Anchorage Alaska Coastal Trail Floatplanes and Wildlife

Why visit Anchorage

No other American city puts wild country this close. Chugach State Park covers close to half a million acres on the city's eastern edge, and trailheads are a short drive from neighborhoods. In summer, salmon swim up a creek beside downtown, floatplanes buzz overhead from the busiest seaplane base in the country, and beluga whales sometimes follow the tides up Turnagain Arm.

Anchorage is also the best place in Alaska to understand the state before you head into it. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center explain the land, the people who have lived here for thousands of years and the forces, including the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964, that shaped the modern city.

Downtown museums and culture

Anchorage Museum

The largest museum in the state brings together art, history and science under one roof. Highlights include galleries on Alaska history and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, which displays hundreds of Alaska Native objects on loan from the Smithsonian, from carved masks to clothing made of gut and fur.

Log Cabin Visitor Information Center and Fourth Avenue

The sod-roofed log cabin at Fourth Avenue and F Street is the place to pick up maps and ask about events, summer concerts and free shuttles.

Alaska Native Heritage Center

On the city's east side, this cultural center shares the traditions of Alaska's major Native cultural groups, from the Inupiaq of the Arctic to the Tlingit and Haida of the southeast.

The Coastal Trail, parks and the waterfront

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

This paved path runs about 11 miles from Second Avenue downtown along the shore of Cook Inlet to Kincaid Park, with views of the mudflats, Sleeping Lady (Mount Susitna) and, on clear days, Denali far to the north.

Earthquake Park

On March 27, 1964, the strongest earthquake recorded in North America, magnitude 9.2, struck Southcentral Alaska. Here, along the Coastal Trail, a residential area slid toward the sea.

Kincaid Park

At the end of the Coastal Trail, this large park offers forested trails for hiking and mountain biking in summer and a famous network of groomed cross-country ski trails in winter. Bluffs overlook Cook Inlet toward the volcanoes on the far shore.

Ship Creek

Just north of downtown near the Alaska Railroad depot, Ship Creek hosts runs of king salmon in early summer and silver salmon later in the season, and anglers line the banks within sight of office towers. Even if you do not fish, watching the action is fun.

Floatplanes, mountains and Turnagain Arm

Lake Hood Seaplane Base

Next to the international airport, Lakes Hood and Spenard form one of the busiest seaplane bases in the world, with close to two hundred flights on a typical day.

Flattop Mountain

From the Glen Alps trailhead in Chugach State Park, a trail of about a mile and a half climbs roughly 1,300 feet to the summit plateau at 3,510 feet. The final stretch is a steep scramble over rock, but the reward is a sweeping view over the city, Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range.

Potter Marsh

At the southern end of the city along the Seward Highway, a boardwalk crosses this wetland, part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. Look for nesting birds, spawning salmon in the creek in summer and the occasional moose.

Beluga Point and Turnagain Arm

South of Potter Marsh, the Seward Highway hugs the shore of Turnagain Arm, a narrow inlet with one of the largest tidal ranges in North America. Pullouts like Beluga Point offer views of the water and peaks, and in summer you may spot beluga whales chasing fish on the incoming tide.

Food and local flavors

Seafood is the star. In summer, look for fresh wild salmon, especially sockeye and king, along with halibut served as fish and chips or grilled, and Alaska king crab legs.

Wild berries grow everywhere in late summer, so watch for blueberry and salmonberry desserts, jams and syrups, as well as birch syrup made from local trees.

Where to stay

Downtown: the most convenient base for first-time visitors, within walking distance of the museum, the Coastal Trail, restaurants and the railroad depot.

Midtown: more practical than scenic, with a wide range of chain lodging, shopping and restaurants.

Spenard and the airport area: handy for early flights and close to Lake Hood, with an eclectic, local feel and plenty of places to eat.

Hillside: bed-and-breakfasts and rentals in the foothills put you closer to Chugach State Park trailheads and views over the city, ideal for hikers.

Best time to visit

Summer, from June through August, is peak season. Days are very long, with more than 19 hours of daylight around the June solstice, trails are clear of snow, salmon are running and every tour operates.

September is a lovely shoulder month, with gold birch leaves, fewer crowds and the first chances to see the northern lights as nights darken. Winter is cold and dark but surprisingly lively.

Getting there and getting around

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, about five miles southwest of downtown, has direct flights from many US cities, with more routes in summer. Taxis, shuttles, rideshares and rental cars are available, and People Mover bus route 40 links the airport with the downtown transit center.

Downtown is compact and walkable, and the Coastal Trail makes cycling easy in summer. For trailheads, Turnagain Arm and Lake Hood, a car is the most practical option.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start at the Log Cabin Visitor Information Center, then spend the late morning at the Anchorage Museum.

Second day

Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center in the morning, timing your arrival for a performance. In the afternoon, drive up to Glen Alps and hike Flattop Mountain.

Third day

Drive the Seward Highway south, stopping at Potter Marsh and Beluga Point, then continue to Girdwood for a hike or the aerial tram up the mountain.

Practical tips

• Book rental cars, railroad seats and summer lodging months in advance; supply runs short in peak season.
• Give moose at least 50 feet of space, and more if they lower their ears or raise their hackles. They injure more people in Alaska than bears do.
• Carry bear spray on trails outside the city center and make noise in thick brush.
• Stay off the mudflats of Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm at all times.
• Pack layers and rain gear year-round; summer days can swing from warm to cool quickly.
• Bring an eye mask for the bright summer nights, and good boots and traction devices in winter.

Find local businesses in Anchorage on WiserMap

From bike rentals and fishing outfitters to cafes and Alaska Native art galleries, find independent Anchorage businesses that can help you plan and enjoy your stay.

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