Park Name	Features and Activities
Kincaid Park	Over 1,400 acres, trails, disc golf, picnicking, kayaking, fishing
Far North Bicentennial Park	1,100 acres, trails, disc golf, fishing, wildlife viewing
Town Square Park	Downtown location, playground, events, markets
Goose Lake Park	140 acres, lake, trails, fishing, water sports
Westchester Lagoon	Scenic trails, kayaking, birdwatching, winter ice skating
Russian Jack Springs Park	300 acres, trails, disc golf, swimming pool, wildlife viewing
Delaney Park	Long strip park, tennis, basketball, ice rink, holiday lights
Cheney Lake Park	750 acres, hiking, fishing, non-motorized boating
Elderberry Park	80 acres, sports fields, playground, skate park, dog area
William C. Schwan Ice Arena	Indoor ice sports, public skating, hockey, figure skating
Arctic Valley Ski Area	Skiing, breathtaking views, backcountry terrain
Alaska Botanical Garden	110 acres, themed gardens, native plant collections

From large multi-use parks to quaint neighborhood gems, Anchorage parks offer something for everyone.

Kincaid Park

Name and Location: Kincaid Park, located in southwest Anchorage.

History and Significance: This huge park contains coastal trails, a former biathlon range, disc golf, soccer fields and more. It’s a popular spot for outdoor recreation.

What to Expect: Trails for hiking and mountain biking, wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing in winter. Beautiful natural scenery along the coast.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. No entrance fee. Parking areas located throughout the park.

Kincaid Park is one of Anchorage’s most beloved and largest parks, spanning over 1,400 acres. Located in southwest Anchorage, Kincaid Park offers incredible views of the Chugach Mountains as well as access to tons of outdoor activities.

The coastal trails along Kincaid Park stretch over 40 miles and are perfect for hiking and mountain biking in the summer months. Trails wind through the tranquil birch and spruce forests and offer scenic views of Cook Inlet and the Alaska mountain range. During winter, these trails are ideal for cross-country skiing.

One of the most popular areas in Kincaid Park is the Raspberry Road parking lot which provides access to trails as well as a large field that’s ideal for disc golfing. There are also several picnic areas at Kincaid Park that have shelters and tables for a relaxing outdoor meal.

With access to two lagoons, Kincaid Park is also a top spot for kayaking and fishing. Anglers can cast lines for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden from the shores of the lagoons as well as deeper areas accessible by kayak or float tube.

Whether you want to challenge yourself on an all-day hike, have a family picnic, or spend a relaxing day fishing, Kincaid Park has something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Far North Bicentennial Park

Name and Location: Far North Bicentennial Park, located along Campbell Creek in Anchorage.

History and Significance: Large park with dense boreal forest, wetlands and over 10 miles of trails. Provides access to peaceful wilderness within the city.

What to Expect: Hiking, biking, skiing trails. Watch for moose and other wildlife. Interpretive programs offered.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. No entrance fee. Parking lots at trailheads off Boniface Parkway.

Nestled along the scenic Campbell Creek in east Anchorage, Far North Bicentennial Park is a gorgeous urban green space spanning over 1,100 acres. The park features a scenic network of multi-use trails perfect for walking, jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing.

In the summer, the lush boreal forests come alive with colorful wildflowers and songbirds. You’re likely to spot spruce grouse and even glimpse moose feeding along the creek. Interpretive signs detail the ecology of the boreal forest and wetland ecosystems found within the park.

Far North Bicentennial Park also contains one of the best disc golf courses in Anchorage. The 18-hole course winds through the hilly terrain, presenting both novice and experienced disc golfers with fun challenges.

For those looking for great trout and salmon fishing, Campbell Creek winds through the park and is stocked annually with several thousand rainbow trout. There are numerous access points along the creek to cast a line.

With over 15 miles of trails, a scenic creek, and forests teeming with wildlife, Far North Bicentennial Park is an Anchorage jewel perfect for outdoor recreation and appreciating nature.

Town Square Park

Name and Location: Town Square Park, located downtown Anchorage.

History and Significance: Anchorage’s first park, established in 1915. Centrally located downtown with a band shell, fountain and open lawn.

What to Expect: Concerts, events, walking paths, views of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. Free admission. Pay parking garage next door.

Located in downtown Anchorage, Town Square Park is a popular gathering place for locals and visitors. During the summer months, Town Square Park hosts a vibrant weekend market showcasing local Alaskan vendors, artists, and delicious food trucks.

Kids love the expansive playground in Town Square Park which has swings, several large play structures, and a fun climbing wall. There are also walking paths, grassy open areas, and benches perfect for relaxing on a nice day.

Surrounding the park is the Anchorage Museum, Anchorage Public Library, Performing Arts Center and several top restaurants making it easy to enjoy a full day out. Often there are free concerts, exercise classes, and other community events hosted at Town Square Park.

