Looking for toddler hiking trails in Anchorage, Alaska? Explorer mom Brenda from @brenda.h.ak has shared with us her favourite toddler hiking trails in Anchorage. Here are some trails for you to check out on your next Alaskan adventure:
The Best Hikes in Anchorage for Toddlers
Here are my top picks for the best hikes with toddlers in Anchorage, Alaska, as a mom who has explored many of them!
1. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a 19-mile out-and-back paved multi-use trail with several access points. We love this trail for biking, walking, or xc skiing in the winter, with amazing coastal views.
2. Potters Marsh Boardwalk
Potter’s Marsh Boardwalk is a great first “hike” for new walkers. It has several benches to stop at for a break! This one-mile loop is great for bird-watching and seeing some of Alaska’s wildlife. There are bathrooms at the trailhead.
3. The Turnagain Arm Trail
The Turnagain Arm Trail: Rainbow trailhead to Windy Corner trailhead is a beautiful 4-mile out-and-back trail with views of the Turnagain Arm. This trail gets a little narrow in spots, with a few small creek crossings and a slight elevation gain at the beginning, but it flattens out at the top. We enjoy this trail more in the early spring or late fall, as it gets overgrown in spots.
4. Eagle River Nature Center
There are several trails here that make you feel more remote than you actually are; however, there is limited to no cell service out here. Two of the shorter hikes are the 1-mile Rodak Nature Loop and the 3.3-mile Albert Loop trail, both of which have amazing Mountain views. Bears and moose are also more common at the Nature Center. Heavy-duty strollers may work for part of the first part of these trails.
5. Barbara Falls
Barbara Falls is an amazing 1.3-mile hike with minimal elevation gain to a beautiful waterfall. At the bridge, you can walk down the trail to the waterfall's base or continue over the bridge to the waterfall lookout. The parking is in a neighborhood, so please respect the parking signs.
6. Arctic Valley
Arctic Valley: Mount Gordon Lyons to the saddle. If you’re wanting to start building those hiking legs and try out a little more incline, hiking up to the “saddle” in Artic Valley between Mount Gordon Lyons and Rendezvous is the perfect trail with amazing views! This trail is about 2.5 miles RT with an elevation gain of about 800 ft. The drive up is beautiful; however, the road is unpaved bumpy at times. As with any hikes outside, please be aware of wildlife, especially moose and bears here in Alaska!
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