A Parent and Volunteer Led Youth Mountain Bike Club
CMBR Kids (Chugach Mountain Bike Riders) is an all-volunteer mountain bike club serving youths from 6-16 in Chugiak-Eagle River. The club teaches on the 6 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails at Mirror Lake Park in Chugiak. CMBR Kids introduces basic mountain biking by teaching fundamental bike handling skills, building confidence on singletrack trails, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through mountain biking.
Note: CMBR Littles! (6-7 year olds) are welcome to ride with us. All riders will need a bike with hand brakes (no coaster/foot brakes) and must already be able to ride well on pavement and grass. Parents of 6-7 year olds must to remain at the park during the session and are encouraged to ride with their child(ren).
WHO: Youth ages 6-16,
WHERE: @ the Mirror Lake Singletrack Trails, Chugiak (Mirror Lake exit off the Glenn Hwy)
WHEN: Tues/Thurs June 23th – July 30th, 2026
TIME: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
CMBR Kids 2026 PRESEASON EVENTS:
Tues May 26th/Thurs May 28th CMBR Coach Clinic 6:30-9pm (two evenings)
Sat May 30th CMBR Coach Clinic (repeat) 9am-2pm (1 day)
Fri June 5th-Sun June 7th BICP Coach Certification 9am-6pm (3 days)
Now in our tenth year, our club typically hosts about 85 youth, on Tues/Thurs.
For the first 30 minutes or so we work on that evening’s mountain bike skill, and then break into small volunteer-coach-led groups to ride with other youth of a roughly similar skill level. Within the groups, there will be some faster and some slower youth together: the focus is skills, not speed. Over a 6-week period we work through a good overview of mountain bike fundamentals.
We require all youth bikes to be professionally tuned up and safety checked and everyone must wear helmets to participate.
Other local youth mountain bike programs include the Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers’ Sprockidz program in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and Mighty Bikes in Anchorage. Older and more advanced youth should check out the Hilltop Bike School.
Back for a second year! Get excited for the season with CMBR’s annual fundraiser at Odd Man Rush in Eagle River! We’ve got a selection of films for you, including award-winning “Anytime” from Anthill films and a world-premier short from one of our local riders!
Doors will open at 5:30pm with cash bar and silent auction. Short films start at 6:30 pm and the hour-long main feature starts at 7:30pm.
Thanks to everyone who came out last night, we had a great time! We had a few chips that didn’t read, and have updated the results with our paper timing backup. Let us know if anything else needs to be corrected. Hope to see you all at the ICY RIVER RAMPAGE in February!
Friday Dec 26th, 7pm. Join us for the Merry Masher fat bike race, a fundraiser for Chugach Mountain Bike Riders. MORE INFO HERE.
We’ve got a new course for you this year using “Lemon Squeezy” a new connector for the green trails at Mirror Lake. This allows us to loop Easy Peasy and take advantage of some of the more packed trails at Mirror Lake.
The singletrack has a thin grippy layer of snow. Edmonds Lake is in beautiful condition, perfectly smooth packed snow. Mirror Lake is a bit rougher, but the Muni plans to groom a loop for us, and the ice skating rink should be hot mopped! Thank you Eagle River Parks and Rec!
We’ve got disco lights, a DJ, a whole bunch of fire pits and a Friday night party planned for you all. Come out and race or come out and cheer!
The expansion of the Chugiak-Eagle River trail system and the growth of Southcentral Alaska’s mountain bike community depends on donations from our trail users. Historically, CMBR has been able to match $10 to every one dollar you have donated. (Many employers have also doubled your donations, thank you!)
Coordinated construction of an additional mile of the Northern Extension Coastal Trail around Beach Lake, connecting Eagle River to the Inlet, a part of the Historic Iditarod Trail.
Coached over 100 youths in our summer CMBR Kids club, riding four days a week!
Groomed winter trails at Mirror Lake and the Lower Eagle River Trail.
Led regional coach certification for CMBR, Mighty Bikes, Sprockidz, and Tsalteshi youth MTB programs.
