Alaska is well-known for its glaciers, fjords, majestic mountains, lakes, rivers, and waterways.
Alaska features national parks the size of countries and icebergs the height of skyscrapers.
Discover the best bike trails in Alaska with hand-curated driving directions and images from hikers, campers, and nature enthusiasts like you.
Alaska has some of the best bike-friendly paths to discover among its scenic beauty.
There’s more to view on gravel roads and trails, including mountain lookouts over the coast, so rent or convey a mountain bike for the whole adventure.
Rundown of the top 17 bike trails in Alaska
Here are some of our favored bike trails in Alaska that are larger than California, Texas, and Montana combined. There will undoubtedly be more.
1. Tsalteshi Pathways
Tsalteshi Trails has two trailheads just south of Soldotna.
The trail system is extensive and ideal for group biking. The path comprises eight main loops from one to six miles and in difficulty, with several linking loops.
However, the trails are still under construction to create new routes. The majority of paths involve winding climbs and descents bordered by dense vegetation.
The area is larger than the maps indicate. The paths are divided into difficulty levels ranging from very steep to almost flat, providing bikers with possibilities.
Address: Soldotna, AK 99669, United States
2. Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River State Recreation Area, with 397 square miles of forests, rivers, and alpine tundra, is one of the best bike trails in Alaska for all seasons.
The park tracks the Chena River, a clear-flowing, class I-II river perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing for arctic grayling.
Mountain cyclists will discover the location brimming with opportunities because it is open all year. More bikers are doing winter riding now that fat bikes are so popular.
In general, there are significant gaps between snowfalls in Alaska’s interior during winter, allowing bikers to appreciate the winter landscape while riding after the snow is there.
Address: 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709, United States
3. Hillside / Far North Bicentennial Park
It is Anchorage’s largest park, with approximately 1 million visits yearly.
This location has many brown and black bears during the summer, so familiarize yourself with bears and take appropriate protection.
There are hilly, challenging narrow sections and larger bike tracks above the alpine in the tundra and lower down in the woodlands.
There are so many paths to bike here that it’s tough to pick a favorite route. The park has four sections that are all interconnected.
Address: 7011 Abbott Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507, United States
4. Happy Valley Trail
Ester Dome, a local mountain and recreation area, is one of our favorite bike trails in Alaska.
Here, you may see much of Alaska’s famed wildlife, such as moose, black bear, brown bear (grizzlies), lynx, wolves, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and many other species.
The single-track Happy Valley Trail goes through forestland around the peak for 11 km. Ester Dome is also an excellent location for watching the aurora borealis or the famed northern lights, which emerge frequently in the Fairbanks area.
Address: 13770 SE Ridgecrest Rd, Happy Valley, OR 97086, United States
5. Ester Dome Single-track System
Ester Dome Single-track System is one of the best and cleanest single tracks connecting the Kenai Peninsula to the interior of Alaska.
It includes three bi-directional loops, two of which (outer and inner) combine to form a rough figure eight for about 11 miles of windy, well-banked switchbacks through the birch-laden slope.
It features an excellent combination of ascending and descending, with some lying areas near the trail’s end.
The Technical Trail counts another mile of tight, technically root loops. The switchbacks will stretch your balance, timing, and trust.
Address: Fairbanks, AK 99709, United States
6. Russian Lakes Upper and Lower
Russian Lakes Upper and Lower are popular with bikers, trekkers, hikers, and hunters.
This one of the best bike trails in Alaska combines the world’s most intense sockeye salmon sports fishery with breathtaking mountains and wildness.
The Russian River Falls, Lower and Upper Russian Lakes, Cooper Lake, three federally controlled recreational cabins, and numerous campsites are all accessible along this 21-mile (one-way) path.
From the Russian River Campground to Cooper Lake Road, this multi-use trail follows the Russian River valley via Lower and Upper Russian Lakes, then gradually climbs to the region at the head of Cooper Lake.
Address: Alaska, USA
7. Lost Lake
Lost Lake is one of Kenai’s most scenic and single trails.
The environment ranges from temperate rain forests to glaciers and meadows blooming with wildflowers in the summer, as well as breathtaking panoramic views of Resurrection Bay.
The upper section of the path features smooth parts.
Here you can rest between hard segments.
It’s around a 2000′ climb up from either end of the route, so you’ll get a decent cardio exercise perk of stunning vistas.
Address: Alaska 99664, USA
8. Homer Spit Trail
The Homer Spit Trail is one of the best bike trails in Alaska that overlooks Mud Bay and Kachemak Bay. It’s a fantastic place to observe eagles, waterfowl, and shorebirds.
When you reach the end of the road, you have reached the end of the US highway!
The Spit Trail is 4.5 miles one way and offers recreational opportunities such as fishing, canoeing, camping, shopping, and boat trips toward the spit’s end.
The trail is in an excellent state and is balanced. Along the way, you’ll witness some structures, and sea otters, seals, and whales close off the coast.
Address: Homer, AK 99603, USA
9. Kincaid Park
In the summer, bikers in Anchorage enjoy the Kincaid Park Trail, a 45-mile double-track trail maintained for cross-country skiers in the winter.
Because of its rough topography, the people refer to this trail as “the roller coaster.”
During the Cold War, bikers used the 1,500-acre park as a missile storage station; some silos can still be seen (don’t worry, for storage).
Views of Cook Inlet and the neighboring mountains are also available. You can watch out for moose, love the park, and stay away from them if you spot them.
