Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River
Managed by BLM
4,613 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Photo: JKBrooks85 · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Central
More than half of Central’s land is conserved: 88%
88% of Central’s land is conserved, about 139,623 acres. 28 miles of mapped trail cross Central, 0.1 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
88%
139,623 acres · of 247.9 sq mi of land
Trails
28 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
3,514 ft
Ketchem Dome
Lakes & rivers
3
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
Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
139,623 conserved acres
88% of Central’s land. Who manages Central’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources135,445 ac
Bureau of Land Management4,219 ac
State Other or Unknown · 135,445 acNational Public Lands · 4,219 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 4 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Patented State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 77,652 | Unknown |
| State Tentatively Approved (tad) State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 48,351 | Unknown |
| State Land Disposals - Other Than Municipal State Other or Unknown | State natural resources | 9,441 | Unknown |
| Eastern Interior Field Office National Public Lands | Bureau of Land Management | 4,219 | Open |
Things to do
1 places to go in Central
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Peaks in Central
Ketchem Dome3,514 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
2 named trails and 3 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 15.2 mi
Yukon Quest Winter Trail8.0 mi
Medicine Lake Trail3.0 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Central HouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itWhen to get out
August is the best month for walking in Central
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) | 4.7 | 8.1 | 11.4 | 15.1 | 18.9 | 22.7 | 20.6 | 16.7 | 12.9 | 9.4 | 5.8 | 3.3 |
| High (°F) | -9 | 1 | 15 | 40 | 59 | 71 | 72 | 65 | 52 | 27 | 4 | -5 |
| Rain (in) | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
March is the driest month (0.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 72 °F). 2.6 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Central →
Questions about parks and trails in Central
Are dogs allowed on Central’s trails?
Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Central?
35,139 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Central or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 7,534 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Central 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 →