Are you arriving Anchorage after a long flight and you crave for nature, you need to move, you want to feel the real Alaska as quickly as possible? Just 12 minutes /6.3 miles from the airport you have access to Kincaid park’s expansive trail system from Raspberry Road.

Kincaid Park — A 1500 acre nature playground

Kincaid Park is a 1500-acre municipal wilderness park that is crisscrossed by a world-class trail system for hiking, biking, but also offers motocross tracks, sand beaches, soccer fields. On the top of the hill there are multiple wide open fields. Around them is the old forest with wide trails that gently meander. You will find benches to sit, and a gorgeous view over Turnagain Arm and over to Fire Island.

Watch out for wildlife!

A fairly dense population of wildlife is living in this habitat and you need to be aware that bear and moose are using these same trails as well. Make noise, take bear spray with you, don’t forget to use your nose and be very careful when you catch the scent of something wild.

Especially the narrower more winding trails may lead you up to a moose. You may spot poop on the trail, or a big animal through the bushed close to you. While moose are used to seeing people on these trails, be extra careful in the month of May through July, when mother moose are very protective about their babies. Always keep an eye out for what big tree you might want to run to and hide, should a moose charge. In fall it’s the bulls are getting competitive and may not like you coming too close.

With nearly 40 miles of walking trails, you will  certainly find a way to go around an animal. Sometimes it means to wait until the animal has moved away, sometimes you will have to turn around and take a different trail.

Stick to the right trails

There are trail signs at the beginning of the trails and off and on at intersections. You can also download a map online to see where you might want to go.

Along the southwestern end of the park is the Coastal Trail. This is another neat way to be active. The Coastal trail is a paved bike and hiking trail. There are bike rental places right in downtown where the trail starts. Unlike the area from Raspberry road, where you really feel right away that you are in pure wilderness, down at the Coastal Trail you hear the big jets take off and land at the airport. The approach is going to be right over your heads.

Kincaid Park from Raspberry Road, either from the Raspberry Road Parking lot, which leads you to smaller trails, or from the stadium parking lot on the top of the hill, which is right next to the first soccer fields and the nice wide trails, is definitely my favorite first stop when coming into Anchorage and needing to feel one with mother nature.