Eska Falls: Our Favorite Southcentral Waterfall Hike

summerhiking

Jul 26

Looking for a great Alaska day hike near Anchorage or Palmer? Add Eska Falls to your list. Tucked in the Talkeetna Mountains above Sutton, this trail is one of our favorite full-day hikes in the greater Palmer area—about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Anchorage. It’s the featured route on our Hidden Waterfalls guided hike, but if you’re heading out solo, the info below will help you plan your own adventure.

The hike is roughly 12 miles round-trip if you start from the end of Jonesville Mine Road. While it’s a long day, the elevation gain is moderate, and the reward is big: a stunning waterfall tucked in an alpine valley, with views stretching back toward the Matanuska River Valley.

So why do we love Eska Falls? Even though the area allows both motorized and non-motorized access, it stays surprisingly quiet. Yes, you might hear gunshots from the nearby shooting area—but don’t let that stop you. A few miles in, the noise fades, and you’ll find yourself immersed in the tundra, the mountains, and the quiet.

Eska Falls By the Numbers:

Section

Mileage

Elevation Gain

Notes

Jonesville Mine Road to Trailhead

1.5 miles

600 feet

Nothing much of interest during this section. You're hiking on an old mining road through the boreal forest. Things can be very buggy in this first section. Keep left at all intersections.

Trailhead to tundra (intersection of motorized and non-motorized trails)

3 miles

1300 feet

This trail winds through the forest to the sub-alpine, eventually spilling hikers and bikers out onto the tundra. Keep an ear out for the sounds of Eska Creek and be sure to pause and look back at the views of the Matanuska Valley, Talkeetna Mountains, and Chugach Mountains across the river.

Tundra to waterfall

1.3 miles

600 feet

On a clear day you can see the waterfall during most of this section of trail. Expect to see at least a couple motoriz

Eska Mountain Route Details

We like to think of the Eska Falls trail in 3 distinct sections. Each section features slightly different terrain.

1. Jonesville Rd. to the Trailhead

Adventurous travelers and motorized users will drive from Jonesville to the actual trailhead. The ‘road’ is an old mining road with lots of large rocks, washouts, and the occasional downed tree. The hike from Jonesville to the trailhead is about 1.5 miles.

What to know: This section doesn’t offer much for views. Keep an ear out for gunshots from the nearby shooting area and keep an eye out for moose and porcupine (on a quiet day, it’s a good spot for wildlife viewing). Hikers will travel through the boreal forest to the trailhead. There are side trails along the way; look for hidden arrows in the trees to point the way. Keep left at all intersections.
Route info: At the first split in the road, take a left and continue taking lefts at any additional intersections.
Pro tip: Bring the bug spray! The dense forest in this section tends to attract mosquitoes.
Parking: We prefer to park at the end of Jonesville Road to start the Eska Falls hike. There’s a small pull-out on the left-hand side, just before the road turns to gravel.

2. Trailhead to tundra (intersection of the non-motorized and motorized trail)

What to know: At the trailhead intersection, take the left to the non-motorized trail. The first quarter mile feels like a continuation of the road, but you’ll quickly find yourself traveling down a small section of stairs. From here on, the trail feels like a single-track oasis.

We like to think of this section as Mat-Su trailbuilding at its best (shout-out to the Mat-Su Borough Trail Crew!). The trail through this middle section winds through the sub-alpine vegetation. Look for wildflowers, listen for Eska Creek, and soak in the scenery. The bulk of the elevation gain for the Eska Falls Hike is in this section, but nothing is extremely steep.

The start of the tundra coincides with the intersection of the motorized and non-motorized trails. This is also where you’ll get your first glimpse of Eska Falls.

Route info: This section is very clearly marked, and the Borough has mile-markers for reference along the way. Note the markers start from the trailhead, not from the end of Jonesville Rd.
Pro tip: Take your time here! Although you won’t get any waterfall views until the end, this section is absolutely stunning.

3. Tundra to waterfall

What to know: Once you hit the tundra, the motorized trail and non-motorized trail converge. From here on out you’ll be able to enjoy views of the waterfall along the way. Although there isn’t much elevation gain in this section, there are some steep hills. We like having our trekking poles here.

Route info: This section isn’t well signed, but you’re out of the trees, so it’s very easy to navigate.

Pro tip: Bring your trekking poles! If you can avoid hiking on the weekends, you’ll minimize the chance of encountering motorized traffic :)

Jonesville Road to Eska Falls Trailhead

Eska Falls Trailhead to Tundra

Tundra to Eska Falls

Jonesville Rd. to Trailhead

Eska Falls Trailhead to Tundra

Tundra to Eska Falls

Looking at Eska Mountain (left) in the distance

A family pauses for a photo opportunity on our Hidden Waterfalls hike

Keep an eye out for wildflowers on the trail

The first glimpse of Eska Falls

Pausing on the final stretch

Social trails lead to the base of the waterfall

Safety & Gear Tips for Alaska Hiking

As an all-day hike, we strongly recommend packing the essentials and being prepared for Alaska’s dynamic conditions.

Layered clothing: Include a waterproof shell, warm layer, and wicking base layer.
Sturdy hiking boots: With ankle support and good traction for the rocky sections at the end.
Trekking poles: Very helpful for the final section of trail.
Navigation tools: A GPS app with offline maps (like Gaia GPS or CalTopo) and/or a paper map and compass.
Extra water (or filter) and high-energy snacks: Bring a filter and consider refilling your water bottle at Eska Falls!
Bear spray: We’ve never had any bear issues on this particular trail, but it's good practice in Alaska to carry some sort of bear protection.
Sun protection: Sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen are essential in the open alpine terrain.

For custom-guided hikes in Alaska, we provide safety gear and trail expertise, so you can enjoy the scenery with peace of mind. We offer guided hikes to Eska Falls as part of our Hidden Waterfalls Trip. The Revel team can also put together a custom guided hike if you’re interested in exploring other waterfalls in the area.

Guided Hikes with Revel