During the holidays, Town Square Park transforms with colorful light displays and ice sculptures. In the winter, you’ll find sledding hills for kids along with an ice-skating rink. Year-round, Town Square Park is the heartbeat of downtown Anchorage.

Goose Lake Park

Name and Location: Goose Lake Park, located in western Anchorage by the lake.

History and Significance: Recreational area featuring Goose Lake and expansive trails for hiking and skiing. Popular fishing lake and trail access point.

What to Expect: Hiking, biking, fishing, nature viewing. Trails connect to larger Chugach State Park trail system.

Visitor Information: Open year-round for day-use. No entrance fee. Parking lots located around the lake.

In west Anchorage, Goose Lake Park spans 140 acres and features a beautiful 7-acre lake as its centerpiece. Families flock to Goose Lake on sunny summer days to stroll around the lake, have a picnic, and for the kids to enjoy the playground and splash pad.

Anglers head to Goose Lake to fish for stocked rainbow trout, arctic char and landlocked salmon from the shores and fishing platforms. You can also rent canoes, kayaks and paddle boats from the lake house to get out on the water.

Encircling Goose Lake is a 2.3 mile paved trail perfect for walking, jogging, biking, and in winter cross-country skiing. Waterfowl like resident and migratory ducks call Goose Lake home. Keep an eye out for beavers, moose, and even beluga whales swimming up nearby Chester Creek.

Goose Lake Park is an ideal place to enjoy Alaska’s great outdoors with a variety of family-friendly recreational activities within city limits. After a busy day outdoors, head to the lake house for refreshments from the snack bar.

Westchester Lagoon

Name and Location: Westchester Lagoon, located near downtown Anchorage.

History and Significance: Serene lagoon near the airport, with walking trails and access to Chester Creek. Popular urban recreation spot.

What to Expect: Paved trail circling the lagoon, viewing platforms, birdwatching, scenery. Relaxing natural oasis in the city.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. Free admission and parking lot on site.

Boasting over 50 acres of open water, Westchester Lagoon is a popular recreation spot located between downtown and west Anchorage. In summer, Westchester Lagoon draws walkers, joggers, bikers, rollerbladers and birdwatchers to its scenic 2.2 mile trail that loops the lake.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available during summer if you want to paddle around the lagoon. You’re likely to spot ducks, geese, swans and other waterfowl. The lagoon also has a protected swim area with a lifeguard on duty during warm summer months.

During winter months, Westchester Lagoon transforms into a stunning ice skating rink with over 10 acres of skateable ice. The Nordic Skiing Association grooms over 4 miles of cross-country ski trails surrounding the lagoon throughout winter as well.

With its pristine waters, wildlife viewing and variety of warm and cold weather recreation, Westchester Lagoon is an idyllic oasis minutes from downtown Anchorage.

Russian Jack Springs Park

Name and Location: Russian Jack Springs Park, located in east Anchorage.

History and Significance: Large city park surrounding a former springs area, with an extensive trail system through boreal forest and wetlands.

What to Expect: Hiking, mountain biking, skiing trails. Wildlife viewing for moose, bears, beavers and more.

Visitor Information: Open year round. No entrance fee. Parking lots at trailheads.

In northeast Anchorage, Russian Jack Springs Park contains over 300 acres of beautiful recreational green space. The park gets its name from the natural springs that feed into several small ponds within the park.

Russian Jack has several multi-use trails great for hiking and biking in the summer and cross-country skiing come winter. There is also a professionally designed 18-hole disc golf course winding through the rolling wooded terrain.

Picnic shelters, sports fields, playgrounds, and an outdoor swimming pool can also be found at Russian Jack Springs Park. The chlorinated outdoor pool is a popular spot to swim laps or just cool off during Alaskan heat waves.

If you listen closely you may hear the resident frogs calling from the ponds within the spruce forest. Moose also frequent the park, especially in the early mornings and evenings. With its trails, ponds, and recreational facilities, Russian Jack Springs Park is a great place to immerse yourself in nature without leaving the city.

Delaney Park

Name and Location: Delaney Park, located downtown Anchorage bounded by 9th and 10th Avenues.

History and Significance: Historic park established in 1915, named for Judge James Delaney. Central green space in the heart of the city.

What to Expect: Open lawn, flower gardens, large fountain, ping pong tables, seasonal ice rink. Relax or enjoy activities.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. Free admission. Street parking around the park.

Serving as Anchorage’s first official park, Delaney Park is a downtown gem known for its colorful floral displays that burst with color throughout the summer. Stretching over 10 city blocks, Delaney Park is the longest strip park in the United States.

