Best Hikes near Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage has a unique combination of both the modern world and the wildlife environment. You can either wake up to moose walking around the neighborhood or watch something on your smart TV. This is why Anchorage is a great place to see what Alaska offers.
That being said, it is no surprise that any of the hikes you go on in Anchorage will leave you dazzled by the beauties you’ll see. This list is for hikes willing to go on the best trails in Anchorage.
Byron Glacier Trail
This is one of the easiest-to-access glaciers in Anchorage; it takes about a 10 minutes drive south to get there. This trail is relatively flat, with only a couple of small hills. You must be aware of avalanches, especially in the spring and summer.
This hike is an easy and family-friendly trail that takes you to an overlook of Byron Glacier through the forest. Advanced hikers can extend this trail to approach this stunning glacier and get a closer look by hiking a bit higher to explore the natural ice caves and beautiful permanent snowfields.
Flattop Mountain Trail
Try this 3.2-mile loop trail near Anchorage, Alaska. It is considered a somewhat challenging route; it takes, on average, 2 hours and 27 minutes to complete. This is well-known for hiking and running, so this beautiful trail is open year-round. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Flattop is the most climbed mountain in Alaska. And, even though the walk to the summit is rocky and steep, some loop trails below are perfect for beginners or people with physical limitations. If you want to watch the beautiful scenery without hiking, walk the short path from the parking lot to the overlook.
Virgin Creek Falls Trail
This trail is so short (less than a half-mile, round-trip) that some hikers hesitate to call it a hike. Besides its beautiful scenery, there are plenty of roots and uneven ground along the trail, which covers enough on the Alaska hiking bingo card for this trail to earn a place on this list.
Virgin Creek Falls is one of the most accessible hikes in Anchorage. This trail is well-marked and goes through a beautiful forest, but (as we previously mentioned) be careful of the tree roots and uneven ground by the river’s edge. Because this trail is a temperate rainforest, the flora in this area is a bit different than you would expect in many other parts of Southcentral Alaska. So don’t forget your jacket!
Eagle River Nature Center
Forty minutes from Anchorage, you’ll find this mesmerizing hike. Enjoy this easy 3-mile nature walk on the Albert Look or step up your adventure with a 5 miles trek up-valley to see beautiful blue plunging waterfalls and +3,000-foot cliffs.
This hike first started as Paradise Heaven Lodge, a well-known bar and steakhouse in the late 60s and early 70s. So, driving there has always been an adventure, often cause the last two miles of the road were glaciated. Nowadays, the road stays clear for the experience to begin at the trailhead.
Kincaid Park
This hike offers spacious areas for outdoor sports of all kinds (like fishing in Little Campbell Lake or playing disc golf on the 18-hole course) in a wilderness-like setting where it used to be a Cold War missile base. Eagle-eyed visitors might notice the chalet and even buildings that were converted from old bunkers. Kincaid Park offers panoramic views of Denali. Kincaid Park is open all year round. This trail is at the southern end of the Coastal Trail, so it is as popular among bikers as single-track hikers.
This 1,400-acre park is one of the largest parks in Alaska. But don’t let proximity fool you. With nearly 20 miles of single-track bike runs, 40 miles of walking trails, browsing moose, and even the occasional bear, Kincaid Park is huge.