johnson Pass IMBA Epic

An epic backcountry fat bike ride on snowmobile-packed trail.

Fat biking Difficult

Distance
37 km
Ascent
1.2 km
Descent
1.2 km
Duration
5-6 hrs
Low Point
133 m
High Point
453 m
Gradient
Johnson Pass IMBA Epic Map

The Johnson Pass trail is an old wagon road that, over the years, has narrowed down into a stunningly-beautiful singletrack trail. This 23-mile point-to-point route is one of the easiest, most accessible backcountry routes in the Kenai Peninsula. Thanks to its origins as a wagon road, the trail is mostly smooth and non-technical throughout its length, and it doesn't gain an arduous amount of elevation. Both ends of the trail are also easily accessible from a major paved highway, which makes accessing the trail and setting up a self-shuttle a cinch.

Description

In the winter time, the trail is open to snowmobiles, which pack in the route and make this remote pass accessible to other users as well. The trail usually gets packed in sometime in December and is accessible through the rest of the winter.

During the winter, the access points to the trail vary slightly from what's shown on the map. According to the USFS, "access from the north is via Johnson Pass Wagon Road on the west side of trailhead parking area," and "access from the south is via winter trail, 1 mile upriver from railroad trestle at far end of Upper Trail Lake." The southern access point differs most from this map, and might vary from year-to-year depending on where the trail gets beaten in. Presumably, the "winter trail" crosses Upper Trail Lake to reach the summer singletrack route, where it heads north of the lake and begins to travel into the mountain range.

Sources: Alaska.org FS.USDA.gov

Difficulty

Difficult

Low Exposure

1 out of 4

The path is on completely flat land and potential injury is limited to falling over.

Remoteness

4 out of 4

In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation.

Best time to visit

between December and April