Trail: Swan Lake Canoe Route
National Park: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Features: Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Activities: Boating, non-motorized: Canoeing
Boating, non-motorized: Kayaking
Camping
Dogs - Mushing
Fishing
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Swimming
Wildlife observation - Birds

Miles: 60 miles
Desc: ‘A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.’ With these words, the Congress of the United States defined the general characteristics of a wilderness area. The Kenai Canoe Trails is one of only two wilderness canoe systems established in the United States (the other being Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota). These trails are located within the northwestern section of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, an area of 1.3 million acres, established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 for its outstanding wildlife and recreational values.

The Kenai Canoe Trails are divided into two systems, the Swan Lake and Swanson River Canoe Routes. Both trails are National Recreation Trails. The Swan Lake System is perhaps the most visited of the two systems and contains 30 lakes linked with the main branch and the West Fork of the Moose River in an interconnecting system of waterways and portages. This forms a canoe route of about 60 miles, though many shorter excursions are possible and even likely. The Swanson River Canoe Route lies north of the Swan Lake System and connects 40 lakes with 46 miles of the Swanson River. In total, the Swanson River Canoe Route forms a trail system of just over 80 miles in length.

Besides the lakes directly connected by portages and waterways, this area contains thousands of other lakes which are seldom explored or even seen. The contour of this wilderness is not particularly rugged, but is generally a flat to gently undulating topography of ancient glacial deposits. Surrounding the lakes that are scattered throughout the area are rounded hills and ridges rising up to a maximum of 295 feet in elevation. But the lakes are the most noticeable feature. They drain either directly or indirectly into two systems, the Moose and Swanson Rivers. These are both shallow streams, following meandering paths through poorly-drained swamps and muskeg flats. Both the Moose and the Swanson River also offer interesting floating possibilities.

Trail: Swanson River Canoe Route
National Park: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Features: Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Activities: Boating, non-motorized: Canoeing
Boating, non-motorized: Kayaking
Camping
Dogs - Mushing
Fishing
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Swimming
Wildlife observation - Birds

Miles: 46 miles

Trail: Tony Knowles Coastal
National Park: Municipality of Anchorage
Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 11 miles
Desc: As the name implies, the Coastal Trail hugs the coastlines of Knik Arm and Cook Inlet from 2nd Avenue downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park 10+ miles away. This roundtrip tour starts at Westchester Lagoon (milepost 0), runs north to 2nd Avenue and H Street, then, back to Westchester Lagoon. This section of the Coastal Trail is approximately 1.28 miles in length (one-way) and is not marked by mileposts. The other section of the Coastal Trail is presented separately under ‘Coastal South.’ Click on the map thumbnail for a larger map; use your browsers back button to return. Some highlights of the trail are listed below.
Scenic Views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, Mountain Ranges, the Port of Anchorage, + Sections of Downtown Anchorage
The Alaska Railroad Tracks Parallel the Trail
Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park (Westchester Lagoon), Elderberry Park, + Oscar Anderson House

Bird, Duck, Small Mammal, + Beluga Whale Sightings

Trail: Williwaw Trail
National Park: Chugach National Forest
Features: Creek(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Waterfall(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Roller/Inline Skating
Skateboarding
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals

Elevation: 150 ft
Miles: .5 miles

Trail: Deer Mountain-John Mountain Trail
National Park: Tongass National Forest
Features: Creek(s)
Meadow(s)
Mountain peak(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Waterfall(s)
Wetland(s)
Activities: Camping - Backpacking
Dogs - On leash
Fishing
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Hunting - Big game
Hunting - Bird
Hunting - Archery
Hunting - Small game
Elevation: 3238 ft
Miles: 11 miles
Desc: Towering 3000 feet above the waterfront, the summit of Deer Mountain is one of Ketchikan’s most familiar landmarks. Climbing to the top is also the most popular hike out of Ketchikan, since the trailhead is only .5 mile from downtown. Deer Mountain can be hiked in the better part of a day; although spending 2-3 days to hike the trail from Ketchikan to Silvis Lake is not uncommon.

June through September are the most popular hiking months in southeast Alaska. Upper elevations are often snow-covered until mid June, making the going tough without skis or snowshoes. A clear fall day, without bugs and with autumn alpine color, can be a great time for a trip, providing you are prepared for sudden weather changes.

Trail: Mendenhall Moraine Ecology Trail
National Park: Tongass National Forest
Features: Beach(es)
Creek(s)
Geological feature(s)
Glacier(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Wetland(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Bicycling - Mountain
Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Snow - Showshoeing
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Rockhounding
Snow - Snow play, general
Others
Elevation: 100 ft
Miles: 1.5 miles
Desc: The Moraine Ecology Trail at Mendenhall Glacier takes the traveler back in time to trace the path of plant succession in the wake of the glacier’s retreat. As nitrogen-fixing shrubs give way to mixed forest, the area is active habitat fro birds, a beaver colony, other small mammals and Sitka black-tailed deer. A salmon spawning stream crossed by the trail attracts black and brown bears late in the summer or fall. Hikers can easily see the shape of the landscape carved by the glacier and how plants and animals have colonized it since the glacier’s retreat. Erratic rocks consisting of granite called Diorite have been left by the glacier throughout this trail. There are excellent views available of the glacier and lake in front of it, at times filled with icebergs.

