Table Top View
Table Top Mountain is a nice day hike that is suitable for all
ages although younger kids might find the 4.6 mile round trip trail
to be a bit much. Table Top Mountain has two high points and while
most hikers only ascend the highest point, the southwest top is
also well worth the hike. We ended up pitching our tarp on top and
spending the night watching the setting sun as well as the changes
in color and contrast all around us. The trail is not real steep
except the final ascent to the cache location. This trail is
non-motorized so hiking boots only.
The Table Top Mountain trail can be reached by heading north
from Fairbanks on the Steese Highway and turning at the Davidson
Ditch pulloff. US Creek road will then lead you to the Nome Creek
Road which will take you the final 7 miles to the trailhead. The
road was in great condition when we placed the cache and all
vehicles are suitable to travel this gravel road.
Once at the trailhead, the trail makes a loop so you can use
either the left or right trail to make the loop. We found the left
side to be less swampy.
Views from the top of Table Top Mountain, either high point,
include the Nome Creek and Beaver Creek drainages as well as Mount
Prindle and the White Mountains. One can also get a view of the
major forest fire of 2004 and the regrowth that has begun
throughout this burned area.
As always, be prepared for dramatic weather changes and let
someone know where you are going as this trailhead is quite a ways
from the nearest help. There is definitely no cell phone reception
in this area and we only saw one other vehicle after turning off
the Steese Hghway.
Enjoy!