チュガッチ山地の湖・トップ12

By winter, this trail system is groomed and reserved for cross-country skiing. But by summer, those same wide, hilly trails make for a great run on packed dirt and grass. Make sure to check out the map near the parking area; you can put together an almost endless series of loops here and to be honest the signage along the trail is occasionally confusing, so you should always pay attention to where you're going and know how to backtrack if necessary.

This bowl contains the first of two trailside lakes, and it's a really pleasant destination for camping or a picnic. The trail continues on to the pass but at this point is getting really narrow and rocky compared to the way it started out; there may be some little creeks running across the trail, too. So if you're not on a mountain bike, the ride probably won't be much fun from this point onward (and honestly, you might even want to turn around sooner).

This is the gravel shore of Eklutna Lake, which is absolutely lousy for riding on most bikes but wonderful for a pre- or post-ride picnic and marveling at the lake, which really is a gem of the greater Anchorage area. Interestingly, it's also the drinking water reservoir for Anchorage.

Chugach State Park is the fourth largest state park in the United States, spanning approximately 495,000 acres. The park is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to its diversity in landscape and wildlife. Visitors may enjoy ocean shores, rivers and lakes, alpine tundra, and glaciers, as well as views of brown and black bears, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, and more. There are 16 trailheads providing access to 280 miles of trails in Chugach State Park.

This is really an old roadbed — not paved, but almost as good as, as long as the weather has been reasonably dry. During spring snowmelt or particularly rainy periods the trail can get very muddy. Motorized traffic (such as all-terrain vehicles) is allowed on the trail from Sunday through Wednesday. You certainly can still run during that time, but be ready to share the trail with ATVs. There are short, non-motorized side detours you can take to minimize your exposure to that motorized traffic, but the detour trails are sometimes loose or washed out, so they can be a particular challenge for runners.

The South Fork Valley Trail leads to the glorious Eagle and Symphony Lakes, beneath the towering pyramid of Eagle Peak. In the early stages of the hike, the valley is dominated by Cantata Peak, another impressive mountain. The trail heads up through the valley and through stands of spruce and aspen.

This is a beguiling spot, where a narrow isthmus divides the waters of Eagle and Symphony Lakes. Just as enchanting is the hike to reach the two lakes, featuring some gorgeous Chugach scenery. Particularly impressive is the view of the 2,120-meter (6,955 ft) Eagle Peak from the lakes, especially in summer when it's west face is lit by deep red sunlight.

Rabbit Lake is a glorious hiking objective, nestled beneath dramatic Alaskan mountains. Particularly impressive are the twin Suicide Peaks of South Yuyanq' Ch'ex and North Yuyanq' Ch'ex, notable for their soaring pyramidal forms. It's an 11-kilometer (6.8 mi) walk in from the trailhead to the lake but the scenery is magnificent.