Completion of the Mirror Lake master plan, proposing five miles of adaptive MTB trails by MLMS.
We are pleased to announce Trek Bicycle Store of Anchorage as the sponsor for the ninth annual Mirror Lake Merry Masher winter bike race!
It’s gonna be a PARTY! Light up your rides, as we’re going after dark on a mix of flowy singletrack, a bit of nice wide doubletrack, a couple of great hill climbs, and some beautiful lake riding in the shadow of Bear Mountain in Chugiak.
You will have the option of two or three 3+ mile laps. You must complete the race in the 2-hour time limit.
Fri Dec 26th 7pm Merry Masher at Mirror Lake
Sat Feb 7th 11am Icy River Rampage at Eagle River Nature Center
Wed Mar 4th 7pm Blue Booty Blitz at APU
If you’re not racing, you are welcome to come out and cheer!
Thanks to Trek Bicycle Store of Anchorage for sponsoring this year’s race.
This event is a membership drive and fundraiser for Chugach Mountain Bike Riders and proceeds will go to support the improvement of the Mirror Lake Singletrack.
When: Friday, December 26th. Bibs Pick-Up 6pm. Race Start 7pm.
Where: Mirror Lake Park, Mile 24 Glenn Hwy, Chugiak, Alaska.
Let’s get the El Jefe JUMP LINE ready for opening! We have a tons of roots to lop, some dirt and gravel to haul, branches to pull back, and tread to smooth.
We’ll also do a fall touch-up on Bee-Line and Lazy-G.
Meet at the first trail crossing on Camp Gorsuch Rd in Mirror Lake Park and head straight up the path to beginning of LAZY G.
We plan to have 1-2 hours of work and 1-2 hours of riding.
Please sign a waiver, we have some tools, but bring loppers, work gloves, flat shovels, etc. if you have them.
This past week ProTrails has been building the alternate line on the new EL JEFE jump line at Mirror Lake, Alaska.
The intent is to make this alternate route a black-diamond adaptive MTB line, but also to allow ride-arounds for the larger jumps on the main trail. Once the machine work is done and the trails dry out we’ll host a work day and pre-ride of the new trails.
Thank you so much to the Anchorage Park Foundation for a $10k challenge grant to make this aMTB line possible!
This proposal is a part of the BOLT Act (Biking on Long Trails), which directs federal land management agencies under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service to identify existing and potential long distance biking trails.
Two long-distance bike trails already exist on the Kenai Peninsula: The Kenai 250, and the Southern Trek Iditarod. The Chugach Mountain Bike Trail combines these two existing routes and extends them to Anchorage up the proposed Twenty-mile Trail, the existing Winner Creek Trail, along the Bird to Gird Pathway, and over the proposed Arctic to Indian Traverse to connect to the Moose Loop and downtown Anchorage.
The Kenai 250 is Alaska’s longest summer ultra-endurance bike ride, and a well-known bikepacking route that includes the well-established Resurrection and Russian Lakes Trails, which then connect via the gravel Snug Harbor Road and the Old Sterling Trail to the Southen Trek Iditarod Trail and Alaska’s Crown Jewel, the Lost Lake – Primrose Trail. The route then loops back to Devil’s Pass and finishes in Hope.
The Southern Trek Iditarod Trail connects Seward to Girdwood, including the IMBA Epic Johnson Pass Trail, and is one of the US Forest’ Service’s 15 trail maintenance prioirity areas per the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2016. This 100+ mile long trail will be completed summer 2026 from the Alaska Railroad station in Seward to the station in Portage, making this a car-free option for riders coming from Anchorage.
NEW AND IMPROVED ROUTES
Please note that the routes ORCA is proposing are slightly different that the existing Kenai 250 and Southern Trek Iditarod routes. New bridges and trail construction along the Moose Pass Trail, Turnagain Pass Trail, and the Portage Curve Mulitimodal Trail, as well as reroutes onto the Lost Lake and Primrose Trails, remove significant portions of road miles and replace them with dozens of miles of newly constructed singletrack and separated pathways.
