Chugach State Park

(4 reviews)

5.7 mi

This new park is still only in phase ONE and it's dope as hell. We stumbled across it tonight on an…read moreevening drive and did a U-e so we could check it out. They've got tons of parking, incredible LED lighting so the park is able to be used during our long winters, and a really innovative playground with all kinds of weird equipment you just have to check out for yourself. At the back if the park are other phases of the park that aren't fully completed yet- baseball and paintball. Also with tons of parking. The park also has a little picnic pavilion with grills that can be reserved for special events. This is a nice addition to south Anchorage since they didn't have many parks.

Best place to poop in the Anchorage bowl.read more

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Fish Creek Park

(3 reviews)

10.3 mi

When I was scouting this park for review, the road next to it was being ripped open…read more It seems like a pretty nice park. It's got a picnic shelter, some fancy new playground equipment, and tennis courts (which were locked shut?). Profile of the park is pretty long, room for dogfriends to run. The section of Fish Creek running through here looks...pretty weak, like it's barely flowing :-/ This place is also a pokestop.

This park IS THE SHIZNIT. The equipment is brand-spanking new, super durable and super fun…read more There's an awesome zip line thing that people of all ages were having a blast on. There's swings for kids of all ages, including a really great swing that would be really excellent for kids (even big kids) With disabilities. And the two person purple T-Rex is bomb. Definitely one of the best parks in Anchorage. To my mind it's only second to Westchester.

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Kincaid Park

4.8

(32 reviews)

10.7 mi

Beautiful park with access to the costal trail! Saw a moose not too far from the parking lot. Nice…read morepaved paths and large parking lot. Public restrooms and maps available.

This year I spend most of winter exploring Kincaid park via my cross country skis…read more Holy cow the park is HUGE! Previously I've only really explored the paved trail going down to the beach and connecting to Earthquake Park. If you are a beginner xc skier, I recommend starting at the stadium and slowly doing the smaller mize loop. This is where I built my confidence for 2-3 weeks before moving to the "blue rated" Jodphur loop. Kincaid has so much to offer and I am so glad I had the opportunity to explore it from the perspective of my skis!

Summer vibes down by the beach

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Oceanview Park

4.6

(5 reviews)

3.8 mi

A great family park. They have a zip line swing that's perfect for young and older kids. It's…read morealways clean and there is a wide verity of play areas for you d and older kids. I especially like the hill that's near the pavilion for sledding.

Sweet set up here! Bring your bikes, basketballs and tennis rackets! Nice rock wall for kids and…read morepretty cool set up for a playground and awesome Picnic area. Will probably frequent this park with the kiddos this summer :)

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

(64 reviews)

12.1 mi

Beautiful, well kept trail! I saw five moose on the trail!…read more 11 miles each way starting at Elderberry Park and ending at Kincaid Park. Plenty of pull outs, benches, and look out points along the way. There was one point of the trail that had some bumps that appear to be in the process of being repaved, but otherwise no complaints. The only downside, biking up to Kincaid park was a challenge and the views at the top aren't worth it, there is also nothing waiting up top. Would be cool to see a coffee shop or something of the sort.

Very amazing hike with great views. We absolutely loved walking this trail last night and early…read morethis morning. Great views of the port as well as many other things!

Arctic Tern

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Earthquake Park

4.1

(28 reviews)

11.6 mi

Earthquake Park is a laid-back, educational, and scenic outdoor stop that's perfect as a short…read morehalf-day visit -- especially if you're already exploring Anchorage or biking the coastal trail. It won't wow with adrenaline or exhibits, but it delivers on Alaska's beauty and history. Perfect for families, photographers, and anyone who prefers slow-paced nature experiences. Birdwatchers and photographers will appreciate the variety of birds and occasional moose sightings, and there are several scenic points worth stopping at for photos -- especially at sunrise or sunset. Pros * Free entry, free parking, and easy access. * Beautiful coastal and mountain views. * Historical interpretive signs. * Ideal for light hiking, biking, or a picnic. Cons * Mosquitoes can be intense in summer, so bug spray is a must. * Limited facilities beyond trails and scenic spots.

Amazing views! Absolutely stunning landscapes. Crazy amount of wild life, a bit chilly and…read moremanicured in winter.

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Taku Lake Park

4.4

(8 reviews)

7.4 mi

Too many people. Too many loose dogs. Fish hooks everywhere. The area is clean due to people…read morecleaning up the poop from dogs. The nature is ok.

