Rabbit Creek (Anchorage, Alaska)

Rabbit Creek
The headwaters of Rabbit Creek at Rabbit Lake, with North and South Suicide Peaks in the background
Anchorage Watersheds with Rabbit Creek and Little Rabbit Creek in green and pink, respectively
Location of the mouth of Rabbit Creek in Alaska Show map of Alaska Rabbit Creek (Anchorage, Alaska) (Anchorage) Show map of Anchorage
Native name	Ggeh Betnu (Tanaina)
Location
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Municipality	Anchorage
Physical characteristics
Source	Rabbit Lake
• location	Chugach Mountains
• coordinates	61°02′31″N149°35′08″W / 61.0419444°N 149.5855556°W / 61.0419444; -149.5855556
• elevation	3,153 ft (961 m)
Mouth	Turnagain Arm, Anchorage
• coordinates	61°04′41″N149°49′25″W / 61.0780556°N 149.8236111°W / 61.0780556; -149.8236111
• elevation	13 ft (4.0 m)
Length	15 mi (24 km)
Discharge
• location	Turnagain Arm
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Little Rabbit Creek

Rabbit Creek is one of several streams that flow through the city of Anchorage, Alaska. It runs for 15 miles from the Chugach Mountains to Turnagain Arm. ^[1] Before English-speaking settlers arrived in Anchorage, the Dena'ina called the creek "Ggeh Betnu." ^[2]

Course

The headwaters of Rabbit Creek originate at 3,153 ft (961 m) at Rabbit Lake, a 75-acre (0.30 km²) alpine lake at the base of ^[3] North Yuyanq' Ch'ex and ^[4] South Yuyanq' Ch'ex. ^[5] Rabbit Lake is a popular hiking destination and can be reached via either the Rabbit Lake Trail or the neighboring McHugh Creek drainage. The creek then descends from the Chugach Mountains and flows west through residential areas and green spaces including Griffin Park. Near its mouth at Potter Marsh it receives a tributary from Little Rabbit Creek, which drains the hillside just south of the main creek channel. It then flows southwest under the Seward Highway and empties into Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.

Recreation

A well-traversed 4.4-mile hiking trail begins at Canyon Road and follows the upper stretch of Rabbit Creek through the Chugach Mountains to Rabbit Lake. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

See also

• List of rivers of Alaska

References

1. "GNIS Detail, Rabbit Creek". US Geological Survey.
2. Kari, James (2007). Shem Pete's Alaska: The Territory of the Upper Cook Inlet Dena'ina. University of Alaska Press.
3. "U.S Board of Geographic Names".
4. "Offensive Peaks get new Dena'ina names".
5. "GNIS Detail, Rabbit Lake". US Geological Survey.
6. "Guide to Rabbit and McHugh Lake Trails" (PDF). Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
7. "Hikes Near Anchorage that are Well Worth the Effort". Anchorage Daily News.
8. "HEADLAMP: Not exactly killing yourself: Hiking North and South Suicide". Anchorage Press.
9. "Rabbit Creek Trail to Rabbit Lake". Alaska.org.