Powerline Pass is a trail that every mountain biker ought to experience. Its steep terrain and gravel doubletrack are ideal for fun and training rides.
Powerline Pass is a 28.5 km dirt trail with main sections running through Glen Alps. Since it is a gravel-maintenance road, you can forget about stressful route finding and possible disorientation when it gets dark. The moderately difficult trail cuts through a scenic valley and spectacular wildlife sightings, which are welcome features to distract you from the beat-up dirt road and power line. Besides mountain biking and hiking, the Powerline Pass is a popular venue for cross-country skiing during winter. Here are facts about the famous mountain biking route in Alaska.
Essentially, the Powerline Pass is like a poorly maintained gravel road that runs along a power line. Most of its parts are wide open double track, but it has extremely steep portions with rocky and interesting climbs. All its sections are enough challenged for pro mountain bikers. From our experience, we would rate the trail difficult and not recommend riding to some parts as a beginner or less-experienced rider.
Besides being rocky, the trail is prone to high winds, which may make your rider even harder. At the beginning of the trail, you will cruise down a mile-long downhill, then get on flat terrain for a while. At the mid-section, you will encounter rolling hills and two small creeks. On the last bit, you would have to strap up your boots because the entire 1 ½ miles uphill only has grueling rocks, and it gets steeper the further you go.
On the bright side, once you get to the top of the pass, you enjoy a spectacular view of the valley and power line. If you have solid brakes and superior riding skills, you can continue down the pass an extra 2 miles into Indian town. The descent is highly technical and not recommended for inexperienced riders. Once in an Indian town, you can ride the highway back to town or arrange for someone to pick you up.
As the trail gets packed on sunny weekends, there is an overflow parking lot to the east side of the main parking.
The Powerline Pass is unsightly because it is a dirt trail following a power line. However, a few scenic views, like the valley and the tarn (small lake) at the pass, make it a worthwhile trail.
You may also spot wildlife like moose, coyotes, and dall sheep.
10 mi 