Best thing about this lake: it has a beaver in it! (and the worst thing about it, for all you tree…read morefans out there) It's also connected to the Campbell Creek trail system. Great for a when you want to hike after work but...the weather looks iffy. You can still move your legs back and forth, but bail pretty easily. King Street Brewing is also right next door, jussayin'.

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Point Woronzof Park

4.4

(14 reviews)

11.9 mi

If you like quirky parks with loud jets flying over, this is the perfect place! I stumbled upon it…read morewhile exploring around Anchorage, and it was such a fun spot to spend some time on a beautiful sunny day. There's a large parking lot, complete with a couple of outhouses and (at least on the day I visited) a hot dog vendor, too. The parking lot sits well above the beach area, where I walked around and did plenty of people-watching before heading out to the point and the very colorfully painted structure that (maybe?) I think has something to do either with airplane or sea navigation. Surrounding the point were zillions of painted rocks. It was local art gone wild and I loved it! At regular intervals, giant jets flew over upon takeoff from the airport (which is mere yards away). If you don't like loud jets, I would not recommend this beach. But if you do, well, you've come to the right place!

A dead moose carcass…read more Graffiti, mostly colorful. Didn't close enough to see if it was also tasteful. Slippery clay and mud - lots of moments where I thought I might slip and fall to the ground. Definitely something to watch for. Small granulated particles sliding down the sandy hill. Crazy to see erosion in action. Just a few of the many exciting things along this walking area. Beautiful breeze off the inlet. Lots of great views of downtown Anchorage. Lots of parking available and a wonderful place to get to see a brilliant sunset. Bring a chair and a cooler!

Winter views

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Jewel Lake Park

4.5

(6 reviews)

8.2 mi

This playground/lake park is busy from sunrise to sundown, when the weather is good…read more It consists of a large pavilion/shelter, big kids playground, toddler playground, open green field, beach/sand/lake, and a kids' zipline. A few sitting areas are sprinkled throughout. As someone who avoids small talk and parent interactions, I try to show up at the crack of dawn. There will still be folks here, but at least you aren't elbow to elbow. It's difficult to bring my kids to these swimming areas without the intention of swimming. I prefer for my kids to swim at Little Campbell Lake (near Kincaid Park), instead.

A nice spot just off Dimond. The park has two parking areas- one just off Dimond on the south end…read moreof the lake that can be a little crowded and a larger one at the northeast side of the lake. Here, there are picnic areas and a playground area for kids. The lake is supposedly stocked with fish, so you usually see folks ice fishing in the winter. The south entrance has a small dock that is also good for fishing in warmer weather.

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Valley of the Moon park

4.0

(4 reviews)

11.1 mi

Playground is ancient, rusted, and weathered. Kids can still manage to have fun. The park itself is…read morealright.

Over the years, I've committed to walking more, despite the lack of sidewalks in neighborhood. I…read morehave to take a very roundabout route to get to Valley of the Moon, but it just means I get more steps in. My comments in my previous review all still remain true. This park is conveniently connected to the trail system which connects it to several other parks and bodies of water. This has become a popular location for birthday parties and is unofficial dog park since the official dog park down the street has become unsafe due to druggie. This park is sunnier and more exposed and less popular with people causing problems.

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Westchester Lagoon

(13 reviews)

11.5 mi

I probably spend more time at this park year round than any other park in Anchorage proper. It is…read moreconveniently connected to multiple trails and easy to access on foot from most of West Anch, Spenard, Northstar/Valley of the Moon, Midtown, and Downtown. If you've got a bike, you can connect from even further out very easily. As such, the Lagoon looks a lot like a Gilmore Girls community and is popular with people year round. There are frequently small sponsored events going on- the coolest of which involves ice skating in the winter. I personally love this park because it's a great place to bird watch. It's a fragile breeding ground for aquatic birds (take note dog owners - IT IS NOT OK TO LET YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH HERE OR LET THEM SWIM!) Red Neck Grebes are one if the more unusual arctic birds that breed here. The arctic terns also put on quite a show. Various loons and cranes also make an appearance, as well as some unique ducks. There's also an awesome playground and snack bar for the kiddies. A few years ago they also installed a bike counter that tracks the thousands that use the Tony Knowles at various intervals - it's fun to watch the numbers climb as the season goes on. There's also a free bike maintenance station here. Definitely a great location for lots and tourists alike, but parking is a problem, so carpool or better yet, use the trails!

