Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Explore this protected island-dotted sound, where the waters and coastline host an incredible range of wildlife including whales, bears and otters. They also offer package deals that include a shuttle to the top of Flattop Mountain, where you can hike and also ride the bike back down hill to town. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Map & Directions. The first five miles of this 14-mile On the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, the Homer Spit is a long, narrow landform jutting out into the Kachemak Bay. Jan 01 It turns trails into outdoor classrooms., Over the past few years, digital trail counters have been installed throughout the citys trail system that display usage numbers in real time. The trail is deceiving at first, with overgrown and dense trees and bushes but after a short walk it opens up to reveal the sand dunes and beach. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Traversing ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! If youre up for more riding, Anchorage has some other trails you might want ride: Ship Creek Trail (2.6 miles),Campbell Creek Greenbelt (7.5 miles), Goose Lake Park (1.5 miles), and Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail (3.9 miles). Start your trip downtown and travel to Kincaid Park, or vice versa. Gracias. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. And of course, there are the moose. They offer an assortment of bike rentals, including mountain, road, kids and tandem bikes. The trail is relatively flat, though there are three hills on the southern end of the trail. Also at Elderberry Park, visit Marsyes, the planet, or really an interpretive sign about it. So, you could make a day of it by hiking Flattop in the morning and then biking the Coastal Trail in the afternoon or vice versa. Compare that with the growth thats been coming in for the last 50 years. (12/08/22), Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Awards $300,000+ to Support Inclusive Trail Projects Across the Nation (11/14/22), Trail Moments | Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream on the Great American Rail-Trail (11/03/22). Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! In addition, check TripAdvisor for a listing of outdoor guides who offer all kinds of guided adventures, from fishing to hiking to wildlife watching to boat and flight-seeing tours. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. I mean the list goes on. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail; Departure and return. We had a beautiful ride enjoying our moose sighting, a view of Denali, and rainforest scenery. per adult. There was no smoke in the air at all. We rented bikes from Pablos, 2 regular and 4 electric bikes. All rights reserved. Kincaid Grill and Wine Bar (dinner only) serves local game and seafood, steaks, chicken, and salads. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Car, train, or group tour. I put it in one of my water thermos pockets on my backpack, and when I checked a few hours into my hike, it was gone So irresponsible to lose something like that! 2023 Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau DBA Visit Anchorage, William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center, Mountain View, Russian Jack & Airport Heights, Sand Lake, Bayshore & Surrounding Neighborhoods. We rented bikes to ride the trail from downtown to Kincaid Park and back. 29. Whether you snowshoe or walk the trail, see how many of the snow bears you can spot and maybe build your own. With the oldest buildings in Anchorage, relics from the gold rush era, beautiful gardens, mountain scenery, real and active gold claims, Crow Creek Mine can offer a wide variety of . 29. . window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. In winter, the lagoon becomes an ice rink. Visitors can hop on a tourist train to ride north to famed Denali National Park and onward to Fairbanks, or head south to Seward, a popular port for cruise ships. Pro Tip: Pablos has bear spray that you can borrow for free with your bike rental. Planning a trip to Anchorage and my wife & I would like too ride the Tony Knowles Trail. Fortunately, there are several places to rent bikes in downtown Anchorage. Fun way to spend a couple . This is an easy-going, beautiful stroll. Just plan extra time to stop and enjoy the view along the way. What part of the trail would we have the best chance of seeing moose, beluga whales? Home; Map; Light Speed Planet Walk; At this point, you may have already come across some local furred and feathered residents, bald eagles or red foxes, for example. Benches: With Downtown View Catch your breath and soak in the city views as you prepare to enter the more forested section of the trail. It rates up there with any other dirty big city I have been to. I can see very easily how you could lose your wallet in those rocks. Access and parking: Parking is readily available in the parks along the Coastal Trail, including (from north to south): Elderberry Park (1297 W. Fifth Ave.), Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park (1824 W. 15th Ave.), Lyn Ary Park (2009 Foraker Drive), Earthquake Park (5101 Point Woronzof Road), Point Worzonof Overlook (9700 Point