Pillar Mountain
Located 2.5 miles from Kodiak City’s downtown, Pillar Mountain provides unique vistas of the harbor, the city, windmills atop the mountains, and slopes of wildflowers that are excellent photo opportunities. Pillar mountain can be accessed by foot or car and is one of the area’s most popular hikes and drives (as there’s a road to the top). Pillar offers a climb to an alpine summit overlooking the City of Kodiak. If you visit the Pillar Mountain Trail on foot, your legs may burn, but the fantastic views make it all worth it.
If you get to the top of this trail, you’ll recognize the peak cause it dominates most of Kodiak’s sly. And if you get winded on this particular hike, consider the annual runners who race up in the yearly Pillar Mountain Trail Race; the winners go up and back in under an hour!
The Pillar Mountain Road offers a gradual gravel road to climb to Pillar Mountain’s top. From the top, there are singletrack options available to make a nice loop. But, those opting for the road ascent can find parking near the green water tanks where the paved road ends. This place is a great place to begin, as many trails end near here. The climb is around 1000′ over 2.1 miles, and the top views are stunning!
The Pillar Mountain trail is generally considered an easy route, taking around 40 to 45 minutes to complete. This trail is excellent for running or hiking, and it’s unlikely you’ll come across other people while exploring the area. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.