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    Byron Glacier Trailhead

    4.6 (18 reviews)

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    Jeff H.

    This was an easy and beautiful trail. We had to pass through the fly infested forest before reaching the snow bank. We couldn't stop while in the woods or the flies would stick to you. No problems with mosquitoes, only the slow flies! It was a beautiful hike that everyone could enjoy.

    The trail head.
    Amanda S.

    I was googling 'easy trails' and one of the links that came up brought me to Yelp. Based on the reviews, I decided to make this my undertaking today. I have moderate mobility issues; so I research a lot before I do pretty much anything. That said, most of the reviews were on point! I'll start with one inconsistency I found. You should know that as of 03 October 2021, there is no fee to park. I looked for the typical stand with envelopes like many trails have. There isn't one. There is, however, a check in stand without a pen. They ask that you list your information. I'm guessing this is for safety, in case you don't return to the parking lot. As far as parking is concerned, there is only one accessible parking space. The second inconsistency is purely subjective. Many people say this is a flat trail. If you have issues with walking, it's not a flat trail. It has some ups and downs, but they aren't more than ten feet up or down at a time and none of them are steep (which is beneficial). The use of a walker would prove to be quite challenging. Next, bring ice cleats so that you can traverse the ice field. I was able to make my way about a half mile down to (what I'll classify as) the back side of the ice field. There, I found a cave and wandered in to sit and take photos for a bit. Don't stand too quickly, or you'll likely bump your head. The clearance for the cave I found was only about 4' 10". There is mention that the average person can do this three-mile trail in about thirty minutes round trip. I completed it in just over four hours. It's much easier if you take your time and enjoy the scenery. It's worth it.

    Cassie G.

    Super simple hike/walk! It was beautiful & you can continue to walk up the glacier if you are feeling adventurous! Lots of people brought their dogs & kids!

    Shawn P.

    A short, gentle hike up to the base of the slope where the glacier resides (not actually up onto the glacier). The turnaround point provides nice views of the glacier, the debris field, and the surrounding mountains. Good for beginners or the less mobile.

    Andrew H.

    This is a very short, very scenic "hike". It feels weird to even call it a "hike". It's allegedly 1.4 miles, but it feels much shorter, and it's pretty much flat as a cutting board. You'll often see folks pushing a stroller down it in January (I have!) That's not to say, this is not a worthwhile objective, it certainly is! The trail ends in excellent views of the Byron Glacier. If you've got some grit in your gut, you can even hike right up to it. WARNING: I'd be very careful about this in the spring season, as avalanche danger is high back in there. The main feature here for most folks is the glacier REMNANT (more or less an icy husk of a glacier that is no longer moving) that you can walk right up to, and even explore the ice caves of. Tons of braggadocious pictures await! If you have ice climbing experience, this is also a neat place to "ice boulder", instruct newbies, or even setup a top-rope. There are gobs of tourists here in the summer, but almost no one in the winter. The weather is usually pretty bad though. If it's sunny in Anchorage, it's still very often raining here!

    Patrick S.

    Glacier, Glacial or Glaciation...noun, adjective or verb...they are cool! Loved this glacier...its easily accessible and if you are daring and its the right conditions you can concievably hike right up to the glacial morain. We got close but it was so warm that there was still considerable avalanche and rock slide activity. It was a great hike with a beautiful view tho!

    Diana S.

    Family Friendly, Easy Hike!!! Easiest Trail I've encountered so far in Alaska. The beginning trail is flat and well guided, no major hills. If your looking for something easy and fun, this would be the hike for you. (Walk, in my opinion) However, once you reach the end of the trail (you'll know) you can stop and take in the views or continue onward towards the "Glaciers". This would then turn into a Beginners-Intermediate Hike. Theres some scrambling you'd have to do, so watch your footing. I've only gone so far as to the ice cave, which was melted by summer and kinda sketchy as the snow was softer. Overall, the hike forwards is definitely worth it if you've got an adventurous side. Otherwise you can just enjoy the views at the end trail! Hope this was helpful. Level- Easy/Intermediate Time- 30-45 mins/Depending Pacing Clothing- Tennis Shoes/ (Hiking Boots for Glacier) Cleats for Winter

    Helen H.

    The 1.4 mile Byron Glacier Trail is easily accessible. It allows a close-up view of a glacier. There wasn't much to see while we were on the trail except the mountains. A couple members of our party thought we should head back before we even got to the end of the trail, but that would be a mistake. Seeing a glacier is a must while in Alaska, and we got to see one at the end. It wasn't too impressive because it is summer right now, but cool nonetheless.

    Cara H.

    Short hike to ice caves. Saw some people practicing ice climbing. I drank from the pool in one of the caves from the melting glacier...or could have been a spring. Water was really clear. Be careful to hike at end of winter or when temps are high because of avalanche risk.

