Hiking - Watermelon Trail (the 1.5 hr version) | Guide for Alaska's Disappearing Tourists

Seeping vistas from Watermelon Trail

Stats

Distance: 14.3 miles (one way) Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Summary

Watermelon trail was recommended to us by some friends. So on a beautiful day in early July we decided to try out the trail. Watermelon trail is really an ATV trail (which is why it's so long), but we were the only ones on the trail the day we hiked it.

Opinion

This trail has some great views. This hike will probably be amazing
when the fireweed blooms since it is everywhere. Since it is an ATV trail the route is pretty chewed up and deep in spots, but the good news is that the ATVs keep the trail wide.

Trail Advice

Sweat resistant mosquito repellent is a must. The bugs were out in force.

If the temperature is acceptable before you start, a jacket is probably not necessary. You will produce enough heat on the trail to keep you warm.

Suitability

This trail is suitable for adults and children, but can be rough in spots.

Trailhead

Watermelon trail is just off Ohlson Mountain Rd. 3.1 miles after you turn onto Ohlson Mountain Rd, look for a sign on the right for SNOMADS Parking. Turn at the sign and drive to a very rough parking area for the trail. This area is in bad shape so you might want to make sure you have a car with a high undercarriage.

The Hike

Within minutes, the trail through the alder gives way to sweeping views of the glacier filled mountains of the Kenai range to the east and the Iliamna and Redoubt volcanoes to the west. The trail at the beginning has a gentle downhill slope and it stayed that way for the 45 minutes that we spent on the trail. There are occasional steep spots, but mostly the elevation is gentle.

Watermelon Trail

This is an ATV trail used in all seasons. The day we hiked this trail it was sunny and the trail was dry. However, it had clearly been used in the muddy season and there were places were the tracks were so deep the ATVs had high centered. As a result it was necessary to spend a fair part of the hike watching your footing. Having said that, the going wasn't that hard and views were very much worth it.

Our hike as about a mile and half down the 14.3 mile trail and we’re looking forward to pushing farther along it in the future.

We think this trail is either a morning or late afternoon trail. The views to the east need the sun in the west and the views to the west need the sun in east. Otherwise the sunlight is reflected off moisture in the air and everything gets washed out.

Watermelon Berry and Lupine

As you progress along the trail, you cut through alder and spruce thickets and then follow their edges looking across Alaskan meadows filled with fireweed, lupine, and grasses. In the woods, we found moss and wild geraniums and peek a view of the distance across secluded meadows.

Once again, the only wildlife we saw was birds; with robins being the biggest. However, we did see plenty of signs of moose and horse (the shoed variety). And we did see bear scat, which is why Chris carries bear spray.

The lower we go the more shade we picked up, which was a mixed blessing. On one hand, we really need the cooling as it was an extremely hot day at 70 degrees. We were hiking in shorts and t-shirts and wondered if anyone would have notice if we ditched those. However, the Watermelon trail isn’t normal thought of as a hiking trail. The ATVs and the snow machines rule on this trail. And we were grateful to the SNOMADS and the ATVs for breaking a trail that was four feet wide for the entire length. It’s the widest trail we’ve seen in months.

View down the power lines

We made it as far as where some high-tension power lines cut the trail. The view to the east along them is specular. In the end, it was the mosquitos that drove us home. We practically bathed in bug repellent before we left, but after about 45 minutes on the trail the repellent failed (and that was sweat resistant bug repellent). Next time, we’re carrying a can of bug spray with us so we can reapply it. We wanted to go another two hours out or to the first stream we encountered. We think it was about another two miles down the trail from where we turned around.