Pedaling Alaska: Coastal Trails, Glacier Views, and Rides Worth the Trip
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage is the place most locals will send you first, and for good reason. It connects downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park along the waterfront, and on a clear day the water beside you looks like glass with the Alaska Range behind it. The trail is paved, it's popular, and it's the kind of ride that feels scenic without demanding anything technical from you. It's one of those routes that earns its reputation.
Out in Portage Valley, the Trail of Blue Ice offers something else entirely. The name tells you what you're riding toward: glacier country, where the landscape turns blue-gray and enormous. It's listed among Alaska's best bike trails, and the visual payoff per mile of effort is hard to beat. If you're making the drive south from Anchorage, this is the trail to put on your list.
For folks who want more miles and more variety, the Campbell Tract Special Recreation Management Area in Anchorage features a 12-mile trail system winding through woods on unpaved trails. It also links to the adjacent 4,000-acre Far North area, so there's room to wander. The trails are open year-round, which makes Campbell Tract a reliable option outside of summer.
Where Alaska Cyclists Actually Ride
Alaska cycling is not one single type of terrain. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is paved and relatively flat, which makes it approachable for beginners and great for kids who are just getting their trail legs. Campbell Tract is unpaved, which means you'll want something sturdier than a hybrid if conditions are wet or soft. Fat tire biking, popular across the state, gives you traction on loose or snowy ground that a standard tire simply can't manage.
Denali National Park's Park Road is in a category of its own. It's noted specifically for experienced riders, and it deserves that label. The road is long, remote, and exposed. Save it for when you've put some real miles behind you and you know how your body handles a full day in the saddle.
The Steese National Conservation Area offers biking among its recreational options, alongside camping and climbing. It's a wider, wilder kind of landscape than you'll find closer to Anchorage. If you're the type who wants the trail to feel earned, that area delivers.
Riding with a Local: Guide Companies Worth Knowing
Two Anchorage-based companies stand out for cyclists who want local knowledge built into the trip. Alaska Trail Guides runs all-inclusive, small-group biking tours based out of Anchorage, covering the city and its surroundings. Small groups mean you're not lost in a crowd, and all-inclusive means fewer logistics to manage yourself. That matters when you're already navigating a state you don't know well.
Alaskabike is locally owned and run by Alaskans, which shapes what they offer. They make a point of going beyond the most well-known spots, the routes that outside companies tend to default to. If you want to see Alaska the way someone who actually lives there would show it to you, that's the difference they're describing. Both companies feature local guides across their tours.
For women planning this trip solo or with a daughter, guided options lower the barrier considerably. You don't have to figure out trailheads, shuttles, or gear rental from scratch. You show up, and someone who knows the place takes it from there.
Moreok Waterproof Winter Gloves, Touchscreen
Gear Tips for Cycling in Alaska
Alaska's weather does not commit to one season the way other states do. Even in summer, temperatures can drop fast, and rain is a regular part of the picture across much of the state. Layering is not optional. Start with a moisture-wicking base, add an insulating mid-layer, and keep a wind and waterproof shell accessible. You will use it.
Your tire choice matters more here than it would in most states. For paved trails like the Coastal Trail, a standard road or hybrid tire works fine. For unpaved trails at Campbell Tract or in more remote areas, a wider, knobby tire gives you the grip you need. Fat tire bikes, built for exactly this kind of terrain and these kinds of conditions, are widely rented through local outfitters in Anchorage if you're not traveling with your own bike.
A helmet is non-negotiable, and gloves are worth adding even in summer. Padded shorts make a real difference on longer rides. Carry more water than you think you need. Trailheads with services are not a given in Alaska, so pack as if they won't be there.