Woronzof Road) and Kincaid Park (9401 Raspberry Road). What you arent guaranteed is a view of Denali, which is often covered in clouds. It follows the coastline along the Cook Inlet and gives you the best views of the Inlet, the city skyline, Mt. Sign up for eNews to get monthly updates on trail news, events and success stories from across the country. Notice the heavily armored cottonwood trees and birches with enormous burls. Winter is too long and cold and dark there not to love it. Bear+Whale Viewing, 2 Nat'l Parks, Boutique Hotels. History Happened Here The Snow City Caf specializes in a variety of egg dishes and is open for breakfast and lunch. Here, bald eagles nest and fish, moose and the occasional coyote hang out along the trail, and beluga whales breech in the inlet. Begin at the north end by Ship Creek (2nd Ave. and H St.) and ride through tiny Elderberry Park. Laura Stark On its northern end, the trail also parallels active Alaska Railroad tracks for a short distance, a configuration known as rail-with-trail. Along the trail, you will notice similar signs for planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as Pluto. Photo by:lories tunnel at ARRC. A few miles into the journey, the trailside Earthquake Park shares the heartbreaking story of the natural disaster that rocked the region in 1964. Pro Tip: If you plan to visit Anchorage during peak season, in summer, be sure to reserve your bike in advance. Dogs must legally be kept on-leash. The most challenging spot comes in the last half-mile of the ride, where there is a significant incline leading up to Kincaid Park. Holes in the nearby sandy banks were made by bank swallows carving out nests. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Youll see some old-growth trees in the area that were undisturbed by the quake, including huge cottonwood trees and birches. Also, because you're next to the coast, the tide can be watched coming and going and changing the mudflats constantly. Welcome to This Big Wild World travel blog! 7-10 days is the most common. Its an absolutely stunning place to explore and, yes, there are endless things to do while youre there. The latter blanketed Anchorage in ash during an eruption in 1992. Viator Exclusive: Go eBike Alaska on Tony Knowles Trail, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Scenic Bike Tour, Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Experience. All rights reserved. Photo Gallery:See our collections of images. Click here for printable version of the map. Arriving at the lake was a nice surprise and found it equally beautiful with bikers, kayakers, and dog walkers. All Rights Reserved. Toward the southern end of the trail, travelers will find three notable hills as they approach Earthquake Park, Point Woronzof and Kincaid Park. There are bike rentals available with Downtown Bicycle Rental, or you can join a guided tour with Alaska Trail Guides. Go early before it gets too crowded. From the lagoon, wind south across Fish Creek, which is crossed via a short wooden bridge. Washington, DC 20037Phone: 202.331.9696 Stretching between Kincaid Park on the south end and where the railroad meets the sea at Ship Creek on the north end, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail was named for a man who was both a mayor of the city as well as state governor (not simultaneously). And, yes, I hadnt biked much this year which left my legs somewhere less than in shape for a 22 mile ride. Leave the bustling city behind, and explore a local treasure that tells a long tale of natural and human history. Built in 1916, the restored hotel is right downtown and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Save it for later or share it on social media! It's an 11-mile trek that stretches from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. It surprises many travelers to Alaska that the urban Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is one of the best places to see wildlife in Anchorage. We rode along at a moderate pace and only made it down to the airport clearing before we had to turn around so we did not run over our rental duration. Maggie's brother Peter, is one of the caretakers for the wooded area and mentioned a few years back that the snow along the trail would be perfect to make snowmen to add something fun along the path. The owner was a man who claimed to be the 18th person to arrive in the Tent City at Ship Creek, which was the site of the first railroad hub. Great bikes and excellent service, Hola vamos a viajar en septiembre en barco y llega al puerto el 3/9. If youre lucky like I was you may get to see paragliders taking flight! This is a great place to enjoy skyline views of Anchorage, watch airplanes take off from Ted Stevens International Airport, and even spot whales. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Scenic Bike Tour. How to Hike Flattop Mountain Trail in Anchorage, 13 Beautiful Places to Stop When Driving from Anchorage to Seward, Best Things to Do in Anchorage in September, Incredible Things to Do in Seward Alaska in September. Other wildlife arent far away, including foxes, wolves, bears, sea otters, and a host of seabirds. Seasons:All Year You are immersed in wildlife. Pull over here to try your skills at the outdoor workout station. Amecca for outdoor sports of all kinds in awilderness-like setting, Kincaid Park offers the easiest way to get deep in the woods right in town. I need to come cycling with you to get your moose luck! Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. What can I do in the evening in Anchorage? Yes! Does the rental car need to be four-wheel drive? Load Rent bikes from Alaska Pablos near the north end of the trail. The park commemorates this tragedy and the lives lost with interpretative signage and artwork. For context, entire cities were permanently raised and lowered by several feet as a result of this earthquake!! What can I do in Alaska during a spring visit? comments, Albion Falls in Hamilton might be the prettiest waterfall in the Toronto area, People who lost baggage on Air Canada being told by police to contact TikTok influencer, Jordan Station is a picturesque small town in Ontario full of hidden gems, Porter Airlines will soon fly from Toronto to two different airports in Montreal, White River in Ontario is the birthplace of the world's most beloved bear, Milton Ontario might be the perfect blend of small town charm and nature escapes, Tiffany Falls is a breathtaking cascade hidden in a forest, 5 small towns in Ontario for your next road trip. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Youre almost guaranteed some wildlife sightings in the park, including brown bears, moose, wolves, and more, not to mention some of the most awesome scenery in the world. The trail is a multi-use trail, which you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, or walk on. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs through it and the area has spectacular views of the inlet and surrounding mountain ranges. Volcano Vantage: Breaks in the trees along the trail reveal views of some of Alaska's living volcanoes, including Mt. I would highly recommend renting them for 4 hours so that you can go all the way down the trail and see more wildlife than we did. We rented an e-bike from Pablo's (highly recommend) to ride the trail round trip, ~22 miles. From epic hikes around the world to adventures closer to my home in Minnesota, Im here to help you discover what adventure means to you! I remember a lot of places in Alaska renting it to people, like at hostels, but never saw it for free. Its a popular place, so get there early. Viator Exclusive: Go eBike Alaska on Tony Knowles Trail. Anchorage Museum has an eclectic mix of art, culture, science, history, and natural history exhibits. Pablo's Bicycyle Rentals, 1 block from Elderberry Park. The starting point for the planet walk is the Sun, at 5th Avenue and G Street; the rest of the planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are located along 5th Avenue and run from east to west toward the trail. Shortly after Earthquake Park, around milepost 6, is the airport at Woronzof Point. Theres literally no escaping it, even in the city of Anchorage. As youre biking the Coastal Trail, just before the final half mile ascent (around mile marker 10) there is a dirt path that will take you to this hidden gem. According to the Anchorage Police Department, the individual who was attacked suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries. A notice said an adult black bear made contact with a hiker around mile 7 of the trail. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins, Cross Country Skiing on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. You can bike, walk or jog this amazing trail that goes along the shoreline of Anchorage. We got an early start on a sunny Sunday morning. Rest on boulders brought in from the Chugiak Range (to the east) while viewing the immense mountains of the Alaska Range (to the north). Tourism Downtown Bicycle Rentals is another venue, on 4th Avenue between C and D streets. At high tide, its not uncommon to see Beluga whales in the water along the Coastal Trail. Big ship or small ship? The Semiahmoo Parkway Trail blends the beauty of the Pacific Northwest's famous landscapes in one trip. Theyve been voted best breakfast in Anchorage since 2003! The mud might look fun to walk in, but if you stand still while the water drains out, it may set up like concrete and not release it's hold until the tide has come in over your head. Bike Tours. Take a short side trek on the spur trail to distinguish between thick white spruce on one side of the trail and scraggly black spruce on the other. An Anchorage Police Department patrolman turning people back from the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail near Point Woronzof at around 8 p.m. said a "large black bear" had attacked a woman between there and the end of the east-west runway at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. For emergencies within the park, call the Parks Canada dispatch service at 1-877-852-3100. After earthquake Park, call the Parks Canada dispatch service at 1-877-852-3100 Wine Bar ( dinner only ) serves game. Other dirty big city I have been to of this earthquake! and host. History, and explore a local treasure that tells a long tale of natural and human history moose luck walk! Does the rental car need to be four-wheel drive events and success stories from across the country escaping... 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