Address: 9401 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502, United States
10. Tongass Rainforest Ride
The 9.5-mile Tongass Rainforest Ride is among the best that takes you through stunning valley and mountain views, through the shoreline and provides views of the Mendenhall and Harding glaciers.
The Tongass National Forest is a region of the world’s biggest temperate rainforest, covering 17 million acres of land and ecosystems ranging from old-growth forests to magnificent shorelines.
Because the climate in Southeast Alaska is mild year-round, the tracks are likely to be exact for a winter ride if you stay extended than the summer.
Address: Juneau, AK 99801, United States
11. Bird to Gird Pathway
Without question, the Bird to Gird walkway is one of Alaska’s most beautiful and accessible paved cycling tracks.
The gorgeous paved pathway connects three settlements, Girdwood, Bird, and Indian, and is approximately 24 miles round trip or 12 miles one way.
It is a fantastic track for any biker, whether you want to go for a leisurely cruise or explore the trail as a tourist.
It is ideal if you want to go fast on a road bike.
Use caution when riding a road bike, and look for slow-moving children and tourists.
Plenty of interpretive markers are with information on wildlife and interesting geological features. You might spot Beluga whales if you’re lucky.
Address: Anchorage, AK, USA
12. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
The Tony Knowles Coastal, one of the best bike trails in Alaska, is by far Anchorage’s most popular trail.
This curved path is also one of the most scenic coastal trails in the United States. This eleven-mile trail winds down the coast from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage to the Kincaid Park Lodge.
The trail goes along the shore of Anchorage and is only open to non-motorized vehicles. It is completely paved, allows two-way traffic, and links to the Chester Creek Trail.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail allows you to escape city life and examine realistic and human history.
Address: Anchorage, AK, USA
13. Chase Trail
The magnificent Chase Trail starts at the northern end of precious Talkeetna, founded in 1916 as the Alaska Railroad’s district headquarters.
The trail still runs along the active railway tracks today.
Head north from town, passing the gigantic railway bridge (approximately 1923) that permits train and trail traffic over the junction of three main rivers: the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna.
Much of the trail resumes through a thick spruce-birch forest before abruptly ending at the 14-mile mark.
Address: Alaska 99676, USA
14. Upper Russian River Trail
If you’re in the Cooper Landing area of the Kenai Peninsula, the Upper Russian River Trail is a 21-mile single-track day ride along the Harding Ice Path.
You can load a picnic and take a break around Upper Russian Lake, admiring the trees and wildflowers.
At Mile 20, you’ll enjoy a view of the Russian River Falls, negotiated by sockeye salmon on their trip up the river to spawn. This one of the top bike trails in Alaska is a dedication.
Address: 334 4th Ave, Seward, AK 99664, United States
15. Denali National Park
Denali National Park is six million acres of wilderness connected by a single road ribbon.
The low-elevation taiga woodland gives way to high alpine tundra, snowy mountains, and glaciers as cyclists travel along the road.
Denali Mountain, at 20,310 feet, is the tallest peak in North America.
Bikers have permission to ride on park roads, parking spaces, campsite loops, and the approved Bike Trails connecting the Nenana River and the Denali Visitor Centre. Bikers have no license on any other trails.
Address: Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, United States
16. Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei
The Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei is one of the best bike trails in Alaska, 9 miles northwest of downtown Juneau and about north of Juneau International Airport in the pine-filled Mendenhall River valley.
The 2-mile track is the city’s paved trail, and it will be improved further when repaved in 2024.
The course begins with a bang, with vistas of snow-capped peaks and a glacier from the trailhead parking lot on the aptly called Glacier Highway at its southern end.
During peak season, you may love a field of purple-pink wildflowers.
Address: Juneau, AK 99801, USA
17. Chena Riverwalk
The Chena Riverwalk is an excellent way to explore the parks, plazas, and historic downtown of Fairbanks.
The 3.5-mile paved trail tracks the Chena River from Pioneer Park on the east end to Airport Way, a major road on the west.
The route has borders of interest, such as Golden Heart Plaza and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Centre, which have displays of Alaska Native culture and history, as well as area information about landscapes and animals.
The arch built of moose and caribou antlers is a famous photo opportunity here.
Address: Moore St, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States
FAQs
Is Alaska suitable for biking?
Make Alaska the bicycle trip of your dreams by riding through rainforests and mountains, on single-track trails or urban bike routes, on a mountain bike, or a road bike. Bike trails in Alaska are a terrific way to go out and explore because of the unlimited options.
Are Ebikes permitted in Alaska?
An e-bike is there in Alaska as a “motor-driven cycle.” E-bikes, as a motorized cycles, are not subject to the same road laws as ordinary bicycles. Riders using e-bikes must have a valid operator’s license. E-bikes are not required to be registered or insured.
Do motorcycles have a free flight in Alaska?
Bicycles on Alaska Airlines are subject to the average checked baggage service expense ($30 for the first bag, $40 for the second, and $100 otherwise) or are free if you are under your free checked baggage limit.
Final words
Alaska offers some of the most beautiful biking routes on the planet.
Great biking is about getting out of the home and exploring new landscapes, and it’s also beneficial for the environment.
From mountaintops to national parks, lakeshores to coastal routes, bike trails in Alaska provide endless possibilities.
Anyone can bike down a road, but as bikers, we prefer to travel down a road or trail with breathtaking scenery.
The buildings in multi-use routes that allow trail users of all types and abilities to connect to the numerous treasured natural regions, cultural places, and recreation locations are a rising endeavor.