TRAIL IMPACT AND COMMUNITY
a. Why is this trail special to our cycling community, and the surrounding communities?
Access to the outdoors is quintessential to the Alaskan way of life and the Alaskan brand. The allure of world class backcountry experiences encourages folks to call these rugged landscapes home and for visitors to fuel local economies.
The routes we are proposing build upon the most iconic trails in all of Alaska. These are trails steeped in cultural and historical significance. Any Alaskan can tell you stories and legends around the Iditarod Historic Trail from a young age. Cycling the Resurrection Trail is a coming of age pilgrimage for all Alaskan mountain bikers. These are cherished lands. Seamlessly interconnecting these renowned resources is a natural next step in improving quality of life and economic opportunites in Alaska.
This route also takes advantage of trails that already have a great deal of developmental momentum, and we are hoping to capture synergies under one unifying banner. The Alaska Long Trail and Iditarod Southern Trek Projects are actively rewriting the book on long trail developement in Alaska. Every summer, new trails are added to our vast network. It is up to us to tell the story of how all these incredible resources interconnect and expand upon one another.
b. What local communities benefit from the trail?
Connecting Alaska’s population and economic epicenter, Anchorage, with the communities of the Kenai Peninsula via one continuous trail is the largest opportunity of all recreation development projects in the state. Once the Kenai is tied to Anchorage via a non-motorized route, we vastly expand the base of people who would consider traveling to Alaska to undertake such an adventure. We also ensure a steady flow of year-round local use and related events, helping to boost quality of life and rural economies. As it stands today, the logistical hurdles necessary to bikepack in Alaska keep many from exploring the outstanding trails in the region.
While all communities along the route will benefit from a BOLT designation: Anchorage, Indian, Girdwood, Moose Pass, Seward, Coopers Landing, and Hope; the smaller the community, the greater the opportunity for gain. With such a designation, southcentral Alaska can boast a recreational opportunity to rival that of hiking the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trail. Patronizing these communities as part of a once in a lifetime adventure should be a part of any avid recreationalists bucket list.
c. What other user groups (aside from bikers) is the trail accessible to?
Hikers (and their impacts to local economies) are just as significant a user group to this route as cyclists. Much of these routes already serve as hotspots for equestrian use, and proposed new sections of trail will further open up access for horseback riding.
Unique to Alaska is our vastly different seasonal recreational opportunities. When it comes to cycling on the snow, the more use a trail gets, the better the cycling becomes. By increasing the draw for these trail segments, we further expand fat biking in southcentral Alaska, already a hotbed for the sport internationally.
This route will also be an excellent resource for those seeking multi-day backcountry and crosscountry ski, snowshoe and dog mushing opportunities.
While most of the route is closed to motorized use in the summer months, there are multiple segments that open to snowmachines/snowmobiles in the winter.
d. local/regional groups that steward all or portions of the long-distance trail:
Alaska Off-Road Cycling Alliance (including Chugach Mountain Bike Riders, Singletrack Advocates and Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers)
e. Describe how recognition as a BOLT trail could benefit the stewardship and long-term sustainability of the trail and the communities it connects.
With so many incredible partners, communities, resources, ongoing projects, and trails in the region it can often be difficult to keep all the opportunities straight and refocus our collective vision on the bigger picture. Within Alaska’s wide and complicated map of overlapping land managers and nonprofits, it is not a lack of will to steward or sustainably develop our lands that hinders us, but a lack of glue that keeps us working together towards a shared outcome bigger than any one of us. A BOLT trail designation is the ideal glue to help shepherd all our collective interests and energies in a cohesive and reoccurring manner.
While many incredible trails emblematic of Alaskan grandeur dot this region, there remains a lack of a unifying route tying all our communities together. Unlike locations in the lower 48 states and elsewhere, it is truly possible to interconnect every single population and commerce hub from Anchorage to Seward in this manner. As we knit towns together, everyone stands to benefit.
