Mt. Newhall Summit

This trail officially is documented as being 1/2 mile and of moderate difficulty.  The trail starts on Summers Bay road just past the land fill and is a serious of switchbacks that climb in elevation about 300 feet.  The trial ends in a chute that you would follow to the top of the ridge.  That is where it officially stops.  Form there however you can follow the ridge north continuing to climb in elevation eventually reaching the summit of Mt. Newhall.  You could make your way down the Mt. Newhall trail or continue on the Upper Mount Newhall trail to Ski Bow and beyond to Overland Drive.

Looking North

The pictures I have included here are a continuation from the Upper Mount Newhall trail coming FROM Overland Drive.

Either direction will bring you to several steep inclines both ascending and descending throughout the trail.  Getting to the summit from the Overland Drive side will require you navigate over a steep and narrow knife edge.  Alternatively crossing behind it on the east side gives you something of a climb but on relative flat grass and flower covered ground.

Making your way from Mount Newhall towards the Illuliak Bay Overlook is easy with some minor up hill climbs and a quite a few descents.

Fox

There is one climb of about 8 feet or so that will require hand and foot climbing,  There is no safe ground around it.  You could try going around the back side which would be on the SE side.  I say this because of the two sides to try and go around the NW side has a near vertical fall of several hundred feet, the other is just as steep but on about thirty feet or so.  Again, I suggest cinching your pack and making your way up over it.

Above Unalaska

Continuing on, you will be following the ridge just above the landfill and parallel to Summers Bay road.  At this point the rest of the hike is all gradual descent.  If you enjoy taking panoramic photographs, this entire section gives you great views of Captains Bay, Downtown Unalaska, Amaknak Island, Hog Island, Mount Ballyhoo, Ulakta Head, and the areas of Nateekin Bay, Broad Bay, Wide Bay and Eider Point.  You can also get some great shots of Split Top Mountain and Constantine Point.

The Descent

The descent start from the remains of the small structures that used to be up there.  You may not see the wood and debris left under the grass, but you can definitely see the dug out shells and foundations.  From them locate the chute on the NW side of the ridge.  If you get to the edge you can look straight down and see Summers Bay road.  GO TO THE LEFT of the chute to a small channel that is not as steep as the chute and provides good traction.  Make your way down about 120 feet to a small outcropping point.  This is a good place to rest your feet and ankles if your footwear doesn’t fit well.

From the outcropping look SW parallel to the mountain your descending.  Look down another 80 feet

The Trail Below

or so and you should see an obvious trail that just appears out of the grass and make way for it.  This is the top of the switchbacks that will take you all the way down to the road.  If your in a hurry, you can just make your own way down to the road, your out of danger in regards to cliffs and scree as long as you head towards town.

For a few more pictures check out the Illuliak Bay Overlook trail gallery.