Far North Bicentennial Park
Park
5,058 acres48.5 mi of trail
Spencer LoopHillside LoopBesh LoopRidge Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Oscar Gill House · Photo: 61north · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Anchorage
More than half of Anchorage’s land is conserved: 81%
81% of Anchorage’s land is conserved, about 886,767 acres. 409,912 acres are parks and preserves, 1,419 per 1,000 residents. 93% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns · #1 of 41 in Alaska. What drives it
Conserved land
81%
886,767 acres · of 1,706.8 sq mi of land
Trails
875 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
409,912 ac
1,419 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
93%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
601 mi
34 mi lanes · 504 mi paths
Highest peak
8,005 ft
Bashful Peak
Lakes & rivers
112
9 beaches · 12 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Anchorage?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Anchorage have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Anchorage is ahead of 97% of U.S. towns, #1 of 41 in Alaska. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, trail miles lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Anchorage’s overall grade.
Conserved land81% of the land · typical AK town 15% · U.S. 4%A+Trails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (875 mi) · AK 0.5 · U.S. 0.4BPark land1,419 acres of park per 1,000 residents (409,912 acres) · AK 15 · U.S. 13A+Parks close to home93% of residents within a half mile of a park · AK 36% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 97%
LessMore
Alaska towns of 2,500+ (41)#1 of 41
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Anchorage ranks #22 on Outdoors.
Alaska towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Anchorage’s 81% is ahead of 90% of Alaska towns, while its trails per square mile lead 52% of them.
Water is 12% of Anchorage’s area (238 of 1945 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 72%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Far North Bicentennial Park, with 48.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Kincaid Park
Managed by City of Anchorage
1,576 acres43.9 mi of trail
Mize LoopMargaux's LoopLake LoopSisson Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Knik Public Use Area
Managed by Alaska Department of Natural Resources
45,937 acres23.6 mi of trail
Knik Glacier Trail (RST 17)
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Beach Lake Park
Managed by Municipality of Anchorage
1,672 acres13.1 mi of trail
Beach Lake TrailMushing TrailConnector TrailNorth Pasture+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge
Managed by Alaska Department of Fish and Game
31,456 acres6.1 mi of trail
Winter PathWinter TrailOcean View Bluff winter pathBeach Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Ruth Arcand Park
Park
303 acres5.5 mi of trail
Riata Loop
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Russian Jack Springs Park
Park
312 acres4.3 mi of trail
Trail 11RJSP Walking Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Edmonds Lake Park
Park
580 acres3.9 mi of trail
Edmonds Lake 7.5kBog TrailEdmonds Lake 5kFour Seasons Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 109 parks & preserves
Far North Bicentennial Park5,058 acres · 48.5 mi of trail
DirectionsKincaid Park1,576 acres · 43.9 mi of trail · City of Anchorage
DirectionsKnik Public Use Area45,937 acres · 23.6 mi of trail · Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Beach Lake Park1,672 acres · 13.1 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsAnchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge31,456 acres · 6.1 mi of trail · Alaska Department of Fish and Game
DirectionsRuth Arcand Park303 acres · 5.5 mi of trail
DirectionsRussian Jack Springs Park312 acres · 4.3 mi of trail
DirectionsEdmonds Lake Park580 acres · 3.9 mi of trail
DirectionsPotter Marsh Watershed Park312 acres · 3.4 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsCampbell Park294 acres · 3.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDavis Park78 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
DirectionsJohn's Park52 acres · 1.9 mi of trail
Baxter Bog69 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsTikishla Park260 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsOld Rabbit Creek Park104 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
Point Woronzof Park554 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsSouth Anchorage Sports Park52 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsUniversity Lake Park43 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCentennial Park95 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
DirectionsChanshtnu Muldoon Park52 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · City of Anchorage
