Hatcher Pass
Scenic drive · Alaska
Hatcher Pass Road climbs from Palmer into alpine tundra that turns red and gold by early September, with the ghost buildings of Independence Mine State Historical Park as its centerpiece. The road typically closes with the season's first real snow.
Don’t miss
Peak: August 29–September 2
Color builds from August 20 · mostly bare by September 19
Sampled at Hatcher Pass’s own coordinates and elevation (1019 m) rather than a regional average.
Alaska is sampled at 465 weather points, and that answer already agrees with 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com, so nothing is added to it. Alaska is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Hatcher Pass
The color window runs about 20 days, holding until around September 9. That runs roughly 2 days earlier than the rest of Alaska. Height explains the gap, since this sits at 3,343 ft. It sits at 3,343 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.
It is roughly 44 mi out of Anchorage.
Hatcher Pass on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Alaska, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Hatcher Pass peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for August 29–September 2 (best estimate August 31). Color starts around August 20 and is mostly bare by September 19.
- How do I get to Hatcher Pass?
- The closest city is Anchorage, about 44 mi away. It's part of Alaska's fall lineup.
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