Where in the West Should I Go? • 52 Places to Visit in 2022
Mount Ballyhoo is a place for adventurers with its spectacular views, beautiful lightly-trafficked hiking trails and rich history. It’s impressively one of the tallest peaks in the region of Unalaska Island at an elevation of 1,634 feet. Mount Ballyhoo offers a moderately difficult three-mile hiking experience with two separate trailheads that are easily accessible. Each year the Ballyhoo Mountain Run takes place, where participants race up and down the mountain. The winner is recognized as “king of the hill.”
Walks up the mountain are popular throughout the year, but a Navy tradition encourages visitors to seize a pack of gear and run to the mountain’s summit. Depending on the time of year, blooming wildflowers can be seen along the way, and at the top, there is a picturesque panoramic view of Unalaska Island, Amaknak Island, Makushin Volcano, Nateekin Bay and the Bering Sea.
At the mountain cliffs, bald eagles can be sighted in nests and flying overhead, and in the distance, whales can be spotted. Often there are also rock ptarmigan to be seen.
At the summit of Mount Ballyhoo, hikers can also get an understanding of the importance of the mountain during World War II. When walking atop the mountain, it can be seen firsthand how the vantage point was used as a strategic lookout. There are also a few WWII artifact remnants like the gunnery at the summit.