More than a designation, we are seeking to build a cultural phenomenon around long distance, backcountry cycling in Alaska. A BOLT Trail in southcentral Alaska is the next step in that journey.
A Vision for Chugiak-Eagle River Trails and Pathways
Please go to Recreational Trails Plan – PublicInput and give a thumbs up on proposed Chugiak-Eagle River trail projects. Feel free to add your own comments as well.
Public Input is Needed
While the proposed update to the Recreational Trails plan includes two high-priority trails: the Lower Eagle River Trail from Briggs Bridge and the Northern Extension Coastal Trail from Beach Lake Park to Mirror Lake Park, we are concerned that dozens of planned trails have been cut.
The New 2025 Plan. Most trails have been removed.1997 Areawide Trails Plan
The basic plan for Chugiak-Eagle River’s Recreational Trails has been the same for 40 years. This is a great plan. Let’s keep it.
1982 Coastal Trail Plan. Does this look familiar?1985 Recreational Plan – Bikeways
DRAFT COMMENTS:
Please include the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) through Chugiak-Eagle River, and the recent efforts of Chugiak-Eagle River Parks and Recreation Department to reestablish this trail in our community. The INHT comprehensive plan calls for a “parallel recreational trail” that follows the general path of the historic trail. Starting at the Eagle River Nature Center, the INHT runs along Eagle River Rd, cuts through downtown Eagle River, and connects with the proposed Coastal Trail. The New Beach Lake Multiuse Trail has been officially designated as a part of the INHT.
Include Creekside Trail easments along Fire Creek, Peters Creek and Mirror Creek that the Municipality retained though the ANILCA. Also include the new Public Use Easement that follows Edmonds Creek.
Include all areawide trails for analysis and planning. This includes, but is not limited to AMATS recreational trails, AMATS nonmotorized pathways, adjacent Chugach State Park trails, and major trail easements (such as Fire Creek, Mirror Creek and Peters Creek). While this plan makes recommendations for recreational trails within the AMATS boundary, it is necessary to map and list adjacent trails and nonmotorized pathways to create a clear and comprehensive plan.
Inventory trails from 1997 Areawide Plan and match to trails in new plans including Chugach State Park (CSP) Trails Plan, and the AMATS Nonmotorized Plan (NMP). If 1997 trails are not included in the CSP Trails Plan or NMP, they must be included or updated in this Recreational Trails Plan, as recommended by the 1997 plan. The splitting of a single trails plan into three separate parts has made overall planning efforts difficult. This Recreational Trails plan needs to capture any trails missing from the updated documents.
Specific trails must be mentioned and mapped in the new plan. Consistent with NMP, CSP Trails Plan and the 1997 Areawide Trails Plan, existing, planned, and proposed trails must be listed and included on the recreational trails plan map, not just general guidelines for trails.
Chugiak-Eagle River Trails needed on Recreational Trails Plan Map per previous plans and community requests:
a. Add the Iditarod National Historic Trail “parallel Recreation Trail” along Eagle River Rd, Beach Lake Trail and the Northern Extension Coastal Trail.
b. Glenn Hwy Pathway – complete gaps at VFW Rd, Artillery Rd Exit, and Mirror Lake to the Native Village of Eklutna. (several gaps are missing from NMP)
c. Eagle River Rd Pathway – complete to Nature Center (several sections missing from NMP)
d. Old Glenn Pathway – this is already completed to Peters Creek (NMP is incorrect)
e. Eagle River Loop Rd – include a separated pathway, not just wide shoulder (per 1997, missing in NMP)
f. Fire Creek, Mirror Creek, Peters Creek, Edmonds Creek include these trail easements from the Coastal Trail to Glenn/Old Glenn Pathway (per ANILCA land Agreement, Northern Extension Coastal Trail Plan, 1997 Areawide Trails Plan, Mirror Lake Plan, Beach Lake Master Plan)
g. The Beach Lake Trail is under construction, add to plan. (per Beach Lake Master Plan, connects Glenn Path to Coastal Trail)
h. Add MacDonald Center to Mt Baldy Connection via Carol Creek (in housing development plat via HLB lands)
i. Reroute Coastal Trail away from Native Village of Eklutna (per planning overlay district) – Use new Edmonds Creek public use easement instead.
j. Add Mount Baldy Trail Access. This is open and secured on Muni Parkland.
k. Lower Eagle River Trail (Eagle River Greenbelt from Briggs) – Fix Trail Name
Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley have over 200 miles of trails open to mountain biking; nearly 120 miles of those have been built specifically for bikes.
