Kincaid Park

Kincaid Park offers a mecca for outdoor sports of all kinds in a wilderness-like setting on the site of a former Cold War missile base. This 1,500-acre park sprawls over an ancient and rugged moraine at the southwest tip of the Anchorage Bowl at the west end of Raspberry Road. From its panoramic views of Denali and the vast Cook Inlet to its intimate deep woods enclaves, the park is crisscrossed by a world-class trail system usable all year round. It’s not just about trails You can stroll, hike, run or cycle. You can jog or bike through single-track mazes. You toss discs on the city’s best 18-hole course or practice soccer on one of seven grassy fields. You can fish for stocked rainbow trout or paddle a quiet lake. You can practice archery on a designated range, engage in Hundesport dog training or gun your engines on a motocross course. You can bound down the region’s largest active sand dune or follow a goat-trail path along spectacular 300-foot bluff. You can explore the woods in search of wildlife: Moose proliferate, black bear abound, and bald eagles cry. Come winter, the extensive trail system morphs into the region’s most popular destination for cross country skiing. With nearly 40 miles of groomed trails—including at least 12 miles lighted at night—you can ski for hours over terrain that varies from pastoral beginner to screaming-descent expert. As Anchorage’s premier ski racing venue, Kincaid has hosted dozens of major ski competitions, including U.S. National Championships and Olympic trials. And yet, local recreational skiers and families love Kincaid for its many leisurely and scenic routes. It is where thousands of Anchorage kids learned to ski. Wildlife viewing With its open glades and rugged terrain, Kincaid Park is prime habitat for moose, black bears and other Alaska wildlife at home in the forest. The trail network makes it easy to get deep into the woods. Watch for moose in summer along the grassy trails, particularly in the spring when cows give birth to their calves. Black bears will feed in the open. The stands of mature birch and spruce concentrate nesting birds. Along the coast, bald eagles soar. It’s not uncommon to spy beluga whales traversing the flats between the Kincaid beach and Fire Island during higher tides.