Anchorage

When to come?: 

The best time of year to visit Anchorage for most outdoor activity is the summer - long days that really never get that dark around the solstice, cool weather, and the city likes to play outdoors. Of course, if you're into cross country skiing or ski-joring, winter would be a lot better.

What to do if you have a sunny Saturday?: 

Anchorage is a great town to ride a comfort or hybrid bike around on the bike paths - two of the best are the Bird-to-Gird trail on the Seward Highway south of town, and the Tony Knowles Coastal Path near downtown.

Just outside of town on the Glenn Highway in Eagle River, you can visit Thunderbird Falls for a hike. In the same area, you can spend a whole day out at Eklutna Lake - do the bike and paddle package trip on the lake, where you ride a mountain bike out on the trail, but paddle back in a canoe or kayak.

Where can I go to get out away from the city, without driving too far?: 

One of the best places to get away from the city is Turnagain Pass on the Seward Highway - you can keep going all the way down the Kenai Peninsula, but near the pass you have access to lots of good hiking trails and campgrounds without much in the way of development.

What are some great weekend getaways?: 

Really, any direction you drive out of Anchorage will be great once you get past the sprawl. Some great places to go are Seward and the Denali State Park within about 2 and a half hours to the south and the north.

Hiking
Hiking: 

For more information about the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Chester Creek Greenbelt, Ship Creek Greenbelt, and Campbell Creek Greenbelt, visit http://www.trailsofanchorage.com/

Trails: 

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is an 11-mile long paved, multi-use trail along the coast of Anchorage, Alaska. The smooth asphalt is good for bicycling, inline skating, jogging, walking, or cross-country skiing in the winter. This is one of the most heavily used trails in the Anchorage area, so you probably won't be alone.

The trail starts in Kincaid Park and ends in downtown Anchorage off of W. 2nd Street.

11.00miles
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Chester Creek Greenbelt

The Chester Creek Greenbelt in Anchorage, Alaska, connects Goose Lake to the Westchester Lagoon along Chester Creek. It makes for a nice way to get out from downtown, and has less mosquitoes than the Coastal Trail.

4.00miles

Campbell Creek Greenbelt

The Campbell Creek Greenbelt runs from midtown Anchorage at Tudor to Dimond Boulevard near the Turnagain Arm, offering another option for bicycling in the city.The path is 7 miles long, and follows the creek for much of the way.

7.00miles

Thunderbird Falls

Thunderbird Falls Trail is an easy day hike in Chugach State Park right off the Glenn Highway out of Anchorage. This trail leads to an overlook of a tall waterfall, along with a viewpoint of the canyon at mid-trail. The trail is 1 mile out and 1 mile back.

1.00miles
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Running
When is the major marathon?: 
Alaska's biggest marathon is the Mayor's Marathon, which is always held in June on a Saturday near the summer solstice. Anchorage also has the Big Wild Life Run Marathon, which is a little smaller, in August. Both events also have half marathons.
Running Races: 

Mayor's Marathon - Anchorage, Alaska

The Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage Alaska is always held on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice.

The race uses an incredibly scenic and varied course with a wide variety of surfaces.

Date: 
Sat, 2010-06-19
Length: 
26.20miles
Pictures: 
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Lengths: 
26.20miles
13.10miles
Race Types: 
Running race
Half Marathon
Marathon

Big Wild Life Runs - Anchorage, Alaska

The Big Wild Life Runs marathon in Anchorage, Alaska (formerly known as Humpy's, after a sponsor) is a little different from the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage. The Big Wild Life Runs marathon is more of an out and back format, and uses Anchorage's paved bike paths - the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and the Chester Creek Greenbelt.

New for 2010, the course winds through downtown Anchorage first, showing off a little of the city and giving spectators more of a chance to see the race.

The race is usually held in the middle of August.

Date: 
Sun, 2010-08-15
Length: 
26.20miles
Pictures: 
Race Types: 
Running race
Half Marathon
Marathon
Where can I get a running event schedule?: 

You can get a running calendar for Anchorage from the Anchorage Running Club's web site at http://www.anchoragerunningclub.org/

Parks: 
Earthquake Park
Resolution Park
Kincaid Park
Westchester Lagoon
Road Biking: 
Anchorage Road Biking