Pinnell Mountain Trail
~3 days · 26 mi · hard · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Pinnell Mountain Trail is known for
A remote 27-mile point-to-point route along the ridgeline of the White Mountains north of Fairbanks, Alaska, connecting Twelvemile Summit and Eagle Summit on the Steese Highway with continuous views above treeline and no reliable water sources. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management and celebrated as a summer solstice hiking destination, the trail traverses tundra at elevations mostly above 1,000 meters with two emergency shelters spaced along the route for the 2–3 day traverse.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 10,387 ft to 15,564 ft over 26 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 13.9 mi · 54%
- Downhill 11.7 mi · 45%
- Flat 0.4 mi · 1%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Pinnell Mountain Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Pinnell Mountain Trail scores 26/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Pinnell Mountain Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Pinnell Mountain Trail in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 26 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Pinnell Mountain Trail?
The Pinnell Mountain Trail climbs roughly 5,692 ft total — about 219 ft per mile, topping out near 4,744 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.