Mature trees provide ample shade making Delaney Park a popular lunch spot for downtown workers in the summer. You’ll also find tennis and basketball courts nestled within the park. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail pedestrian route winds along Delaney Park offering walkers, joggers and bikers a scenic passage.

During the holidays Delaney Park lights up with over 40,000 festive bulbs and LED displays. An outdoor ice rink is also installed and offers free ice skating throughout winter. With its vibrant landscaping, recreation facilities and downtown location, Delaney Park is a can’t miss Anchorage attraction.

Cheney Lake Park

Name and Location: Cheney Lake Park, located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

History and Significance: Recreation area surrounding Cheney Lake, popular for fishing, boating, hiking, skiing and winter activities. Stunning views.

What to Expect: Hiking, biking trails, fishing, boating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. Scenic views of the Alaska Range.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. Day use fee per vehicle. Camping also available.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city at Cheney Lake Park located in east Anchorage. Spanning 750 acres, Cheney Lake Park contains hiking trails, picnic areas, sports fields and access to the peaceful 50-acre Cheney Lake.

Visitors come to Cheney Lake to unwind in nature and partake in the excellent fishing. The lake contains stocked rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, and arctic char that can grow to impressive sizes. There is a fishing dock, but you’ll have better luck catching trout near the creek inlet and salmon closer to the outlet into Chester Creek.

Non-motorized boats such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and float tubes are welcome on Cheney Lake. This makes for a fun way to spend a summer day fishing or paddle around taking in scenic views of the Chugach Mountains.

Moose, beaver and a variety of birds frequent the Cheney Lake area as well. With tranquil scenery and great fishing opportunities close to town, Cheney Lake Park is a wonderful place to escape the city and enjoy the outdoors.

Elderberry Park

Name and Location: Elderberry Park, located in downtown Fairbanks.

History and Significance: Charming creekside park featuring walking paths established in 1981. Connects downtown to residential neighborhoods.

What to Expect: Walking trails, access to Noyes Slough, gardens, playground, picnic areas. Scenic urban oasis.

Visitor Information: Open year-round. Free admission. Parking along adjacent streets.

Elderberry Park encompasses 80 acres of recreational space in south Anchorage including several multi-use sports fields, a playground, skate park, off-leash dog area, and picnic shelter. The park provides plenty of room for sports games, exercising dogs, and kids burning off energy at the playground.

Connecting Elderberry Park to the larger Anchorage bowl trail system is the scenic Elderberry Creek Trail. This peaceful tree-lined trail follows Elderberry Creek for 1.7 miles through forests and wetlands abundant with wildlife. The trail is great for walking, biking and even cross-country skiing in winter.

Moose are frequently spotted in Elderberry Park, especially grazing along the creek and wetland areas. Large beaver dams can also be seen along the creek within the park boundaries. With space for outdoor sports and access to natural areas, Elderberry Park has something for all ages to enjoy.

William C. Schwan Ice Arena

Name and Location: William C. Schwan Ice Arena, located in Anchorage.

History and Significance: Indoor ice arena built in 1983. Hosts hockey games, figure skating competitions, public skating sessions and more. Home of the Anchorage Wolverines.

What to Expect: Olympic sized rink, skate rentals and concessions available. Year-round indoor ice skating and hockey.

Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fees vary by activity. Website has schedule.

Open year-round, the Schwan Ice Arena offers world-class indoor ice sport and recreation facilities in east Anchorage. The 85,000 square foot ice arena contains two NHL-sized indoor ice rinks available for ice hockey, figure skating, public skating sessions and curling.

Public skating sessions allow anyone to lace up their skates and take a whirl around the Olympic sized rink. Sticks, pucks, skating aides and skate rentals are available. Special holiday themed skating sessions are offered as well.

Ice sport leagues and camps are hosted at the arena for kids and adults. The Schwan Ice Arena offers skating lessons, hockey clinics, curling leagues, and figure skating instruction for all ages and abilities. Watch local competitive league games in the stands or take to the ice yourself at the Schwan Ice Arena.

Arctic Valley Ski Area

Name and Location: Arctic Valley Ski Area, located in Chugach State Park near Anchorage.

History and Significance: Small, family-friendly ski area operating since the 1950s. Offers alpine skiing with incredible mountain views.

What to Expect: 30 alpine ski runs, a terrain park, ski lifts, rentals and warming lodge. One of Anchorage’s closest ski areas.

Visitor Information: Open late November through April, weather permitting. Day lift tickets must be pre-purchased online.

Just a short drive from downtown Anchorage is the Arctic Valley Ski Area, offering amazing views and skiing opportunities right in the Chugach Mountains. This small local ski area has 2 chairlifts accessing terrain best suited for beginner and intermediate skiers.

