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| 123 |      Photos Map |
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| Last Updated:
December 27, 2009
Please help this site! Since I no longer live here, it is important that users verify the data. If this date is longer than a year ago please email me and let me know the information below is still valid. If I don't get verification on this trail, I may remove it from the site. |
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Difficulty |
Easy; mostly level with some hills. I'm recommending this as a bike trail. | |
Connects With |
There are many
trailheads off the Turnagain Arm Section of the Seward Highway for
hiking.
There is great
mountain biking on the Bird Creek
Trails as well as Powerline Pass. FOR HIKING: McHugh Trail/Rabbit Lake McHugh Peak Turnagain Arm Trail Falls Creek Indian Valley Bird Ridge Crow Pass Portage Valley Gull Rock (on the other side) Hope Point (on the other side) |
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Miles One Way |
From Potter Marsh to Portage: 40 | |
Miles
from
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Highway ends in downtown Anchorage. | |
General Vicinity |
Borders Chugach State Park | |
Season |
May to October depending on snow and temperatures. | |
Description |
Driving down the
Seward Highway around Turnagain Arm is one of most scenic drives in the
world. But better than driving is biking it. At this time, about a 1/3
of the ride is actual bike trail and about 2/3 is the fairly wide shoulder
of the
highway. The section into Girdwood is the old part of the highway up
on the mountain ridge and is closed to motor vehicles. The
first time I biked this, it was one of the most awe inspiring things in my
life. If you have the time, I totally recommend this as an
activity. You can take any section and bike as long as you like. However, the best part is between Bird Creek and Girdwood. Start with the bike trail just before the Bird Creek Campground. April 22, 2006: Last year major construction was completed between Indian and Bird
Point. Consequently, a bike path was installed connecting the 2
existing ones above so you no longer have to ride on the shoulder. |
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Important Information |
While the shoulder
is wide, wearing a helmet is still strongly recommended, as you are on a
major highway. The Arm can get mighty windy. Be prepared you may have to burn some calories to move along. Bring a windbreaker and wear synthetic clothing that wicks sweat to avoid chills. Warning! Under no circumstances should you ever walk onto a mudflat. It is very similar to quicksand and you will find it very hard to remove your feet from the mud. With one of the fastest tides in the world, you're looking at a deadly combination. |
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Etc. |
If you decide to
stop at Girdwood, go the extra couple of miles up the road to a really
great bakery. Even further up is the Alyeska Ski Resort. The Bird Point Rest Stop is worth taking a break at as there is a great interpretive installation on the ecosystem around the Arm as well as a really cool beaver dam nearby. Turnagain Arm, including the Cook Inlet, is the 2nd fastest tide in the world (after the Bay of Fundy). Check the tide tables (available at any bank) and time your bike ride as high tide starts coming in. Trust me on this. |
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