Antler Ridge Trail

This is a great trail and noticeably less punishing than Bison Gulch. While it still climbs a lot of elevation and has a few genuinely steep stretches, it isn’t nearly as relentless as its neighbor. You begin on a well-maintained trail before branching left onto a wide track. Eventually, this narrows back into single-track and starts climbing sharply toward the ridge.

Once you reach the ridgeline, be ready: the wind here can be fierce. This is one of the windiest hikes in an area already legendary for its wind. On particularly gusty days, it’s best to skip this trail entirely — the exposure can become truly dangerous.

As you continue along the ridge, the trail cuts a couple of long, gentle switchbacks on the leeward side before returning to what I affectionately call “Lost Hat Ridge.” Those calmer stretches can lull hikers into a false sense of security — but the moment you pop back into the wind, you’ll see the evidence: hats scattered on the rocks below from those who misjudged a gust.

Eventually, the defined trail fades out, but the route is still obvious as the ridge continues upward. You can follow it all the way to the summit of Mt. Healy or choose to turn back sooner. Reaching the summit from this side is roughly twice the distance of the Bison Gulch route, but the payoff starts earlier — because this trail sits at the mouth of the canyon rather than deep inside it. Expect broad, sweeping views of the town of Healy and the vast valley surrounding it!