You’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Anchorage Bowl, Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range from Arctic Valley’s base elevation of around 1,900 feet. Groomed runs are available but advanced skiers can also access plenty of backcountry style terrain. Ski and snowboarding lessons are offered as well.

When you need a break from the slopes, the Arctic Valley Lodge has a cafeteria area with food, refreshments and large windows for taking in the stunning mountain scenery. Affordable lift tickets, night skiing, lessons, and amazing views make Arctic Valley Ski Area an awesome winter recreation option right on the edge of Anchorage.

Alaska Botanical Garden

Name and Location: Alaska Botanical Garden, located in Anchorage.

History and Significance: Botanical garden showcasing Alaska native plants and hardy perennials. Established in 1993. Features trails and educational programs.

What to Expect: Trails winding through diverse botanical collections and natural areas. Wildflowers, perennial garden, herb garden, greenhouse.

Visitor Information: Open May through September. Admission fee charged. Free parking onsite.

Stretching across 110 acres near the foothills of the Chugach Mountains, the Alaska Botanical Garden is a scenic oasis featuring perennial flower displays, herb and rock gardens, native plant collections and wooded trails. Summer is the best time to visit when most of the flowers are in bloom, but the garden is open year-round.

Winding gravel paths lead you to different themed gardens like the Touch and See Garden focused on plants with unique textures. Inside the greenhouse, tropical varieties flourish alongside traditional vegetables and herbs. Outside there are water features, benches, and sculptures placed throughout the well-maintained grounds.

The Alaska Botanical Garden also contains an extensive collection of native Alaskan plants identified with educational signs. This allows you to learn about the diverse native plants found across Alaska’s varied ecosystems. With beautiful flowers, relaxing trails, and educational opportunities, the Alaska Botanical Garden is an amazing urban reprieve.

Connors Bog Natural Area

Name and Location: Connors Bog Natural Area, located in Anchorage’s Far North Bicentennial Park.

History and Significance: 135-acre protected wetland area containing rare plants and wildlife habitat. Boardwalk trail allows access while preserving sensitive ecology.

What to Expect: Walk the scenic boardwalk loop observing the bog’s unique plants and wildlife, including beavers. Interpretive signs explain the ecology.

Visitor Information: Accessible from the North Bicentennial Park trail system. Free admission. Guided tours offered in summer.

Though nestled between neighborhoods in east Anchorage, Connors Bog Natural Area contains a genuine Alaskan bog environment fascinating to explore. A short 0.8 mile loop boardwalk trail takes you directly through the heart of the peat bog, home to unique plants, berries and wildlife.

Commons plants found in the bog during summer include cloudberry, blueberry, cranberry, wild roses and tons of colorful mosses. Birders can hope to identify some of Alaska’s migratory songbirds darting through the underbrush. Moose also frequent the bog and surrounding forest.

Interpretive signs explain the ecology of the bog environment and detail the best times to spot different plants and wildlife. Benches along the boardwalk provide spots to sit and take in the scenic bog scenery. Within minutes from downtown, Connors Bog Natural Area lets you discover a truly Alaskan habitat.

Flattop Mountain Trail

Name and Location: Flattop Mountain Trail, located in Chugach State Park near Anchorage.

History and Significance: One of the most popular hiking trails in Anchorage, leading up Flattop Mountain with sweeping views from the summit. Challenging hike with incredible payoff.

What to Expect: Approximately 3 mile hike with steep sections and rocky terrain. Scrambling required near the top. Breathtaking 360° views of mountains, inlet and city below.

Visitor Information: Accessible year-round. No fee for state park. Parking at Glen Alps trailhead near Anchorage.

One of Anchorage’s most iconic hikes is the Flattop Mountain Trail located in Chugach State Park. Just 3 miles from downtown, Flattop Mountain rises to an elevation of 3,522 feet, providing jaw-dropping views overlooking Anchorage and Cook Inlet.

The main hiking trail is 1.7 miles and climbs 1300 feet to the summit of Flattop Mountain. While steep in sections, the well-maintained trail has built-in stairs and gravel paths making it a popular hike. The exposed summit allows you to take in a stunning 360 degree view.

From the Flattop Mountain parking area near Glen Alps Road, the trail begins in a scenic mixed forest with interpretive signs detailing the ecosystems and wildlife. The hike becomes more challenging near the tree line but rewarding views start to open up. Reaching the scenic overlook atop Flattop Mountain is an amazing experience with the city far below.

Conclusion

Anchorage has so many incredible parks and green spaces within and around the city limits offering a range of recreational opportunities. From neighborhood parks great for families to iconic trailheads leading deep into the Chugach Mountains, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Which of these top 12 parks will you explore first when visiting Anchorage? Pack a picnic, grab your fishing pole, lace up your hiking boots, or strap on your skis. The endless adventures await in the parks of Anchorage, Alaska!