Kincaid Park - Mountain Bike Trail

11.55 mi
Distance
921 ft
Elevation gain
Intermediate
Level
Loop
Route type
0/5
Rating
#2354 place in the world
#3 place in the region
11.55 mi
Distance
921 ft
Elevation gain
Intermediate
Level
Loop
Route type
0/5
Rating
#2354 place in the world
#3 place in the region

Kincaid Park is the place to be if you want a fun ride or need to hone your biking skills in a wilderness-like setting. Let’s what the park has to offer in terms of features.

Kincaid Park’s 1500 acres lie on Anchorage Bowl’s Western edge, near Cook Inlet’s shores. The park’s naturally hilly terrain makes it perfect for mountain biking. It has more than 45 main trails and even more secondary trails. Moreover, the park has long been a popular venue for various sporting events because of its convenient terrain and beautiful scenery, including the 2001 Special Olympic World Winter Games. We loved the proper signage at major intersections of the double-wide trails. As if that's enough, there are maps and different color signs that correspond with the chosen trail's difficulty.

Before you go:

Drinking water
Restrooms
Fee required
Lift service
Fat bike grooming
Family Friendly
Night riding
E-bikes allowed
Dogs Allowed
Obstacles
Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

Kincaid Park is a rare gem for mountain bikers with its 18.6 km interwoven, groomed trails. The main trails in the park are double-wide because they are designed for skiers. Machines even groom them during winter.

The park is pretty hilly and is nicknamed 'roller coaster' by locals because it always feels like you are climbing or descending. The terrain suits intermediate and pro mountain bikers, but you can always refer to the difficulty suggestion on the posts at major trail intersections. The nine system trails with the signage include; Evolution, Hanging Chad, Bowling Alley, Toilet Bowl, C$ Express, Middle Earth, Second Breakfast, Candy Mountain, and Northwest Passage.

You can start your ride from the Raspberry trailhead, using Middle Earth as the center of your biking route. To get to the Raspberry trailhead, ride South from Anchorage, get on the Raspberry exit, and head west. You should see the trailhead and lower parking lot in about 3.5 miles. Alternatively, you can easily ride 10 miles from Anchorage on the scenic Tony Knowles Coastal tr that ends at Raspberry trailhead.

Additional Trail Features

  •       Restrooms and other common areas at Kincaid Outdoor Center.
  •       Lighted trails.
  •       Signposts and maps at major trail intersections.

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views.

Kincaid Park is densely forested and covered with brush. Its forested hills provide beautiful scenery. Moreover, you will be treated breathtaking view of Mt. Susitina, Mt. Foraker, and Fire Island. We also couldn’t get over the spectacular sunset views of Anchorage.

The dense forest in the park is home to various wild animals, including black and brown bears, bald eagles, snowshoe hares, moose, river otters, and songbirds. Although the animals are used to seeing humans on the trail, give them the way you can never be too sure about their intentions.

Recommendations/precautions:

  •       Beware of dangerous wildlife like bears and moose. If you can, travel in a group or be noisy to avoid surprising an animal.
  •       The trails require a lot of climbing and descent, which may be too much for a beginner rider.
  •       You can access the biking route from other trailheads at Jodhpur Road and the Chalet.
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