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    McHugh Creek - Chugach State Park

    4.3 (11 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 6:00 AM (Next day)

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    Beginning off fall at the potters creek/rainbow trailhead
    Desiree M.

    This is a fantastic trail! Very beautiful and peaceful. Their are quite a few trail runners here, even with it just being the end of April presently, so i'm sure their are even more in the summer months. I would consider this hike to be moderate. Potters Marsh is 3.3 miles to your left (at the bridge) and rainbow creek is 4.2 miles. I decided to go towards rainbow creek. Be very prepared for mud and also alot of UP on your way there. I went two miles in (i started getting nasty blisters) and turned around. There are two great stopping points for lunch or a break, one at about .50 mile in and then also right at a mile from Mchugh creek. You can view Turnagain well. There are a few trails that fall into this trail, one being the sunshine trail. Their is also one spot to do minimal rock climbing with no harness. All in all a great trail, i will for sure come and try the potters marsh trail and maybe finish that 4.2 miles to rainbow creek and turn around some time.

    Joy L.

    Probably my least favorite trail I've hiked in the Anchorage area. Quite boring actually lacking anything of real interest. The best views are actually from the parking lot. I kept to the trail that leads to McHugh lake. It gets confusing where trails converge and the signage add sucks. Only Thanks to comments here was I able figure out which way to go. A mile in, you reach the tree line and finally you get some nice vistas of the inlet. All in all it wasn't worth the hike though. All in all, other trails along the Turnagain trail have much better views and water features. I'll skip this trail in the future.

    Craig T.

    Stopped here while driving the Seward highway. It is worth a quick stop. Right off the highway. A nice hike up to the top of the waterfall or enjoy it from below.

    Sean T.

    No complaints here. Went monday evening... Hardly anyone out so it was nice to get away. Alaska is gorgeous and its been way to long since coming back... I've been living in Texas so the outdoors experience is definitely a must without having to travel too far.

    David P.

    Fun area at low tides. Bring a fishing pole, parking is suspect.

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    Ask the Community - McHugh Creek - Chugach State Park

    Review Highlights - McHugh Creek - Chugach State Park

    3 miles to your left (at the bridge) and rainbow creek is 4.

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    Westchester Lagoon - Arctic Tern

    Westchester Lagoon

    4.7(13 reviews)
    14.6 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.

    Photos
    Westchester Lagoon - Swan

    Swan

    Westchester Lagoon - Me grebe got a fish

    Me grebe got a fish

    Westchester Lagoon - Arctic tern

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    Arctic tern

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

    4.8(6 reviews)
    14.6 mi

    Having completed a few 5k's this summer, I was recently re-introduced to this beautiful trail…read moresystem. I agree with other Yelpers when it comes to the trail being secluded and more "in the woods," compared to say, The Tony Knowles trail, which is a favorite of mine. Because of this, you're definitely more likely to see wildlife on this trail, so be bear and moose aware. Carry lots of bug spray. The biggest pro about this trail for me, is all the shallow fresh water access points. Please note, the most secluded parts of this trail are also home to Anchorage's homeless population, so it's best to be aware of your surroundings in general.

    Anchorage's urban trail system is it's biggest asset that no one outside of Anchorage knows about,…read moreand that folks in Anchorage take for granted. This one runs West-to-East. In the west, it starts at Westchester Lagoon and it seems to end at Goose Lake Park in the east. I use a good chunk of it to bike commute. It's nice in that it rarely intersects a road. Where it approaches a main-vain, it tunnels underneath the road. Chester Creek is also very picturesque in parts. It's got a gentle flow, it's lined with trees, and it's dotted with quaint little wooden bridges. It makes me want to sing "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go!" It's decently groomed in the winter, and is the realm of XC skiers and fat bikers, but it can be done with some good waterproof boots, on foot, as well.

    Photos
    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail
    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail - Gross ducks trying to look majestic

    Gross ducks trying to look majestic

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

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    Chugach Guides Alaska

    Chugach Guides Alaska

    5.0(4 reviews)
    13.5 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.

    Photos
    Chugach Guides Alaska - Wife & I

    Wife & I

    Chugach Guides Alaska - Counting Dall Sheep

    Counting Dall Sheep

    Chugach Guides Alaska

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    McHugh Creek - Chugach State Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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