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    Westchester Lagoon - Arctic Tern

    Westchester Lagoon

    4.7(13 reviews)
    46.9 mi

    I probably spend more time at this park year round than any other park in Anchorage proper. It is…read moreconveniently connected to multiple trails and easy to access on foot from most of West Anch, Spenard, Northstar/Valley of the Moon, Midtown, and Downtown. If you've got a bike, you can connect from even further out very easily. As such, the Lagoon looks a lot like a Gilmore Girls community and is popular with people year round. There are frequently small sponsored events going on- the coolest of which involves ice skating in the winter. I personally love this park because it's a great place to bird watch. It's a fragile breeding ground for aquatic birds (take note dog owners - IT IS NOT OK TO LET YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH HERE OR LET THEM SWIM!) Red Neck Grebes are one if the more unusual arctic birds that breed here. The arctic terns also put on quite a show. Various loons and cranes also make an appearance, as well as some unique ducks. There's also an awesome playground and snack bar for the kiddies. A few years ago they also installed a bike counter that tracks the thousands that use the Tony Knowles at various intervals - it's fun to watch the numbers climb as the season goes on. There's also a free bike maintenance station here. Definitely a great location for lots and tourists alike, but parking is a problem, so carpool or better yet, use the trails!

    This is a park which also goes by the name also known as Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park, is home to a…read moreman-made water fowl sanctuary, a lake, a disc golf course and a playground. They have private parking lots for you to park free of charge. It is located near downtown and is a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of the city. It conveniently lies at the intersection of two of Anchorage's most popular trails, the Tony Knowles and Chester Creek trails. There were many runners traveling through while I was there, going through the two little tunnels that run under the road. You will find benches and picnic tables here to sit around the lake. This is home to lots, I mean lots, lots of waterfowl. They seemed aggressive, so I kept my distance. The disc golf course was nice but was covered in snow and mud. The lake is nice and during the winter is converted to an ice hockey/skating rink. My only complaint is that the park could be a little cleaner, even though part is that could be due to me visiting off-season. There were some maintenance guys there do some other stuff. The park is touted as a great place to bird watch in the spring and you can see other animals such as moose, beaver in the early morning or late evening, muskrats, foxes, otters, and minks, year-round, but it is rare. I did not see any of them. This nature park has a calming kind of peace to it, even though you hear the hum of cars on the nearby road. Just sitting on the bench looking out to the lake was so very soothing. If your schedule permits, I highly recommend visiting this place to just relax and recharge.

    Photos
    Westchester Lagoon - Swan

    Swan

    Westchester Lagoon - The lagoon

    The lagoon

    Westchester Lagoon - Signage

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    Signage

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

    4.8(6 reviews)
    46.9 mi

    Having completed a few 5k's this summer, I was recently re-introduced to this beautiful trail…read moresystem. I agree with other Yelpers when it comes to the trail being secluded and more "in the woods," compared to say, The Tony Knowles trail, which is a favorite of mine. Because of this, you're definitely more likely to see wildlife on this trail, so be bear and moose aware. Carry lots of bug spray. The biggest pro about this trail for me, is all the shallow fresh water access points. Please note, the most secluded parts of this trail are also home to Anchorage's homeless population, so it's best to be aware of your surroundings in general.

    Anchorage's urban trail system is it's biggest asset that no one outside of Anchorage knows about,…read moreand that folks in Anchorage take for granted. This one runs West-to-East. In the west, it starts at Westchester Lagoon and it seems to end at Goose Lake Park in the east. I use a good chunk of it to bike commute. It's nice in that it rarely intersects a road. Where it approaches a main-vain, it tunnels underneath the road. Chester Creek is also very picturesque in parts. It's got a gentle flow, it's lined with trees, and it's dotted with quaint little wooden bridges. It makes me want to sing "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go!" It's decently groomed in the winter, and is the realm of XC skiers and fat bikers, but it can be done with some good waterproof boots, on foot, as well.

    Photos
    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail
    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail - Gross ducks trying to look majestic

    Gross ducks trying to look majestic

    Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

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    Chugach Guides Alaska

    Chugach Guides Alaska

    5.0(4 reviews)
    47.0 mi

    Super Late on this review but finally got to it. We were in Alaska last year for my sister's T4K…read moreRide (http://www.texas4000.org). After she was done we wanted to explore Anchorage a little. After reading about Chugach guides we booked a hike with them. My parents never go hiking or trekking, neither does my wife!!! For them to enjoy this, was a big deal. Sudevi was on time and super cheerful. She is very knowledgable and kept the hike easy for most of the way keeping in mind that my sister just biked 4500 miles from Austin 2 days before. My mom is a botanist so she got to explore her flowers and plants, I like mountains so we got some nice shots. I would highly recommend Sudevi and her company. She was equipped with water and snacks, what else can you ask for.

    I signed up for a day long hike and had the best hike of my life! Luke was our guide. He was…read moreenjoyable to be with and offered education along the way, as well as keeping the conversation going between us. He hiked us up to hidden lake, and then gave us the option to climb to the summit of The Ramp for the most breathtaking view. As a novice hiker, it was certainly a challenge, but the views at the top were spectacular. All in all, 13 miles round trip. Hiking poles, snacks and water were provided. Those poles saved my knees on the way back! I highly recommend this company. I felt I received great value.

    Photos
    Chugach Guides Alaska - Wife & I

    Wife & I

    Chugach Guides Alaska - Counting Dall Sheep

    Counting Dall Sheep

    Chugach Guides Alaska

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    Byron Glacier Trailhead - hiking - Updated May 2026

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