There is no shortage of green space in Anchorage. The city has 223 municipal parks and 250 miles of trails. Both people and animals enjoy the parks and trails.
When I say animals enjoy the parks and trails, I don't just mean squirrels and pigeons. On my first outing I was warned to watch out for moose and bear.
According to Anchorage's last annual moose count (performed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in late winter), around 300 moose consider Anchorage their winter home. Other sources estimate that 1,500 moose make Anchorage their home. My guess is that more moose come to visit Anchorage in the summer. However they are counted, Anchorage is considered to have one of the highest populations of moose and humans living together in the world.
The information I found on bears in Anchorage is several years old. There are between 200 and 300 black bears living in the city and approximately 36 grizzly bears.
Our apartment is about .7 of a mile from where the Campbell Creek Trail crosses Lake Otis Parkway. It seemed logical that my exploration of the city's trails starts with Campbell Creek.
Campbell Creek Trail is a 7.4 mile long, paved trail that follows along (you guessed it!) Campbell Creek. It is basically flat. The trail guide says there is a 554 foot elevation gain, however I never noticed it. Maybe there was a hill on the portion of the trail that I did not walk.
BB dropped me off at the parking lot at Taku Lake, which is located at mile 2 from the western end of the trail. I walked from Taku Lake to the Campbell Park playground at Lake Otis Parkway at mile 5.5. My walk on the trail was 3.5 miles. Add the .7 down Lake Otis to home and I walked a little over 4 miles. (Note for my hiking friends: I was not going for mileage...this was a fact-finding mission!).
Didn't see any moose or bear. Did see other walkers, dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, people fishing and one skate boarder. Lots of pretty views of the creek. Saw several homes with views of the creek that I wouldn't have minded living in.
There were information boards along the way explaining how the greenways work to keep the creek clean, wildlife in the area, etc. Effort was also made to beautify and add interest to the underpasses that take the trail under major roads.
All together a great introduction to the city's trails!
Lots of information signs:
Lots of pretty views:
At one of the underpasses:
And a creative gardener:
Sal
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