| Kincaid Park Chalet
Paved Bike
Trails
Bike Trail Along Raspberry Road: Round trip 4 mile
Difficulty: Easy
The trail is paved and lit. Despite running along
Raspberry Road, the trail is quiet and secluded. From Chalet, cross
the Raspberry Road, and you will be on the Bike Trail. From Chlet to the
park entrance is a gradual down slope. 2 Miles one way.
Bike Trail Tony Knowles Coastal Trail: 10.2 mile to downtown
Difficulty: Easy
Kincaid Park is also the start of Tony Knowles coastal trail,
named after Tony Knowles, a past Anchorage Mayor (1981-1987) and
Alaska Govenor (1994-2002). As the name suggests, the trail
starts from Chalet toward coast. The trail is paved, but
no lights. The first mile is a down hill slope. After that
the trail goes along the coast. Go as long as you want. There is a
mile marker every half miles.
Ski Trail
Loops
Mize Loop: 2.4 mile, + Arlene's Way 1.2
mile
Difficulty: moderate ups and downs
Mize Loop is Alaska Outdoor's offcial adopted Trail.
From May to October, we hike once a month and pick up trashes.
Direction
Mize Loop starts from the north end of the stadium on the 2nd
right going into woods. At the start of the trail, there is a
sign. This trail is also maintained by Alaska Outdoors, during May to
October. Afther passing the Elliot's climb on your right, the trail goes
down to the Viola Swamp. This is the lowest part of the trail, and as the
name suggests, the trail is often wet. In early spring, the entire area
may form a lake. After passing the swamp, the
trail winds left and right and goes up slope gradually. Right after
you passed a Sharwood forest trail maker, you will find
a sign "Alex Sission Trail.", and a sign Arlene's Way to Sission
Trail.
The trail on right is called
Arlene's Way. Arlene's way is a 1.2 mile
loop adding to the Mize Loop. The Arlene's Loop gradually down
slopes right passing a broken fence. The fence is a boundary
between Municiparity and Airport. The trail further bends left down
to an intersection where you will find a sign "Ski for Women cutoff."
Right trail is the entrance to the Alex Sission Trail
system, a very flat trail circling around gravel pit. You can
add one more .3 mile loop that goes down to a pit and come back.
Take straight route, and turn up slope trail left. From here, Alrene's Way goes straight back to Mize
Loop. Take right to continue Mize
Loop.
From here, the trail ups and down and 90 degree turn right
to another intersection. Left trail is a short-cut to Chalet and
Stadium. On right, the Mize Loop continues to Inlet view. This is a
good view part of the trail. The trail goes up slope (called Puffin Climb)
to Cook Inlet view. Hair pin curve to Pia-Margrethe's Overlook with
flower garden. The overlook and garden was named after a young Alaska
outdoor enthusiast and student. Enjoy flowers and overview of Cook
Inlet. From here trail goes down the slope, pass
Melissa's way short cut, and reach Arlene's
Overlook. From the Overlook, the trail goes down
again and gradually goes up to Chalet. To complete Mize Loop, take a left
trail at the intersection and left again backing to the
forest. The trail circumbents newly built soccer fields and
takes you back to the studiam.
Margaux's Loop: 3.6 miles
Difficulty: moderate ups and downs
Margaux's Loop is named in memory of Margaux Menaker
(1982-1995) who was an enthusiastic biathlete killed in an
unfortunate accident. The trail goes both north and
south side of Raspberry Road. It has many ups and downs. The
trail mostly goes through the birch and cottonwood forests. Observe the
change of vesgitations. The trail is well marked with wood sign
showing a direction.
Direction
The trail starts right below the parinking lot at the Stadium, a
wide trail left of the Margaux Menaker Memorial Garden. As trail
goes side of a hill, take the down hill trails straight ahead. As trail
descends and bends right, it goes around a wet area on rigt. As trail goes
upslope, take left trail straight to the Lower tunnel under the Raspberry
Rd. The trail leads to a newly constructed Biathlon range. The
trail contintues on your left wtih a sign. Tthe trail gradually
goes upslope to the Mountain View section. As the name says, when wether
is good, you should see Chugachi mountains in front you. As you
pass the top of the Moutntain View, the trail decends down the left to Upper
Tunnel. For short cut, take this tunnel and back to the Stadium.