This is a park which also goes by the name also known as Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park, is home to a…read moreman-made water fowl sanctuary, a lake, a disc golf course and a playground. They have private parking lots for you to park free of charge. It is located near downtown and is a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of the city. It conveniently lies at the intersection of two of Anchorage's most popular trails, the Tony Knowles and Chester Creek trails. There were many runners traveling through while I was there, going through the two little tunnels that run under the road. You will find benches and picnic tables here to sit around the lake. This is home to lots, I mean lots, lots of waterfowl. They seemed aggressive, so I kept my distance. The disc golf course was nice but was covered in snow and mud. The lake is nice and during the winter is converted to an ice hockey/skating rink. My only complaint is that the park could be a little cleaner, even though part is that could be due to me visiting off-season. There were some maintenance guys there do some other stuff. The park is touted as a great place to bird watch in the spring and you can see other animals such as moose, beaver in the early morning or late evening, muskrats, foxes, otters, and minks, year-round, but it is rare. I did not see any of them. This nature park has a calming kind of peace to it, even though you hear the hum of cars on the nearby road. Just sitting on the bench looking out to the lake was so very soothing. If your schedule permits, I highly recommend visiting this place to just relax and recharge.

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Rabbit Lake Trail

(5 reviews)

4.6 mi

One of the best trails I did in Alaska!!!! it's not that long and on relatively flat ground…read more Changing scenery along the way and you are rewarded with an absolutely gorgeous Alpine Lake at the end.

Beautiful trail any time of year. The parking area and street can packed, so be prepared to hike to…read morethe start of the trailhead depending on the time of day and day of the week. In the past I've only hit this trail to go to peak two for skiing, but recently went to Rabbit Lake on the most perfect day possible. Got great photos of the Suicides, waded in the lake, and wallowed on the grass. One regret is that I didn't get a pano shot. I'm like queen of the panos, what the heck? There were a few people tenting it, making it a perfect amateur backpacking adventure. Will come again and may pack a picnic.

Hellooo perfect Rabbit Lake day!

Trailhead on 9/26/21

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9/26/21

Chugach Guides Alaska

(4 reviews)

10.2 mi

Super Late on this review but finally got to it. We were in Alaska last year for my sister's T4K…read moreRide (http://www.texas4000.org). After she was done we wanted to explore Anchorage a little. After reading about Chugach guides we booked a hike with them. My parents never go hiking or trekking, neither does my wife!!! For them to enjoy this, was a big deal. Sudevi was on time and super cheerful. She is very knowledgable and kept the hike easy for most of the way keeping in mind that my sister just biked 4500 miles from Austin 2 days before. My mom is a botanist so she got to explore her flowers and plants, I like mountains so we got some nice shots. I would highly recommend Sudevi and her company. She was equipped with water and snacks, what else can you ask for.

I signed up for a day long hike and had the best hike of my life! Luke was our guide. He was…read moreenjoyable to be with and offered education along the way, as well as keeping the conversation going between us. He hiked us up to hidden lake, and then gave us the option to climb to the summit of The Ramp for the most breathtaking view. As a novice hiker, it was certainly a challenge, but the views at the top were spectacular. All in all, 13 miles round trip. Hiking poles, snacks and water were provided. Those poles saved my knees on the way back! I highly recommend this company. I felt I received great value.

Wife & I

Counting Dall Sheep

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Chugach State Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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Falls Creek Trail

(6 reviews)

Man, how am I just now getting around to hiking this?!…read more Falls Creek is located at ~Mile Post 105.6 on the Seward Highway. In relation to other trails: To the West: Rainbow Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-trailhead-anchorage) To the East: Indian Valley Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/indian-valley-trail-anchorage) Stats: Mileage: 2.7 (one-way) Gain: 2,900 ft About a 1,000 ft/mile, steep but not *too* steep. The trail starts out...next to a falls! It closely follows Falls Creek for the first half of its length. As the water is loud and the brush is thick, I'd highly recommend doing some trail karaoke with your friends to make sure you alert any bears in the area that you're coming. Eventually, you get out of the brush and the valley expands. It's gorgeous. It's wide and it's bright-freakin'-green (my favorite shade of that color), or at least it was in mid-June. This is going to sound odd but, it actually reminded me of some of the valleys I hiked in Hawaii! It made me a little butthurt that I am only just-now getting around to hiking the trail. The trail ends at a lake. I'm not sure what the name of it is, so I'll just call it "Falls Lake". The lake frequently has snow on/in/around it, up until July. But, there is an ample amount of vegetated, snow-free flat area around the lake, this would be a perfect "Baby's First Backpacking" trip. (no permits required, just load yourself down and hike up) You can continue up past the lake, onto the ridge between South Suicide Peak and Indianhouse Mountain. The path will quickly change from "hiking" to "scrambling" though. I'd only recommend going up South Suicide if you are confident on your feet, and I'd only recommend going up Indianhouse if you have a rope and a partner! If you're quick enough, this can be done as an after-work hike. If you're slow or looking for a casual stroll, you can easily make a day of this hike.