Trail: Mt. Edgecombe
National Park: Tongass National Forest
Features: Mountain peak(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Geological feature(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Camping - Backpacking
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Camping

Difficulty: Difficult
Desc: The Mt. Edgecumbe Trail leads seven miles from a remote ocean beach to the summit of Mt. Edgecumbe, a Mt. Fuji-like volcano that is the scenic centerpiece for Sitka, Alaska.

The trail is located on Kruzof Island about ten miles west of Sitka and is accessible by a half-hour boat ride from the Sitka city docks. At the trailhead, a mooring buoy for boat moorage and a new Forest Service recreation cabin were installed in 2003. (The cabin, Freds Creek Cabin, sleeps eight, and is available for public use through the National Recreation Reservation System). Reconstruction of the entire trail was completed in 2002 using innovative materials and techniques to provide a gravel walking surface that blends seamlessly with the natural environment.

Mt. Edgecumbe Trail begins at Freds Creek cabin in a Sitka Spruce flat. Heading west, it gradually rises, traversing several miles of muskeg alternating with forest. Four miles up the trail at the crook in a small stream, a three-sided Adirondack shelter built from local timbers is available free of charge for hikers. About a mile past the shelter, the trail steepens considerably as it climbs the mountains flank. An English trail construction method known as ’stone pitching’ was used in this section to create a flagstone surface to rehabilitate the heavily eroded trail section. Timberline is reached at about 2000 feet in elevation. The final steep pitch of the mountain slope to the crater rim is covered by red volcanic ash and low-lying vegetation. Above the tree line, trail cedar post cairns lead the way for hikers who may become disoriented in fog or clouds. On a clear day, the panoramic vista from the summit is spectacular.

Mt. Edgecumbe Trail (and the associated Forest Service recreation cabin) offers a unique hiking (and camping) experience for those looking for an Alaskan adventure. Boating; beachcombing; berry picking; the opportunity to view brown bears, Sitka black tail deer, and other wildlife; and a great hike from sea level to a 3000 feet summit makes this a stellar destination.

located on Kruzut Island about 10 miles west of Sitka. Access is by boat or helicopter across Sitka Sound. The trail begins near Freds Creek recreation rental cabin

Trail: Naha River Trail
National Park: Tongass National Forest
Features: Creek(s)
Meadow(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Waterfall(s)
Wetland(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Camping
Camping - Backpacking
Boating, Motorized
Fishing
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Swimming
Hunting - Big game
Hunting - Bird
Hunting - Archery
Hunting - Small game
Snow - Snowboarding
Difficulty: Intermediate
Elevation: 150 ft
Miles: 5.4 miles
Desc: The trail varies from a nearly flat boardwalk over the lower 2.5 miles to a moderately steep grade for the next four miles to Heckman Lake.

June through September are the most popular hiking months in southeast Alaska. Upper elevations are often snow-covered until mid June, making the going tough without skis or snowshoes. A clear fall day, without bugs and with autumn alpine color, can be a great time for a trip, providing you are prepared for sudden weather changes.
60 minutes by car from Ketchikan. The trail starts at he head of Naha Bay from the floating dock and ends at the cabin site at the outlet of Heckman Lake.

Trail: Perseverance Trail
National Park: Div. of State Parks and Outdoor Prog.
Features: Archeo/paleo/historical
Geological feature(s)
Grove(s)
Mountain peak(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Valley(s)/canyon(s)
Waterfall(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Bicycling - Mountain
Camping
Camping - Backpacking
Dogs - On leash
Fishing
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Shooting - Target
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Hunting - Archery
Hunting - Big game
Hunting - Bird
Hunting - Small game
Rock climbing
Rockhounding
Elevation: 1100 ft
Desc: The historic Perseverance Trail started out as the first road in Alaska, providing access from the shores of Gastineau Channel to various mines and mills in the silverbow Basin. Parks of the trail cling to steep cliffs on wooden cribs or rock walls while other parts wind through the northern rainforest and subalpine of the Gold Creek drainage. Over the years the road has turned into one of Juneau’s most heavily used trails because of its smooth gravel tread, spectacular surroundings and easy access by foot from downtown Juneau.
The Perseverance Trailhead is a short walk from downtown Juneau and the cruise ship docks

Trail: Petersburg Lake
National Park: Tongass National Park
Miles: 6.5 miles