To continute the loop, take the right down
trail. As this trail bends down to left, you are going to the steep
dwon slope trail, Little Niagra. At the next intersection as you go up the
trail, take left trail following the sign. The trail will take you to a
bridge. Cross the bridge, following sign, take left down slope
trail. As the trail bends right , it starts gradual
uphill through woods and some clearing area. As you pass
the next sign, you are entering Burky's Cimb through beautiufl cotton wood
and birch wood forest. At the end of the gradual up slope,
you reah an open area, named as World Cup Start Area. From here,
the trail goes back to forest again with series of small up and down hills and
back to the Stadium.
World Cup Loop: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: moderate ups and downs
Attraction of Kincaid Park is connecting varieties of
trails. This World Cup Loop combines Elliot's Climb and Easy
Street and return back the north side of the Margaux's Loop. The Loop goes
bewteen Chalet and Raspberry Parking lot. So, you can start from the
Raspberry Parking lot.
Direction
The trail starts at the North end on the Stadium, Mize Loop
Trail entrance. As you enter the trail take first right,
Elliot's Climb trail. This trail is wider than Mize Loop Trail. The
trail gradually goes straight half mile uphill reaching the World Cup Start
area. At the opposite end of the Start area, you will see a trail Easy
Street. As the trail bends right, it gradually discends through the the
woods. At the bottom of the trail is a four corner, Lake loop, Inner Lake
Loop. Take an upslope trail to a direction of Raspberry Parking Lot.
At next T-intersection, take a right trail directing toward Brigdge.
At next intersection, take right trail away from the bridge. Now, you
are on the Margaux's Loop. Follow the Margaux's sign toward the
Stadium.
Andrew Lekish Trail: 4.7 miles
Difficulty: Severe Ups and Downs
Andrew Lekish Trail System consists of series of
little loops totaling 7.5 km (4.7 miles). It has many steep ups and
downs. In reward, the trail provides beautiful
view of Cook Inet and Denali Mountains.
Direction
The trail starts from the tunnel going under the Raspberry
Rd. After going the tunnel, Lekish trail goes right uphill.
Passing two side trails, the trail gradually climbing up and bends right down
and quickly bends up left. At intersection, take right trail further up
to the first shortcut. A sign 1.3 km arrow
pointing right trail will take you back to Chalet. Left up slope trail will
takes you toward Inlet. The trail winds left-right and up-down and
climbing up toward Inlet. The trail turns sharp right continues winding
ups and downs, and reaches to the second shortcut. A sign 2.9 km arrow pointing right trail will take you back to
Chalet. Continue the left sharp upslope trail. As trail reaches highest point, there is a foot path leading to the
Cook Inlet. Go this foot path to view Cook Inlet. On right, you will see
Turnagain Arm, Potter Marsh, Seward Highway. In front
of you is a vast Cook Inlet. After taking
a break, go back to the trail. From here, trail goes down
straight, hairpin curve left to up hill again toward the Inlet. Pay
attention to a small side trail that will take you a cliff for another view of
Inlet. As trail goes back to Chalet side, you
will reach the first overlook point toward Airport and
Chalet. When weather is good, you can see Denali
in front of you. From here, the trail follows a ridge line gradually
descends to a T-intersection and the 3rd short
cut. A sign 5 km arrow pointing right trail will take you back to
Chalet. Take left trail and you will reach the 2nd overlook.
