Hiking in Anchorage

Few cities in the world can match Anchorage, Alaska when it comes to hiking. With the half-million-acre Chugach State Park bordering the city to the east and an extensive urban trail system winding through parks, greenbelts, and along the coast, Anchorage offers hikers of every ability level an extraordinary range of options. The Flattop Mountain Trail is the most-climbed peak in Alaska, offering stunning panoramic views of the city, Cook Inlet, and Denali on clear days. For a gentler experience, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs eleven miles from downtown along the shore, delivering wildlife sightings and tidal flat views. The Powerline Pass trail takes hikers deep into alpine terrain, while Wolverine Peak and O'Malley Peak reward strong legs with breathtaking summit panoramas. In summer, the extended daylight means you can hit the trail at 9 PM and still have hours of sun ahead of you. Fall hiking brings golden tundra and fewer crowds, while experienced winter hikers enjoy snowshoe and microspike adventures on packed trails. Moose, bears, and eagles are regular companions on Anchorage trails, making every hike a potential wildlife encounter. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or have lived here for decades, our guide to hiking in Anchorage will help you discover trails that showcase the raw beauty of Southcentral Alaska.