Skiing in Alaska
A First Rate Outdoor Sport

Skiing in Alaska is one way to get around in the winter. It's a lot faster than snow shoes anyway!



Cross-country skiing can be done over many miles. Once winter's blanket of snow has set in, you don't often have any interruption of travel with skis, snowshoes, dog sleds or snow-machines. In most areas of central and south-central Alaska, that would be around the end of October, to be certain.

However, in recent years, heavy blankets of snow have come later in winter, in areas like Anchorage. But if you go up into the foothills of the mountains, you'll find earlier snowfalls there. Higher elevations accumulate snow faster.

Skiing gives you lots of fresh air, sunshine and exercise when it is otherwise the hardest time of the year to get outside in Alaska.

TIP: If you're going skiing in a mountainous area, be extremely careful. To be on the safe side, only ski in the wide open valley areas, a long way from mountainsides which could have unpredicted avalanches. Avalanches happen frequently when snow gets very deep on the mountains.

There is generally no help available on these trails, so ensure you are prepared for anything. And it's best to travel in groups.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING:

There are unlimited opportunities for cross-country skiing in Alaska. You'll find them just about anyplace where the snow is deep enough. Some of our parks, such as Wrangell-St. Elias, have no marked trails but have lots of skiing opportunities.

If you do that, be sure you have a companion or two, all the Alaska USGS maps of the area you'll be in, a GPS or other means of locating yourself, and survival gear.

Besides general skiing across open countryside, most of the trails in the Alaska Parks are designated for skiing when there is enough snow.

Here's just a few ski trails that are available for skiing in winter:

• Fairbanks - Ski Trails at White Mountains Recreation Area - in this BLM managed area there are 200 miles of winter trails between two major highways. Trailheads are located at Mileposts 28 and 57 on the Elliott Highway and at Mileposts 42 and 57 on the Steese Highway. Skiing is a great way to reach any of the 12 BLM remote cabin rentals in this area. They have to be reserved and paid in advance, but it's a fun way to spend a few days here.

• Fairbanks - Chena Hot Springs Trail - a 35-mile trail meant for winter use because it is low and boggy in the summer. A fairly easy trail and is accessible from many points along the Chena Hot Springs Road. A great place to go skiing in Alaska

My Brother Cross-Country Skiing
on Chena Hot Springs Trail
• Anchorage - Campbell Tract Loop Trail - a 3.4-mile trail that goes around Campbell Airstrip and connects with at least 12 miles of other trails. Totally non-motorized use, it's great for winter skiing in Alaska. Just stay away from the airstrip - it is used summer and winter! Access from Campbell Airstrip Road/Basher Drive or other Anchorage area trails. It's next to the Far North Bicentenniel Park trails system.
• Matanuska Valley - Eklutna to Skwentna Iditarod Trail - portions of the original Iditarod trail are followed here. Used only in winter because it is wet, boggy ground in summer. Start at the Native villages of Eklutna or Knik just off the Glenn Highway, south of Palmer. No official trail-heads. It has easy and difficult areas.
• Anchorage - Eklutna Lake Trail - in Chugach State Park. Trails are good for summer and winter use, including snow-machines. Over 12 miles of trails around this lake. Enter Eklutna Lake Road from Milepost 26, Glenn Highway.
• Anchorage - Prospect Heights Trail - in the foothills of the Chugach mountains in south Anchorage. See map at Chugach State Park page. Is easy to difficult and is used summer and winter. Here's exact directions: East on O'Malley Road for 3.1 miles, past Lake Otis to Upper O'Malley (just past the 90 degree bend in the road north where O'Malley becomes Hillside. East/left on upper O'Malley for 0.5 mile (brown CSP/Prospect Heights sign). Left on Prospect Dr. for 1.1 miles. Stay left at stop sign at intersection with Sidorof Lane. Right into parking lot/trail-head at Chugach State Park sign.
• Anchorage - Coastal Trail - for summer and winter use, it is 11 miles long. Starts in the railroad yards, downtown anchorage and ends in Kincaid Park, another area for great fun while going cross-country skiing in Alaska.
• Kenai Peninsula - Iditarod Trail - Seward to Girdwood/Johnson Pass Trail - exact directions to get there: North Trailhead - At Mile 64, Seward Highway, east of Granite Creek Campground, turn south on Forest Service signed gravel road for 1/4 mile to trailhead parking. South Trailhead - At Mile 32.5, Seward Highway, pull into Forest Service signed pullout for trailhead, west of Upper Trail Lake. Parking areas are not cleared of snow. Johnson Pass Trail is 23 miles long.
• Kenai Peninsula - North and South Resurrection Pass Trails and Russian Lakes Trail - open for multi-use summer and winter. See Alaska Trails page for full descriptions.
• Susitna Valley - Nancy Lake Ski Trails - this lowland, boggy area is great for cross-country skiing in Alaska. Enter the recreation area at Mile 67.3 Parks Highway and look for trail signs or ski wherever it looks good. If you follow the canoe trail, ensure it's late enough in the winter for a good, solid ice covering beneath the snow.
• Denali Park - You can cross-country ski along the park road in winter or make your own trail. You must stop in at the Murie Winter Visitor/Science and Learning Center before going into back-country areas, to acquire the FREE permit. They'll even loan you show-shoes for free, if you want to try those instead.

