Hiking Wickersham Dome
by Emma Corby
Emma’s Rating: 😎😎😎😎😎
I recently moved from Fairbanks to Eagle River to be closer to places where I can hike, trail run, and ski. If you are outdoorsy and live in Fairbanks, you may be a bit familiar with the amount of effort it takes just to get started with a hike – like a long(ish) drive.
My favorite hike around Fairbanks, though, is also one of the easiest to start. Wickersham Dome is just about forty-five minutes from town, past Fox. The trailhead is right off of Elliot Highway which you’ll find has the occasional pothole that will raise your heartrate almost as much as the hike itself –drive carefully.
If you’re outdoorsy and use AllTrails, a phone app that can tell you anything you need to know about a hike, Wickersham will be rated as “hard,” although it’s really not very difficult. It is a seven mile hike: three and a half miles to the viewpoint, and three and a half miles back. It isn’t a loop, which some people prefer, but it’s such a beautiful hike that I don’t think anybody would complain about the out-and-back. Over the course of three and a half miles there are about 1,400 feet of elevation gain, the trail is clear for the entire hike, and, even better, there is a view for the whole duration. From the very beginning the rolling hills and mountains in the distance are kept in constant view.
The seasons at Wickersham change quickly. The photos featured in this article were taken only one month apart, and besides me wearing the same pair of leggings in both the photos, there aren’t many similarities between the scenes! There are a bunch of massive boulders at the top to stand on and take photos with, but I usually gravitate toward the one pictured because it is, in my opinion, the tallest point at Wickersham.
If you do get the chance to get up there, don’t feel like you need to pack snacks or six gallons of water to survive! This hike usually takes me anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours, which is more than doable with just a single bottle of water, and you can always leave a backup in the car.
I’ve hiked Wickersham every single season of the year; when I have a friend visiting from out of town, Wickersham is the first hike I will take them on. In the summer, if you’re into trail running, it’s a great challenge for that too, but be sure to wear a bug net. I once made the mistake of leaving one behind, and discovered it is possible to get over ten bug bites on each ear (I wish I was exaggerating). In the winter, bring snowshoes– the snow gets deep at the top. Last year, I went in the middle of September with just my hiking boots and found myself in knee-deep snow at the top.
At the top, there’s a view everywhere, and you’ll be rewarded with 360 degrees of true Alaskan mountain sights on every horizon.