Reed Lake

 Monday, July 15

Today we tackled a challenging trek at Reed Lake. The road was a bit treacherous as we made our way to the trailhead. The 9+ mile hike with 1800 foot elevation gain included some technical climbing over huge boulders and a couple of river crossings.  The mud added another obstacle to contend with as we maneuvered our way up to Reed Lake. The tough trek was worth it as the views of the lake were amazing — characterized by turquoise blue waters surrounded by snow covered mountains. 

Reed Lake is an alpine gem tucked high in the Talkeetna Mountains. Its striking turquoise color comes from glacial silt suspended in the water, which reflects the light in a way that seems almost unreal. Surrounded by jagged, snow-dusted peaks, the lake sits in a glacial cirque that feels completely untouched by time.

Once at the top, we spent a while soaking in the beauty and snapping photos, trying to capture a scene matched the majestic beauty. It was one of those moments where the reward matched every ounce of effort to get there. After a quick lunch, we flew down the trail while meeting a couple from Canada who were literally running the whole route.  Next, we drove to one more viewpoint where we had a snack before returning to our resting spot for the evening.