From here, the trail ups gradually, takes sharp right hairpin turn, and start
descending all the way down. At the bottom, the trail turns right
straight for 1/4 miles. As trail makes sharp turn right, it
starts ascending again pararelling with Coastal Trail. At the
T-intersection, take left trail that gradually ascent. As the
trail makes sharp turn left, it downs steeply to a Biathlon Range
to Chalet. By this time you may have had enough ups and downs to go
back to Chalet. However, to continue the last section of the trail, look
for a uphill trail right as you pass the Biathlon Range. The trail
goes ups and downs through woods. As you exit the woods, take right to the
tunnel where you started.
Hiking Trails
Coastal Bluff Trail: 1.7 mile from beach to
sand dune.
Coastal Bluff Trail is a hidden trail along with
the coastal Bluff from beach to sand dune. It is short.
But, steep ups and downs will take more time. It offers beartiful views of
Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. Note, wearing a hiking boots is
recommended on this trail.
Direction
From the Chalet, cross Raspberry Road and take the Lekish Trail
toward Tunnel. Instead of going down to the tunnel, take the right upslope
trail toward woods. At the folk, take left upslope short trail. From here,
take rigt trail. After the trail curves around a small hill and
start descending toward coast, look for a narrow but established trail starting
at left ridge. This narrow trail goes straight on the ridge and take you a
bluff ridge. A trail going to left will take you a beach, and right
trai will take you a sand dune.
1. Trail to beach course
The right trail to the Kincaid Park beach is a series of steep
decending into woods and steep up slope to a grassy overview
hill. While you are going in the woods, there are several side
trails that generally goes down to beach. When you come to a fork, rule of
thumb is to take a trail that goes up hill. There are
several cliff view points and an over view bench. In mid-summer grasses at
overhill trail becomes tall and dense, making it difficult to find a
trail. After half miles of ups and downs, you will fnally be hiking
on a bluff ridge, wide view of Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. And then, you
make steep descend down to the beach. Well, we are talking about beach
Alaskan standard. No white sands and blue water. Instead, muddy dark silt
and browm ocean. At low tide, you will see miles of muddy silts and
no water. Stay at dry beach area. Don't venture out to the
silts. You will get stuck!!
From here you have several routes going back
to Chalet.
1. Go further down the beach, and you will find a on
right. This trail will cross a marsh and connect to the Coastal trail.
2. Go back to the cliff trail you just came down.
There is a trail left into a woods. The trail forks. Left
trail connects to the Coastal trail. Right trail
connects to the Lekish Trail.
Once at the trail, take right up hill trail. Up on the
trail, take left narrow uphill trail to the top of a hill. Enjoy the
view. You can see Denali and Chalet. In front, you
will see another trail down below. Take this trail down right (toward
Chalet). At the bottom of this descending straight trail, there is a
narrow trail on left. This narrow trail connects to the Coastal trail back
to Chalet.
2. Trail to Sand Dune course
Take the over the bluff left trail and trail forks one
on straight and left goes woods. Both trails meets
later. So, let's take left trail. This trail sharply discends
and turns right goes up to a ridge. Going at ridge, you will see
a descending trail on right. This is the one coming from the ridge.
Continue hiking ridge up hill. The trail turns left steep
uphill. At end, trail forks. Take left ridge trail that goes down
hill and turns right. As you go this relatively flat winding
trail through the woods, you may hear buggy mortor sounds. As you go out
the woods, you will face a wall of sand in front of you. Yes, you are
going up this wall to the top. You are now on the top of a sand
dune. Down below you may see mortor cycles runing the sand pit. This
sand pit is accessible from Kincaid park, Jodhpur entrance. After
enjoyed the view, walk on the ridge of the sand dune, and you will find a trail
right to the coastal edge of the sand dune. From there, the trail goes right
along the coastal ridge. The trail goes through woods and meets the fork
you came before. From here, take left trail back to where you came
from. When you came to the second fork, left trail goes down to
grassy area, let's take the left trail. After you pass the grass, the
trail goes up steep to the ridge overseeing Cook Inlet. Take a right trail going
the ridge. After passing first right trail to the edge of the ridge, you
will find a right trail where we came initially. Take this trail
back to the ski trail and to the Chalet. Of course, you can keep
going the ridge to the beach, too.
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