Biking Kincaid Park

Biking Kincaid Park: Anchorage's Best-Kept Secret for Singletrack and Wildlife

If you only ride one trail system in Anchorage, make it Kincaid Park. Tucked into 1,400 acres on the city's west side, Kincaid packs in nearly 40 miles of trails, some of the best purpose-built singletrack in Alaska, and a genuinely good shot at spotting a moose or two along the way. Whether you're loading up for a full day of laps or just riding out from downtown for the afternoon, here's what to know before you go.

The Trails Inside Kincaid

Kincaid's singletrack network is the reason mountain bikers drive across town for this park. Built and maintained by Singletrack Advocates, it adds up to about 16 miles split across two sections, all cut through rolling boreal forest with berms, jumps, and enough variety to keep intermediate and advanced riders entertained for hours.

South of Raspberry Road is the original network, about 9 miles built in 2011, known for fast, flowy riding with sweeping turns. North of Raspberry Road is the newer 7-mile addition from 2014, accessed mainly off the Middle Earth trail, with a handful of tighter "hot loops" branching off the main line. One trail worth knowing about ahead of time: Bolling Alley, one of the best runs in the park, is one-way and alternates direction by odd and even days, so double check before you drop in.

Beyond the dedicated singletrack, the park has roughly 40 miles of trails overall, ranging from twisty forest paths to wide, grassy doubletrack with big views out toward Cook Inlet. There's terrain here for a mellow cruise and terrain for a legit workout, often on the same ride.

Getting There: Trails That Lead to Kincaid

The main staging area is at the end of Raspberry Road, where a lower parking lot puts you right at the flat ski stadium area and an upper lot sits closer to the chalet. You'll find additional trailheads along Raspberry Road itself, off Jodhpur Road at the west end of Dimond Boulevard, and near Little Campbell Lake by the park entrance.

But if you're staying downtown or just want to make a full day of it, the best approach is to ride in. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs 11 paved miles from downtown Anchorage along the shore of Cook Inlet straight to Kincaid Park, making it one of the most scenic commutes to a trailhead you'll find anywhere. The trail is mostly flat, with just a few hills near the Kincaid end, and it's marked with signposts every half mile, so it's hard to lose your way.

Along the route you'll pass Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, and Point Woronzof, with sweeping views of the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains and, on a clear day, Denali across the inlet. Budget two to four hours if you're riding it out and back at an easy pace, more if you plan to stop and explore.

Wildlife You Might See

This is the part that surprises visitors most: Kincaid is genuinely one of the best places in Anchorage to see moose, all within city limits. Early morning and evening are your best odds, since moose tend to bed down during the warmer parts of the day. In spring, keep an eye out for cow moose traveling with one, two, or even three calves in tow, and give them plenty of space.

Black bears are occasionally seen in the park through summer and fall, particularly along Raspberry Road on the drive in and near the final stretch of the Coastal Trail as it climbs into Kincaid. Bald eagles nest in the park too, so it's worth glancing up now and then. Riders on the Coastal Trail also report occasional coyote sightings and, at high tide, beluga whales offshore.

None of this should keep you off the trail, but it does mean riding smart. Make noise on blind corners, especially in thick brush. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. If you come across a moose on the trail, don't try to push past or crowd it. Give it room and wait, or find another route around. And if you're riding early or late in the day when wildlife is most active, keep your speed in check on tight singletrack so you're not surprising anything around the next bend.

Before You Go

Grab a trail map before your first visit. The north and south trail networks are laid out a bit differently, and knowing which loops connect where will save you some backtracking. Bring layers. Weather off the inlet can shift fast, even on a sunny afternoon. And if you're riding out from downtown on the Coastal Trail, plan your timing around Anchorage's long summer daylight so you're not caught out after dark.

Kincaid Park is proof that you don't have to leave the city to get a real Alaska ride. Between the singletrack, the coastal approach, and the chance of a moose sighting around any given corner, it's worth the trip out to Raspberry Road.