Bicycling, Running & Walking in Anchorage

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Bicycling, Running & Walking

Anchorage has more than 120 mi of paved bicycle trails, and many streets have marked bike lanes. Although busy during the day, downtown streets are uncrowded and safe for cyclists in the evening. Pick up a guide to local trails at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (4th Ave. and F St., Downtown. 907/271-2737. www.nps.gov/aplic) or at area bookstores. At the far west end of Raspberry Road in South Anchorage, the 40 mi of trails at Kincaid Park (907/343-6397. www.muni.org/parks/parkdistrictsw.cfm) wind through 1,400 acres of mixed spruce and birch forest. Mountain bikers will find easy-to-moderate riding along with some challenging hills. Be advised that Kincaid Park is home to a sizeable moose population, so stay alert at all times. Parking lots are open 6 AM-11 PM daily. The Kincaid Outdoor Center -- locally called Kincaid Chalet -- is available for a fee for social functions such as weddings, receptions, and meetings. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (www.trailsofanchorage.com) and other bike trails in Anchorage are used by runners, cyclists, in-line skaters, and walkers. It begins downtown off 2nd Avenue and is also easily accessible from Westchester Lagoon near the west end of 15th Avenue. The trail runs from the lagoon 2 mi to Earthquake Park and then continues an additional 7 mi to Kincaid Park, where a series of unpaved trails provides for more adventurous biking and hiking. A number of popular running events are held annually in Anchorage, including the Alaska Run for Women (www.akrfw.org) in early June, which raises money for the fight against breast cancer. The late-April Heart Run is a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association's work to prevent heart disease. It's been taking place for more than 25 years. Alaska's biggest and most famous running event is the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon (www.mayorsmarathon.com), held on summer solstice in late June. Downtown Bicycle Rental (333 W. 4th Ave., Downtown. 907/279-5293. www.alaska-bike-rentals.com) rents mountain bikes and provides trail recommendations, and can provide shuttle service to the parking lot at Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park. The Arctic Bicycle Club (907/566-0177. www.arcticbike.org) organizes races and tours.