DirectionsEastchester Park121 acres · 1 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsChuck Albrecht Softball Park26 acres · 1 mi of trail · MOA
DirectionsGoose Lake Park87 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsForsythe Park26 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsHuffman Park17 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsCampbell Creek Estuary Natural Area61 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsMouth of Peter's Creek Park17 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
Campbell Creek Greenbelt606 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsTaku Lake Park52 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsNunaka Valley Park South35 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsHelen Louise McDowell Sanctuary26 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMoose Flats Day Use Area17 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBob & Arlene Cross Park9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsLoretta French Park113 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsRay E Storck Homestead Park26 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsBayshore Park17 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsOcean View Park9 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCoyote Ski Trails95 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Earthquake Park87 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsAbbott-O-Rabbit Little League Baseball Club17 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsLloyd Steele Park17 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsMoen Park9 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCarr-Gottstein Park9 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Southport Park9 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsOcean View Bluff Park9 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Delaney Park Strip69 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Anchorage
DirectionsJewel Lake Park26 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsGirdwood Park17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsNorthwood Park17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsValley of the Moon Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsLyn Ary Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMeadow Street Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSunset Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsKobuk Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Linden Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Moose Meadow Park121 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMirror Lake Park87 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Peter's Creek Park61 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsJavier De La Vega Park35 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsAbbott Loop Community Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCuddy Family Midtown Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsBalto Seppala Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMargaret Eagan Sullivan Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTimberlane Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Spruce Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Bayshore Park South9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsScenic Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWolverine Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDavid Green Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSan Antonio Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsToy Race Car Track9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsNellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area34,132 acres · United States Forest Service
Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge1,706 acres · Alaska Department of Fish and Game
DirectionsArnold L Muldoon Park69 acres
DirectionsLittle Rabbit Creek Bluff Park52 acres
Eagle River Lions Club Community Park35 acres
DirectionsFish Creek Estuary17 acres
DirectionsGriffin Park17 acres
Michael J. Shibe Park17 acres
DirectionsKosinski Field Complex17 acres
DirectionsDavid Rose Park17 acres
DirectionsRussel Oberg Soccer Park17 acres
DirectionsWoodland Park17 acres
DirectionsIra Walker Park17 acres
DirectionsKiwanis Fish Creek Park17 acres
DirectionsChitose Park17 acres
DirectionsReflections Lake9 acres
DirectionsJacobson Park9 acres
DirectionsSisterhood Park9 acres
DirectionsPop Carr Park9 acres
DirectionsChugach Foothills Park9 acres
DirectionsSitka Street Park9 acres · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsBancroft Park9 acres
DirectionsPena Fields9 acres
DirectionsTonjess Park9 acres
KFQD Park9 acres
DirectionsChugach State Park Indian Creek9 acres · State of Alaska