DOWNHILL SKIING:

There are only a few developed areas to go down-hill skiing in Alaska. But I imagine that will change soon as more and more people move up here.

• Fairbanks - Moose Mountain Ski Resort - Has a number of trails on sunny south-facing slopes. Uses buses instead of chairlifts which take you to the almost 2000 foot summit. Usually warmer temperatures than in downtown Fairbanks.

  Fees run from free (under 7and over 70) to $35 for adults, with discounts for passes. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except holidays. Open Wednesdays around holidays. Open 6 hours/day with one hour shorter in mid-winter and one hour longer late in season, due to lighting conditions. Generally open from the day after Thanksgiving to first week of April, depending on snow and weather conditions. For ski condition updates: 907-459-8132. For other questions: 907-479-4732.

• Anchorage - Hilltop Ski Resort - With a 300 foot hill, this one is great for young people! They have a variety of trails for different skill levels on 30 acres. It is open 7 days a week and has night time skiing. Fees range from $16 to $30.

  Directions: From the Seward Highway, follow Abbott Road east toward the mountains. Take a left off of Abbott Road right before it turns south, becoming Hillside Drive. It's a short drive to the Ski Resort area. Skiing Hotline - 907-346-2167, Ticket Sales - 907-346-1407.

• Anchorage - Alpenglow (Arctic Valley) Ski Resort - Mentioned on the Chugach State Park page, this is a long-time ski area that has been rejuvenated in recent years. It covers 500 acres of ground, has 2 chairs and a T-bar, with the highest one having 1214 feet of drop. This is great for family fun while skiing in Alaska. There are places for youngsters to play outdoors.

  Fees range from $6 to $32 with half-day and full-day rates, closing before dark. This is like back-country skiing but in a safe area. Hotline and Lodge - 907-428-1208.

• South of Anchorage - Alyeska is Alaska's premier ski resort. Located on the mountainside, behind Girdwood, it has been around for many years. It first opened its doors in 1959 and they were still carrying water up the mountainside in the 1960's. But today is has much better downhill ski lifts, a 304 room hotel, a fine dining area and a skiing cafeteria on its 1400-acre site.

  Their ski season opens late November and closes late in April. As a fully developed resort, they have many different rates for different needs, so you can pick whatever suits you. They have night skiing on Fridays, Saturdays and some holidays. Information and reservations: 800-880-3880 or 907-754-2111.



• Valdez Area for Skiing in Alaska - there are no ski resorts here but Valdez was the host for extreme skiing championships for many years. So this is really for the exceptional skier. You can can get helicopter rides to the top of mountains and ski in Thompson Pass, just north of Valdez. There is also a Bed and Breakfast Lodge at the base of Thompson pass.

  I'm sure someone will come along and build a resort here someday, since it has such a glorious skiing history.

The above are some of the prepared places to go skiing in Alaska. If you want to go in the back-county wilds, be sure you have every possible emergency item you may need. Leave a written itinerary with someone and don't go alone! There are too many things that can happen and help might not be able to reach you in time.

Skiing in Alaska is not the ONLY winter sport, but some people think it's the most important one. I'll have to admit that it is one of the most active winter sports you can engage in, without a lot of equipment. But if you'd like to relax now and let someone else do all the work, you might try stopping in at one of the local dog sled races...

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