I'm still sore. Dragged my spouse and our neurodivergent son with me to do this hike on a sunny…read moreSeptember Saturday. We parked at 1pm (parking lot was packed). Got back to the parking lot after 5pm. You'll need most of your day to do this hike if you're not a professional. This hike is beautiful but it is challenging for sure. You are going uphill the entire time. On the way down it's so steep you're jamming your toes trying not to fall. We did the bulk of this hike with nothing but backpacks full of snacks hahaha. Everyone that passed us up or down had poles, guns, bear spray, bells, dogs, the whole enchilada. I don't recommend hiking this area the way we did, we just got lucky :) It was a beautiful day and we were never alone for longer than 15-20min at a time. Weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm but the breeze was breezin'. The falls are a sight to see and made this strenuous hike completely worth it for my water-loving son. I can't wait to return soon and make it further.

Brooks Lodge Katmai National Park

4.9

(7 reviews)

We wanted to stay at Brooks Lodge, but we didn't start planning this trip NEARLY far enough in…read moreadvance to get a room here. That being said, we still had the opportunity to stop by here while visiting Katmai National Park. Located in the main area of the park in Brooks Camp, Brooks Lodge also offers meals for anyone visiting the park. We came for lunch, and if I recall, it was $32/person for full access to the buffet bar. They had salad, soup, crab cakes, and a burger bar among other things. The food was actually really good. I was expecting just average food considering it was buffet style, but the flavor was great. Staff managed the bar well, routinely switching out trays to ensure everything stayed appropriate temperature. There was also a comfortable sitting area around the fire pit along with a small bar. Clean bathrooms, always a positive. If you can book a room here, enjoy your stay. Otherwise, stop by for lunch. The food is tasty.

Brooks Falls absolutely exceeded my already high expectations. The Park Service runs a very…read moreprofessional and organized operation. Rangers and staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The lodge and campground are clean and in great shape. The lodge serves a very good (if pricey) buffet and even has a an excellent little bar! The campsites are in great shape in a beautiful area. Can't say much about the cabins, as we didn't stay in them, but the camping experience was excellent. Well worth the trip!! Oh, and the bears weren't bad either!!!

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

(64 reviews)

Beautiful, well kept trail! I saw five moose on the trail!…read more 11 miles each way starting at Elderberry Park and ending at Kincaid Park. Plenty of pull outs, benches, and look out points along the way. There was one point of the trail that had some bumps that appear to be in the process of being repaved, but otherwise no complaints. The only downside, biking up to Kincaid park was a challenge and the views at the top aren't worth it, there is also nothing waiting up top. Would be cool to see a coffee shop or something of the sort.

Very amazing hike with great views. We absolutely loved walking this trail last night and early…read morethis morning. Great views of the port as well as many other things!

Flattop Mountain Trail

4.6

(63 reviews)

Easy trail for most. This is a good trail for anyone visiting town there are two paths the front…read moreside and the back. I feel the back is easier but honestly not sure. I say it's easier as it's just more stairs. The front also has some but more just ups vs switch backs. *** not a hiker so terms are probably wrong. Great views and photo spots up the trail and top!!

This is a very popular hike. The parking lot gets filled and people crowd the trail. There is a…read morerock scramble at the top that can be tricky to reverse navigate.

Turnagain Arm Trail

4.6

(5 reviews)

Great trail for a trail run. Mostly woods but some great views of the mountains and ocean every now…read moreand again. Some awesome wildflowers and berry bushes.

Read my previous review for details- since my original review is so old, I'm not able to edit it. I…read morewant people to made use of the last two miles (starting at Windy Point) while they still can. In my opinion this is the prettiest section of the trail, but it is unfortunately slated for destruction. They would have us believe this is for "improvement " but anyone whose lived in Alaska for any length of time and read the report on the plans knows this is hogwash. My point is, enjoy this trail while you can.

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