DirectionsFairview Lions Park9 acres
DirectionsPioneer Park9 acres
DirectionsDavidson Park9 acres
DirectionsSpringer Park9 acres
DirectionsUre Park9 acres
Carlson Park9 acres
DirectionsOld Hermit Park9 acres
DirectionsAtkins Park9 acres
Bear Tracks Park9 acres
Nichols Park9 acres
DirectionsBen Crawford Memorial Park9 acres
DirectionsLincoln Park9 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
886,767 conserved acres
81% of Anchorage’s land. Water is left out: Anchorage has 1,706.8 square miles of land and 237.7 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Anchorage’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources624,915 ac
U.S. Forest Service244,426 ac
Bureau of Land Management37,831 ac
Town or city7,561 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits2,321 ac
County1,481 ac
State fish & wildlife546 ac
State Park · 411,330 acNational Forest · 244,426 acState Other or Unknown · 182,285 acNational Public Lands · 37,831 acState Conservation Area · 31,846 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2,269 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 9 of 190 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chugach State Park State Park | State natural resources | 411,330 | Open |
| Chugach National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 244,426 | Open |
| State Tentatively Approved (tad) State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 160,018 | Unknown |
| Anchorage Field Office National Public Lands | Bureau of Land Management | 37,831 | Open |
| Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 29,655 | Restricted |
| State Land Disposals - Municipal Purposes State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 15,572 | Unknown |
| State Land Disposals - Municipal Entitlements, Mun State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 3,066 | Unknown |
| State Patented State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 2,763 | Unknown |
| Beach Lake Park Local Park | Town or city | 1,637 | Open |
| Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,620 | Restricted |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
786 places to go in Anchorage
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Anchorage
Beaver Beach
DirectionsLyn Ary Beach
DirectionsPlus 7 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Swimming spots in Anchorage
Sand Lake parkIn Chitose Park
DirectionsPublic pools in Anchorage
Moseley Swimming Pool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Anchorage
Apple ParkIn Toy Race Car Track
DirectionsCollege Gate Elementary Playground
DirectionsDenali Montessori Elementary School Playground
DirectionsDenali Montessori Elementary School Playground
DirectionsDestination Play
DirectionsDidlika Park
DirectionsDimond Estates Playground
DirectionsFairview Recreation Center Indoor Inclusive Playground
Directions12 more playgrounds
Fish Creek PlaygroundIn Kiwanis Fish Creek Park
DirectionsGrass Creek Village Playground
DirectionsHillstrand Playground
DirectionsJohns Park Playground
DirectionsMammoth Playground
DirectionsPioneer Park PlaygroundIn Pioneer Park
DirectionsPlayground 2-5 year old (ADA)In Bob & Arlene Cross Park
DirectionsPolar Bear playgroundIn Russian Jack Springs Park
DirectionsPop Carr Park PlaygroundsIn Pop Carr Park
DirectionsRocketship ParkIn Campbell Creek Greenbelt
DirectionsTot Lot and children’s playground
DirectionsWolverine ParkIn Wolverine Park
Directions333 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Anchorage
Arctic & Benson Dog Park
DirectionsChanshtnu Dog ParkIn Chanshtnu Muldoon Park
DirectionsConnors Bog Dog Park
DirectionsNorth Gasline Dog TrailIn Far North Bicentennial Park
DirectionsRussian Jack Dog ParkIn Russian Jack Springs Park
DirectionsSouth Anchorage Dog ParkIn South Anchorage Sports Park
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Anchorage
Plus 9 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Anchorage
Big Time Alaskan Fishing AdventuresHours: Mon–Sun 7 am – 7 pm
DirectionsPlus 2 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Anchorage
Heritage Falls
DirectionsMystery Falls
DirectionsNiagara Falls
DirectionsSerenity Falls
DirectionsSouth Fork Falls
DirectionsThunder Bird Falls
DirectionsThunder Gorge Waterfall
DirectionsVirgin Creek Falls
DirectionsPlus 4 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Anchorage
Begich/Boggs Visitor Center Portage Lake View
DirectionsBeluga OverlookIn Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area
DirectionsBeluga Point Viewpoint
DirectionsBore Tide Viewpoint #2
DirectionsBore Tide Viewpoint #3
DirectionsBore Tide Viewpoint #4
DirectionsDew Lake Overlook
DirectionsDowntown Anchorage ViewpointIn Point Woronzof Park
Directions22 more scenic views
Eagle River Valley scenic viewpoint
