TONY KNOWLES COASTAL TRAIL
The best way to experience Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is on a bicycle. Anchorage is an international air-crossroads equidistant between Asia, North America and Europe. It is number four in the world for air cargo behind Hong Kong, Memphis, and Shanghai. The airline crew that layover here frequently say of all the cities they've been to and all the bike paths they've been on, Anchorage's Coastal Trail is the best.
This two-way paved trail is 11 miles long. At a liesurly pace it takes about 2.5 hours round-trip (22 miles) to bike it or about 3 hours if you come back on the Alternate Return Route. (25 miles.)
The Coastal Trail starts in downtown Anchorage on 2nd Avenue just 5 blocks from Downtown Bicycle Rental. The trail parallels an arm of Cook Inlet (Knik Arm). About one mile from its start at Westchester Lagoon, the trail intersects the Lanie Fleisher Chester Creek greenbelt bike path which is about six miles long and goes east to the University of Alaska, Anchorgae. To stay on the Coastal Trail, take a right in front of the lagoon. Then there there is a tunnel under the railroad tracks and the ocean is on your right the rest of the way. There is no way to get lost. No guide is needed. Bike the trail at your own pace whenever you want.
Wildlife sightings on the trail are common. Moose are concentrated in the woods in between the runways of the airport and the ocean between Point Woronzof (mile marker 5.5) and Kincaid Park where the trail ends. Bald eagle, owl, porcupine, or black bear are also in the woods along the trail. In August look for beluga whales from the viewing platform at the parking lot just past Earthquake Park.
At the end of the trail is Kincaid Park - a world-class singletrack mountain bike park. Click here for a map.
Cook Inlet has the third highest tidal change in the world reaching up to 46.9 feet. When the tide retreats mud flats appear; they have a unique texture especially at dusk and are most pronounced at Fish Creek (about mile marker 2.5) where rivulets cut meandering 10 foot deep canyons through the mud. Birdwatchers flock (ha, ha) to this area to spot Sandhill Cranes.
On sunny days the trail is very popular and even crowded closer to town especially late afternoon after people get off from work and on weekends. There are mile markers with locater numbers every half mile. Also, there are "Fix-It Stations" with hex keys, tire irons and air pump at Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, and Kincaid Park. The Coastal Trail is used year round by runners, cyclists, and cross country skiers.