Alaska–the Last Frontier State, as well as America’s largest state, has some beautiful, breathtaking scenery. There is an abundance of plains, numerous kinds of flora and fauna, the crystalline waters of the Arctic Ocean, gorgeous coastlines, and snowy mountain ranges providing postcard-like backdrops. And you can take in all this majestic, jawdropping beauty on Alaska’s scenic, world-class bike trails.
Planning Your Trip
There are plenty of biking trips that you can take with adventure lodges as well as with tour groups, with some focusing on specific areas of Alaska. Or you can be more intrepid and go on your own while also making a camping trip out of it. There are bike shops in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau that can also provide you with bike rental services.
There are bike trails within the national parks and you can even start your planning herewith this brochure from Alaska Public Lands Information Center. This brochure will give
you a myriad of book recommendations, websites, and advice on how to enjoy yourself safely.
Image, Steve Halama
Bears and Moose and Mosquitoes—Oh My!
Whether you are biking or taking a more traditional northern vacation, there are three native Alaskan critters that you need to be concerned about—two of them big and one of them small.
One thing to remember is that when you’re in Alaska, you’re in bear country. You most likely will not encounter bears, as they will usually avoid people. But just in case you do, you’ll want to know what to do. The National Park Service has this guide on bear safety.
So you may have already known about the bears, but moose are also animals that you should be aware of. Alaska is also moose country. Check out the tips that Alaska Public
Lands Information Center has on how to deal with close encounters of the moose kind.
Finally — mosquitoes: surprised to hear about them in Alaska? Surprisingly enough, in the summer months, they can actually be quite a nuisance in the northern parts of the state. You’ll want to use some heavy-duty bug repellent and mosquito coils to keep them at bay. You’ll also want to cover up your exposed skin—so wear long pants and sleeves if you’re up in those parts.
Lost Lake Trail
Located in the beautiful Seward, which is south of Anchorage, Lost Lake Trail is a sevenmile trail that is rated as intermediate. You will be captivated by the stunning scenery as you are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests, and tundra. The trail can be ridden as part of a large loop including Primrose Trail or “out & back.” You’ll begin at the Lost Lake trailhead and take an immediate swift descent and then start an uphill climb through hardwoods. The Lost Lake Trail is wide for a single track, but it also has numerous technical parts with tree roots, rocks, and other kinds of obstacles for you to navigate.
As you pedal on you will see the treeline change from forestland to tundra. You’ll cruise along a glittering creek and keep going until you find yourself at the magnificent payoff for all your riding: a waterfall. Here would be a nice place to rest. After that, the rest of the bike course will take you to Lost Lake itself, with mountains and Resurrection Bay surrounding it. At this point, you can return the way you came and enjoy the scenery on the way back.
In Seward, there are many camping sites, cabins, bed & breakfast inns, and hotels—whether it’s within town or in surrounding areas.
Kincaid Park
Another favorite bike trail is located in Anchorage, which is also Alaska’s largest city. Kincaid Park’s trail system, rated intermediate, is both beautiful and can give you the biking technical thrills you’re seeking. Beginning at the Raspberry Trailhead, you ride this mostly double-wide track trail in a counter-clockwise fashion, finishing in an exhilarating descent that will require you to pay close attention.
This bike trail has a lot of dramatic highs and lows for you to traverse—some call it a rollercoaster. The brush covered trail has numerous obstacles that will keep you on your toes such as berms, loose rocks, roots, and switchbacks. When you ride the Kincaid Park trail as a loop, it’s 45 miles. Do be careful, though—just because it’s in Anchorage doesn’t mean you won’t be seeing any moose or bears around. Make sure to give them the right of way when you see them.
Anchorage itself has some majestic views, with the Chugach Mountains in the background and surrounded by Cook Inlet. There are plenty of places to rest your head
after a long ride.
East Pillar Mountain Loop
In Kodiak, Alaska, which is situated on picturesque Kodiak Island, is an advanced trail — East Pillar. You can take this challenging five-mile trail by itself in a loop, or you can combine it with the easier Russian Ridge to make it a 10.5-mile ride. This single-track, technical route is about thirty minutes away from town and rewards you with stunning views.
The obstacles you’ll face are both man-made and natural, such as rock gardens, an unstable track, and roots. You’ll want to be careful as you ride here and prepare for some huge drops. Swampy Acres, another easier trail, also connects to Pillar trail and other technical routes. Even if you’re an expert rider, you’ll want to have at least one other rider with you because you’ll be far away from civilization on this route.
Want to stay in Kodiak? There are a number of places for you to choose from. Summer season (between July and September) is peak season so you’ll want to plan your trip in advance because many places will be booked during that time.
Tongass Rainforest Ride
A rainforest in Alaska? You betcha. Located in Southeastern Alaska, Tongass National Forest will bring you a taste of the tropics as the U.S.’s largest national forest as well as the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest, with 17 million acres. You’ll find a startling array of fjords, islands, glaciers, mountains, and forests. Since Alaska is bear country, you can come here to view bears feeding on spawning salmon as they are swimming upstream in various creeks. It can be a bit warm here, with highs in the 70s during in the summer, so keep that in mind as you plan your ride.
Now for the ride: the Tongass Rainforest Ride is 9.5 miles, rated moderate to difficult. As you can imagine, this route has some amazing views of two glaciers (Mendenhall and Harding), mountains, and valleys. You’ll start with a five-mile section of hills and then come to a two-mile stretch of flat road where you can see Fritz Cove. You may be able to catch bald eagles hunting for fish over the water. Next, you’ll discover a couple of miles of coastline and make your way to False Outer Point. You’ll find this to be a great place to see some sea lions as well as other kinds of beach life.
If you want somewhere close to stay, Ketchikan is your town. It’s a small town of under 14,000 people, but there is definitely room for you. Whether you want to camp or bring
an RV, use a hostel, lodge, hotel, or resort, there’s a place in beautiful Ketchikan that will suit your needs and tastes.
Matanuska Lakes State Park
Formerly known as Kepler-Bradley State Park, this state park has some easier bike trails, including Hatcher Pass Trail, which is two miles in length and all downhill. Once you see the sign, 16-Mile Downhill, you’ll know you’ll be ready for your descent which involves some roots, rocks, loose gravel, berms, and other obstacles. Overall, you’ll find gorgeous lakes and rolling fields, all with a mountain backdrop. The trails can be double track or more challenging single track. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll want to be riding a bike that has good suspension, or at least a good trail bike.
Matanuska Lakes State Park is located in the town of Palmer which is just east of Wasilla, and both towns are north of Anchorage. In terms of places to stay before and after your bike ride, rustic family-run B&Bs, lodges, cabins, and camping sites await you in the Mat-Su region.
No matter what your biking expertise level, you will find some unique and spectacular sights, sounds, and smells when you ride your bike through Alaska.
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