DirectionsEcotone PlatformIn Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area
DirectionsGlacier OverlookIn Knik Public Use Area
DirectionsGlen Alps Lookout
DirectionsGorge Viewing Deck
DirectionsHeidi's Knob
DirectionsJet Watching Viewpoint
DirectionsKnik Glacier OverlookIn Knik Public Use Area
DirectionsKnik Moraine ViewpointIn Knik Public Use Area
DirectionsLookout Point
DirectionsPortage Overlook
DirectionsPotter's Marsh
DirectionsSandhill BlindIn Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area
DirectionsShip Creek Overlook
DirectionsSouth Fork Falls Overlook
DirectionsThe Beaver Deck
DirectionsThe Perch
DirectionsThe Salmon Deck
DirectionsThunder Bird Scenic Viewpoint
DirectionsTucker Point
DirectionsView of Eagle River
DirectionsView of the Turnagain ArmIn Kincaid Park
Directions81 scenic views are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Peaks in Anchorage
Bashful Peak8,005 ft elevation
DirectionsBaleful Peak7,989 ft elevation
DirectionsSouth Baleful Peak7,900 ft elevation
DirectionsBellicose Peak7,638 ft elevation
DirectionsHunters Peak7,549 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Yukla7,536 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Rumble7,530 ft elevation
DirectionsBold Peak7,523 ft elevation
Directions21 more peaks
Troublesome Peak7,464 ft elevation
DirectionsWest Kiliak Peak7,451 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Beelzebub7,280 ft elevation
DirectionsMountaineers Peak7,265 ft elevation
DirectionsDevils Club Peak7,240 ft elevation · In Knik Public Use Area
DirectionsBenign Peak7,234 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Soggy7,192 ft elevation
DirectionsWhiteout Peak7,136 ft elevation
DirectionsBenevolent Peak7,126 ft elevation
DirectionsEast Kiliak Peak7,100 ft elevation
DirectionsInsignificant Peak7,051 ft elevation
DirectionsPeril Peak7,041 ft elevation
DirectionsKorohusk Peak7,031 ft elevation
DirectionsOrgan Mountain6,982 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Palmer6,940 ft elevation
DirectionsPeeking Mountain6,926 ft elevation
DirectionsEagle Peak6,909 ft elevation
DirectionsPeters Peak6,886 ft elevation
DirectionsBoisterous Peak6,864 ft elevation
DirectionsCalliope Mountain6,821 ft elevation
DirectionsBounty Peak6,811 ft elevation
Directions262 peaks are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Picnic areas in Anchorage
Knik View PointIn Beach Lake Park
DirectionsTaku lake Picnic SiteIn Campbell Creek Greenbelt
DirectionsPlus 13 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Anchorage
Anchorage Ship Creek RV ParkHours: May 1 - Sep 30 open; closed · Fee
DirectionsBackcountry CampsiteChugach State Park
DirectionsBackcountry CampsitesUSFS
DirectionsBackcountry CampsitesChugach State Park
DirectionsBirchwood CampAlaska United Methodist Conference
DirectionsBird Creek CampgroundFee
DirectionsBlack Spruce Campground
DirectionsCamp GorsuchIn Edmonds Lake Park
Directions21 more campgrounds
Centennial Campground
DirectionsClear Creek Backcountry CampsitesChugach State Park
DirectionsEagle River CampgroundFee
DirectionsEcho Bend Established CampsitesEagle River Nature Center
DirectionsEklutna Alex CampgroundChugach State Park
DirectionsEklutna CampgroundFee
DirectionsFreestone Ponds Campsite
DirectionsGirdwood CampgroundFee · In Girdwood Park · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsHeritage Falls Campsite North
DirectionsHeritage Falls Campsite South
DirectionsIcicle Creek Backcountry CampsiteChugach State Park
DirectionsJBER FamCamp
DirectionsKanchee CampgroundChugach State Park
DirectionsRapids CampsiteFee · Eagle River Nature Center
DirectionsRaven Gorge Backcountry CampsitesChugach State Park
DirectionsSinging Hills Girlscout Camp
DirectionsTangle Pond Informal Campsite
DirectionsThunder Creek CampsitesChugach State Park
DirectionsTwin Falls North CampsiteChugach State park
DirectionsTwin Falls South CampsiteChugach State Park
DirectionsWilliwaw CampgroundFee · US Forest Service
Directions31 campgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Disc golf in Anchorage
Davis Park Disc Golf CourseIn Davis Park
DirectionsGirdwood Disc Golf Course
DirectionsJay Johnson Memorial Disk Golf Course
DirectionsJoel Fletcher Armstrong Memorial Disc Golf CourseIn Peter's Creek Park
DirectionsKincaid Disc Golf CourseIn Kincaid Park · Municipality of Anchorage
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Anchorage
Chanshtnu GardensIn Chanshtnu Muldoon Park
DirectionsFairview GardensIn Fairview Lions Park
DirectionsGarden of Eatin'
DirectionsGirdwood Community Garden
DirectionsI Street Community Garden
DirectionsMcPhee Gardens
DirectionsMidtown Community GardenYarducopia
DirectionsSpenard Community GardenYarducopia
DirectionsPlus 5 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 74 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 103.7 miHorses · 12.2 miUnpaved · 444.3 mi
