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Hiking

uartz Lake Loop Trail is a 1.8 mile trail which starts at Quartz Lake campground, skirts the lake for a half mile, then climbs up the hill to the Glatfelter Cabin. The trail winds around the front of the cabin, goes over the hill and joins the Lost Lake Trail. The trail then follows the Lost Lake campground road to the loop intersection and returns directly to the Quartz Lake campground. The road into Quartz Lake began as a mushing trail traveled by Native Americans headed from Healy and other destinations on the Tanana. Trappers also made use of this route. Later, the Alaska Road Commission and the U.S. Army upgraded this trail to road status.

Lost Lake Trail starts at the Lost Lake campground, skirts Lost Lake, then continues along the spruce bog and ends at Moose Pond, which is 1.3 miles from Lost Lake campground.

Bluff Point Trail is a loop trail approximately three miles long. This trail branches off Lost Lake trail approximately a half mile from Lost Lake campground. The trail climbs the hill then loops around. There is a tenth of a mile diversion from the loop, which goes to Bluff Point, 1.6 miles from Lost Lake campground. After returning to the loop, the trail is moderately steep as it descends 0.2 miles to the Lost Lake trail and joins it 1.3 miles from Lost Lake campground.

Walk About Trail branches off from the Bluff Point Trail approximately a mile from Lost Lake campground. From the Bluff Point trail, this trail winds its way down a half mile to the Quartz Lake shoreline which it follows for 0.7 miles and connects to the Quartz Lake trail at Glatfelter Cabin.

Bert Mountain Trail is a rugged 1.7 mile trail which climbs the mountain. This trail ends near the top of Bert Mountain at a helicopter pad constructed by forest firefighters and is used for fire suppression.

Donnelly Dome One of the most popular places to hike in the area is Donnelly Dome. Travel south on the Richardson Highway about 23 miles from Delta at mile 248, take the gravel road to the right, proceed past the second sharp bend for 300 yards and park in the pull-off on the left. There you will find a well-worn but unmarked trail that heads in the direction of the north ridge of the Dome.

Elevation at the top is around 2,400 ft The trail is steep but the hike is not difficult. Allow half of a day for this hike, it is recommended that you bring a light jacket, as it is often cooler and windy towards the top.

Points of Interest

Glatfelter Cabin - Mile 0.6 of the Quartz Lake Loop Trail
Charlie Glatfelter, a tool-and-die maker who had been in the Army, took a five-acre homestead, which included the little hill above Quartz Lake. He built and lived in the dugout that can still be seen there, then constructed the cabin in 1956. This cabin was reconstructed in 1998 and 1999.

Hershberger Mink Farm - Mile 0.5 of the Lost Lake Trail
The abandoned animal pens are all that remain on the ground today of the mink farm that once stood on the hill at Lost Lake. The Army used the area of the present trail system for maneuvers and bulldozed the cabin that once stood here.

The mink farm was started in 1930 by Emory Washington. Hershberger, a hard rock prospector, came to Alaska in 1908 from the gold fields of California and Oregon. Unfortunately, the mink farm was not a success and Hershberger and his wife went back to trapping on Shaw Creek.

Safety in the Backcountry

In order to prevent incidents with the bears that roam the area around Quartz Lake, please observe these regulations:
1. Store all food, coolers, cooking paraphernalia, camp stoves, fishing gear, etc. in your vehicle overnight.
2. AVOID cleaning fish in your campsite.
3. Remove all trash from your campsite, including trash in the fire pits, and deposit in one of the dumpsters or barrels located at Quartz Lake and Lost Lake campgrounds.
4. Your dog is welcome in the State Recreation Area. However, for its own protection, it should be ON A LEASH at all times and under your control. Under no circumstances should it be allowed to roam free in bear country!

For more information - Alaska Department of Parks & Outdoor Recreation