Valley of the Moon Park

Valley of the Moon Park occupies 21 acres along the Chester Creek Greenbelt in the heart of Anchorage's midtown, between W 17th and W 18th avenues near Arctic Boulevard. It is one of the city's most-visited parks, drawing more than 100,000 visitors each summer — and once you've been, it's easy to see why.

The park's signature is its vintage rocket ship playground, a multi-story steel structure that has been a neighborhood fixture for decades. Its climbing platforms, slides, and open-frame design are scaled for older children and confident young climbers. A separate play area features equipment sized for toddlers, so families with kids of different ages can spread across both zones without anyone feeling left out.

Beyond the playground, Valley of the Moon has everything a full day at the park requires. Several covered picnic shelters are available first-come or by advance reservation through the Municipality of Anchorage Parks office — making it a reliable spot for birthday parties and family gatherings even when the weather turns unpredictable. A community garden operates on the east side of the park, and a fenced off-leash dog area gives four-legged visitors their own space to run.

The park connects directly to Chester Creek Trail, Anchorage's paved multi-use path running east-west through the city from the Coastal Trail to the Chugach foothills. Cyclists, joggers, and rollerbladers pass through all summer, and the trail connection makes Valley of the Moon a natural midpoint stop on longer rides or walks across the city.

Admission is free. The park is open daily during daylight hours. Street parking is available along W 17th and W 18th avenues, and the park is accessible by public transit via Arctic Boulevard. Named loosely after Jack London's Sonoma Valley landscapes, Valley of the Moon has grown into something distinctly Anchorage — a neighborhood gathering place that feels genuinely alive on a long summer afternoon.