Crow Pass Trail22.5 mi
Peters Creek Trail13.6 mi
Eklutna Lakeside Trail12.8 mi
Penguin Ridge Traverse Trail10.2 mi
Upper Winner Creek Trail8.0 mi
Rendezvous Ridge Trail7.5 mi
New Indian Valley Trail7.0 mi
South Fork Valley Trail6.5 mi
McHugh Lake Trail6.3 mi
Indian Creek Pass Trail6.0 mi
15 more trails
Ptarmigan Valley Trail
5.3 miKnik Glacier Trail (RST 17)
5.2 miLong Lake Trail
5.2 miEklutna Lower Lakeside Trail
4.8 miShip Lake Trail
4.8 miPowerline Pass Trail
4.7 miSpencer Loop
4.2 miMile High Peak Bootpath
4.1 miBold Ridge Overlook Trail
4.0 miTurnagain Arm Trail
4.0 miBird Valley Trail
3.9 miBird Ridge Trail
3.9 miMount Eklutna Trail
3.6 miMiddle Fork Trail
3.6 miEast Fork Eklutna River Trail
3.6 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium PondpondAlder PondpondBaxter BogpondBayshore PondpondBeach LakelakeBirch LakeBlack LakepondBlissful LakelakeBlue Eyed LakelakeBlueberry LakeCampbell LakelakeCarmen LakeCheney LakelakeClunie LakeCochise LakepondConners LakeCrystal LakelakeDeep LakelakeDelong LakelakeDew LakeDivide LakelakeEagle LakeEdmonds LakelakeEklutna LakelakeFalls LakelakeFish LakelakeFreestone PondsGlacier LakelakeGoose LakelakeGreen LakeGrey LakepondGrizzly Bear LakelakeGwenn LakeHanging Valley LakelakeHidden LakelakeHideaway LakeHilstrand PondpondInner Lake GeorgelakeJewel LakelakeJones LakeKettle PondsKnob LakelakeLake BarbaralakeLake HoodlakeLake KiowapondLake OtisLake SpenardlakeLake TinaLake TiulanalakeLittle Campbell LakepondBird CreekCampbell CreekEagle RiverEast Fork Eklutna RiverEklutna RiverGlacier CreekGlacier RiverHunter CreekIndian CreekKnik RiverLake Fork Knik RiverPenguin CreekPeters CreekPlacer CreekPlacer RiverPlacer River OverflowPortage CreekPortage Creek, Channel 1Portage Creek, Channel 2Ship CreekSkookum CreekSouth Fork Eagle RiverTwentymile RiverWest Fork Eklutna River
Biking & sports
601 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
34 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
504 mi
off-road bike paths
62 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
115Basketball
93Baseball
63Tennis
60Soccer
55Tracks
41Golf
18Football
17Equestrian
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →33 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 46 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox ChurchBuilding · listed 1972
About itOscar Anderson HouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itFederal Building-U.S. CourthouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itCrow Creek Consolidated Gold Mining CompanyBuilding · listed 1978
About itCampus CenterBuilding · listed 1979
About itEklutna Power PlantBuilding · listed 1980
About itAnchorage City HallBuilding · listed 1980
About itPioneer School HouseBuilding · listed 1980
About itMike Alex CabinBuilding · listed 1982
About itFourth Avenue Theatre (AHRS Site No. ANC-284)Building · listed 1982
About itPotter Section HouseBuilding · listed 1985
About itKimball's StoreBuilding · listed 1986
About it21 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Anchorage: June and July
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 6.3 | 8.9 | 11.5 | 14.6 | 17.4 | 19.3 | 18.5 | 15.8 | 12.8 | 9.9 | 7.1 | 5.5 |
| High (°F) | 21 | 28 | 35 | 47 | 58 | 65 | 67 | 65 | 56 | 42 | 26 | 23 |
| Rain (in) | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
April is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 67 °F). 3.6 inches fall in September, the wettest month. The climate in Anchorage →
Next door
Anchorage and its neighbors
Anchorage has the most mapped trails of the 2 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 81% | 0.5 | 1,419 | 93% | A+ |
| Knik River | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Anchorage
Where can I hike in Anchorage?
The longest trail networks: Far North Bicentennial Park, 48.5 miles; Kincaid Park, 43.9 miles; Knik Public Use Area, 23.6 miles; Beach Lake Park, 13.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Anchorage is conserved land?
81% of its land, against a typical 15% for an Alaska town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Anchorage’s trails?
Far North Bicentennial Park and Kincaid Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Anchorage?
601 miles of bike routes are on the map: 34 of painted or protected lanes, 504 of off-road paths and 62 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Anchorage?
520,695 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Anchorage or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 432,131 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Anchorage have?
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #1 of 41 in Alaska. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Anchorage neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →