We like biking when we travel and biking in Anchorage is a great addition to your time here. This city was made for biking! Whether you’re staying downtown or midtown, you can easily make your way to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Biking in Anchorage isn’t just city riding, but it’s an easy easy to bike through beautiful natural areas full of wildlife. We’ve got an the information for renting bikes and enjoying the Anchorage biking trails.
Whether you have your own bike, need a rental or want to join a bike tour of Anchorage, this is THE spot to go biking. Anchorage really is a beautiful city and exploring the Coastal Trail on bike is going to be one of your favorite activities, especially during fall colors or spring greens. Always be alert for wildlife, and if you have any great stories to tell about your biking experience come back when you’re done and leave a comment to share with us!
Why Bike on the Tony Knowles Coast Trail?
The best thing about biking in Anchorage is the wildlife. Nearly all the west side of the city has green space and city parks. These areas make for a beautiful bike ride with easy to medium difficulty stretches of trail, all while still very much immersed in wildlife habitats. From the ponds at the north end of the Tony Knowles Coast Trail near downtown, to the bluffs, there is great birdwatching.
As you ride through the forested areas, this is prime moose habitat and I would be surprised if you went biking here and DIDN’T see a moose. I can’t guarantee it, but it’s very likely. I’ve seen moose here in spring, mid-summer and fall. Again, it’s not a guarantee, but my guess is 87% of the people who bike at least 10 miles on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail have seen moose during their journey.
Coastal Trail Biking Highlights
My favorite stops along the Coastal Trail include both exhibits and beautiful views. As you ride your bike from north to south on the trail, simply follow the signs directing you to Kincaid Park and you’ll be able to stay on track. Here are my top picks for stops on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail:
- Resolution Park – northern starting point, ride south from here
- Westchester Lagoon – great birdwatching spot
- Fish Creek Estuary – wildlife and birdwatching
- Earthquake Park Forest – you’ll ride through watching for moose
- Downtown Anchorage Viewpoint – look for belugas and eagles
- Point Woronzof Park – right next to the airport runway, cool views and great moose habitat
- Kincaid Park Chalet – views, restrooms and a great place for a break before riding back to the start
Being Prepared for Biking the Coastal Trail in Anchorage
In summer, you can pop onto the Tony Knowles Coastal trail at any time of day nearly. Want to go for a bike ride at 11pm? Go for it! During the warmer days the trail is amazing and well sheltered from the wind. If you’re planning on biking the coastal trail in Anchorage in Fall or spring, be prepared to be cold. You’ll want to wear a warm jacket, gloves, stocking cap under your helmet and double up on your socks.
I think e-bikes are ideal for the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, so that can get you some speed on your ride which makes it more cold. You’ll be able to tell what the day and temperature will be for you. Even when I’m biking I bring my big camera gear, which makes all the different for great wildlife photos. If you’re planning on leaving camera gear at home, I would recommend putting your cell phone in a sturdy protective case with a strap so that you can easily access it during your ride.
Tips for Biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
When you plan your day of biking in Anchorage, you’ll have a few choices for where to go. Clearly our top pick is the Coastal Trail because it’s so beautiful and easy to navigate, but you can also follow a few other bike routes around the city. Unless you’re ultimately heading out of Anchorage towards Girdwood or Seward, the best option for safety and views is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail between downtown and Kincaid Park.
If you head north you can check out the train yard and the ship launch on the north side of Ship Creek, but that’s about it directly in Anchorage. Don’t worry, you’re going to love the ride along our recommended trail and you should feel fulfilled for your biking needs. From start to finish as a round trip, it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your stops and pace. The more wildlife you stop for, the longer the ride.
Biking Route for the Anchorage Coastal Trail
You are free to ride the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail from either downtown or Kincaid Park. You can also start in the middle if you like. If you’re renting bikes downtown, Pablo’s Bike Rentals is the best option with a variety of both manual and e-bikes to choose from. There aren’t bike rentals at Kincaid Park, so if you’re starting there you’ll need to ride up Raspberry Road into the park to access the Anchorage Coastal Trail.
Parking is free in certain spots around downtown, but pay attention to the signs. There is parking behind Pablo’s Bike Rentals, but you’ll need to confirm before parking that it’s authorized during your visit. If you can walk to the bike rental spot from your hotel, that’s ideal. We rented from Pablo’s Bike Rentals when staying at the Copper Whale Inn across the street, so that was ideal! DOWNLOADABLE MAP AT END OF ARTICLE
Biking Services Operating Info
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your bike rental with Pablo’s Bicycle Rentals on L Street:
- Operating Dates/Season: year-round, seasonal hours change from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm to 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (check Google business listing to confirm before planning)
- Tour office phone number: 907-272-1600
- Company website: Pablo’s Bicycle Rentals
- Bike Rental address:
- Tour booking links (separate company): Alaska Trail Guides – meets in Kincaid Park, transportation from downtown provided
More Things to do in Anchorage
I think Anchorage is a great city to visit, whether it’s the main area you choose to visit on your Alaska trip or it’s the jumping off point for an epic Alaska road adventure. Anchorage has changed a lot in the last 25 years (I still remember my first visit) and it’s become a city with great dining, interesting things to do within the city, and of course incredible nature just beyond downtown.
A visit to Anchorage needs to include activities like the Alaska Native Heritage Center, visiting Kincaid park for walking and wildlife watching, and enjoying some hiking outside of town. It’s really easy to add activities to your Anchorage visit both down on the Turnagain Arm (Seward Highway) or in Chugach State Park (Eklutna Lake and Thunderbird Falls). If you’re ever bored in Anchorage, you’re not paying attention.
Here are some things to do in Anchorage that can be added to part of your day when you visit, just in case you don’t have lots of time:
- Anchorage Museum
- Alaska Native Heritage Center
- rent bikes for the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
- watch for beluga whales at the Anchorage Small Boat Launch
- day trip to Eklutna Lake and town site
- day trip to Portage or Whittier for a Prince William Sound adventure
Here are some Anchorage ideas:
Where to Eat in Anchorage
Let’s assume that you’re staying in the downtown area of Anchorage and you’re looking for a great meal. Well, there are lots of choices, but I’ve picked my favorites that are both solid Anchorage standards and are new and awesome.
- Snow City Cafe – breakfast
- K Street Market – bakery, breakfast, lunch and cool shops
- F Street Station – vintage Anchorage with delicious food. And a cheese block.
- 49th State Brewing – busy but really good food and beer
- Tequila 61 – modern and trendy Mexican favorites w/ great cocktails
- Whisky & Ramen – fantastic Asian fusion food and craft cocktails
- Double Shovel Cider Co – not downtown, but it’s worth the visit for awesome ciders
Where to Stay in Anchorage
When you’re looking for a hotel in Anchorage, you’ll see that the city is broken into several areas with hotels mostly being in downtown, midtown and at the airport. If you’re just here for one night, any area will do, but for several days, downtown is the best area to stay because it’s such a walkable city. I enjoy staying in the hub of Anchorage activities because there are lots of things to do, restaurants and easy access to biking routes and the Alaska Railroad. Check out the options below.
I hope you’re excited to experience biking in Anchorage. Between the beautiful views and sense of Alaskan adventure, I know you’ll love it. If you have any questions about biking the coastal trail, visiting Anchorage, or figuring out the best plan for your adventure please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help with travel planning for an Alaska Trip!
