Difficulty
Moderate
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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.
Kincaid Park Trail Maps
- Kincaid Park Trail Map
- Kincaid Park Single Track Map
Getting There
Raspberry Rd
Anchorage, AK 99502
To reach Kincaid Park’s main staging area, take Raspberry Road west until it ends. A lower parking lot gives immediate access to the flat ski stadium area, while the upper parking is closer to the chalet and its restrooms. Other trailheads can be found along Raspberry Road, off Jodphur Road (at the far west end of Dimond Boulevard), and at the end of the road leading to Little Campbell Lake off Raspberry Road at the park entrance. No fee for parking. Note: A gate just west of the Raspberry Road trailhead gets locked each night at about 10 PM.
Photos
Kincaid Park Points
Summer
1
Kincaid Beach: Anchorage's Big Secret Sandy Beach
1 Map
Ashort drive from downtown Anchorage will land you in the middle of Kincaid Park, the jump-off point for this moderate two-mile out and back hike to Anchorage’s only big, sandy beach. If not for the cool Alaska temps, it’d be easy to think you were in Southern California. The sand is fine and very little mars its surface other than the occasional piece of driftwood. Flanked on one side by tall bluffs and on the other by gorgeous viewsof…...more
2
Kincaid Bluff Trail
2 Map
Distance: 6 milesElevation Gain: 300 feet
If you only have alimited amount of time in Anchorage but want go out for agreat hike, consider Kincaid Bluff Trail. Just a20-minute drive from downtown Anchorage, this is a6‑mile loop hike to Kincaid Chalet. Along the way, you’ll find 3miles of rugged trail that skirt the summit of precipitous bluffs at the end of the Anchorage Peninsula.
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Kincaid Park Sand Dunes
3 Map
Agiant sand dune rises into the trees of Kincaid Park near the southwest corner of the Anchorage Bowl. Its brown face of gorgeous speckled grains looms more than 40feet above the surrounding forest floor, presenting apyramid-steep slope that just begs to be climbed. This natural feature is ablast for the whole family, perfect for anybody who has ever delighted in aromp at thebeach.
4
Little Campbell Lake
4 Map
Difficulty: Easy
This is agreat pocket of wilderness right in Anchorage: easy to get to, quiet and pretty idyllic. Set in the northeastern section of Kincaid Park, Little Campbell Lake is packed with lily pads and surrounded by athick forest lined with trails. Spend the afternoon hiking, swimming, fishing, or paddling around thelake.
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Cycling at Kincaid Park
5 Map
If biking on trails through the woods appeals to you, then Kincaid Park is an ideal destination. It features an extensive network of trails perfect for mountain and snow biking. Whether you seek stiff climbs and sharp turns —or if you just want aleisurely outing with family and friends — you can find the perfect cycling route somewhere in the park. While winter does close the main trails to all uses except skiing, there are plenty of snow-season...more
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Hiking, Jogging and Walking in Kincaid Park
6 Map
If you love hiking or walking in amature forest with well appointed trails and interesting geography — including amenagerie of Alaskan wildlife plus access to miles of shoreline — you can’t go wrong in Kincaid Park. With 35 to 40miles of officially maintained trails equipped with map kiosks, plus many unsigned but well-trod single-track paths, the park is aliteral maze. It’s great for every level of intensity — from fitness runners to families...more
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Kincaid Park Soccer Fields
7 Map
Kincaid Park contains afabulous spread of seven regulation-size soccer fields down the hill to the north of the chalet, plus one beautiful soccer stadium with artificial turf to the south. These facilities are popular with leagues and are often reserved for games or tournaments during Alaska’s summer season. But they are open to public use when no games or practices are scheduled.
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Jodphur Motocross Track
8 Map
Perched atop the bluff in Kincaid’s southeast corner, the Jodphur Road Motocross Park is open to dirt bikes on non-race days between April and September. (Hours are 10 am to 8:30pm Wednesday through Sunday.) The 11-acre area features closed tracks over dirt and rock, with some jumping berms and challenging terrain. The facility — along with races and classes for new riders — is maintained by the Anchorage RacingLions.
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Kincaid Archery Range
9 Map
An archery range with targets open to the pubic winds through forest about aquarter mile from the Kincaid Stadium off Raspberry Road, with entrances off the former World Cup Start Area. The facility also features several target ranges open only to members of the local archery organization.
Single Track Trails
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Tower Power Trail
10 Map
Riders will experience faster flow and more banked turns, plus fun features that are built on the side of thetrail.
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Kitchen Sink
11 Map
Accessed from either the Jodhpur parking lot or the corner of Kincaid Rd. and Jodhpur St. (where there is aconvenient pullout).
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Sand Box
12 Map
This section of trail cuts along the back side of the Kincaid Sand Dunes, an area that is open to ATV use from Wednesday through Sunday.
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C $ Express
13 Map
This trail in Kincaid Park leads you into either LTrain or the Bluff Trail. It climbs from the sand dunes up to the ridge, then splits into the descent into Ltrain or continues on along run towards the chalet, with an option to cut left onto the BluffTrail.
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Bolling Alley
14 Map
15
Lee's Train
15 Map
The high banked turns — some that nearly double back on themselves — flow smoothly, and undulating terrain keeps the speed in check while still providing aquick descent if you’re willing to let the bikerun.
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QFB
16 Map
Offers alot of technical features interspersed throughout asmooth run.
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Good Greeff
17 Map
This section of trail used to be known as the “Ridge Trail,” and has some of the best viewpoints of both the Chugach Mountains and CookInlet.
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Toilet Bowl
18 Map
Twisting, curvy addition to the north end of Bolling Alley
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Mighty Bike
19 Map
It gets its name from the scores of young bikers who take part in the Nordic Ski Association’s “Mighty Bike” program during the summer.
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The Bluff Trail
20 Map
Ready for achallenge? Though technically not part of the single track complex, this long trail in Kincaid Park snakes along the edge of the bluff, and is best ridden only by advanced bikers. The views are stunning at points, but with tall grass, logs, and roots crowding the trail it’s best to keep your eyes on the business at hand. Take care not to slide off the edge on afew sandy sections where more than one experienced biker has slipped…...more
Winter
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Kincaid Ski Trails
21 Map
With an astonishing maze of groomed trails over all kinds of terrain — including 12 to 15miles equipped with lights for night skiing — Kincaid Park is the region’s premier destination for cross country skiing. The system ranges from sedate, pastoral loops suitable for families on an outing to demanding expert workouts with hard climbs and screaming descents. This venue has skiing for every level of experience.
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Kincaid Sledding Hill
22 Map
One of the most popular family sled runs in Anchorage yawns down the hill just north of the Kincaid Outdoor Center chalet. Built beside berms that once provided tactical cover for activity in a1950s missile base, the sled area includes some steep drops into agully on the backside. This decently long run features stunning views of Denali and the Alaska Range on cleardays.
Kincaid Park
Call Call
Call Us
Phone (907) 276-4118
Email Address