Local Southcentral trail clubs Chugach Mountain Bike Riders, Singletrack Advocates and Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers spent over a year working with national trail building nonprofit IMBA Trail Solutions to inventory, assess and identify opportunities in our regional mountain bike trail systems.
Major funding for this project came from the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, American Rescue Plan Act (Anchorage Recovery), and private donations.
The Anchorage and Mat-Su Strategic Trails Plan represents a bold, community-driven effort to reimagine Southcentral Alaska’s trail systems. Spearheaded by Chugach Mountain Bike Riders (CMBR) in collaboration with local trail groups, public agencies, and regional advocates, the plan reflects more than a year of outreach, data collection, and shared visioning.
Recognizing the region’s unique combination of urban access, wild backcountry, and diverse terrain, this initiative aims to create a world-class network of sustainable, accessible, and purpose-built mountain bike trails that support both local recreation and destination tourism.
Central to the planning process was the development of two powerful tools—the Anchorage and Mat-Su Trail Attribute Tool and the Trail Analysis Tool—which together offer a detailed understanding of the character, quality, and distribution of the region’s 750+ trails. These platforms provided the foundation for a data-informed approach, allowing planners and stakeholders to assess trail difficulty, design intent, user types, and geographic gaps with greater precision. Combined with extensive input from riders, land managers, and local nonprofits, the planning team was able to identify high-impact opportunities for both new trail development and strategic improvements to existing infrastructure.
This executive summary outlines the plan’s five biggest takeaways and accompanying recommendations for improving mountain bike trail systems across Anchorage and the Mat- Su Valley. These priorities are designed to support trail accessibility, enhance ride quality, and build a cohesive,
future-ready network that reflects the values of local communities while preserving the region’s iconic landscapes.
TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS
1 Anchorage and Mat-Su Offer World- Class Diversity
The Southcentral Alaska region boasts over 200 miles of mountain bike trails, offering a full range of riding experiences—from beginner-friendly flow trails within
Anchorage’s city limits to rugged, remote backcountry routes in the Chugach Mountains and Hatcher Pass. This level of trail density places Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley on par with established riding destinations like Bellingham, Washington and Pisgah, North Carolina. While much of the network in Alaska is still shared-use and not purpose-built for mountain
biking, the sheer volume, scenic value, and year-round access— particularly winter fat biking—make the region a standout.
With continued investment in bike-optimized infrastructure and connectivity, Southcentral Alaska is well-positioned to lead the next generation of world-class mountain bike destinations.
2 Need for Purpose-Built Trail Expansion
Many existing trails across the region, particularly in the Chugach Backcountry and older sections of Mat-Su, were not designed with mountain biking in mind. These routes often follow legacy mining roads, service tracks, or shared- use paths that lack flow, sustainability, and technical features desired by modern riders. This leads to maintenance challenges, degraded tread, and limited progression opportunities. Purpose-built trails—especially directional flow and technical lines—are essential to improving user experience and reducing conflict with other trail users. The plan identifies key areas for future construction and reroutes that would optimize trail design, including in North Bivouac, Peters Creek, the Arctic to Indian Traverse, and Hatcher Pass.
3 Urban Access and Youth Infrastructure Are Underbuilt
Despite the presence of urban parks near population centers, there is a clear shortage of bike-specific infrastructure that supports youth, beginners, and casual riders. Facilities like
Mirror Lake, Russian Jack, and Palmer Bike Park offer good starting points but lack the breadth, durability, and visibility to fully meet community needs. New pump tracks, progressive skills areas, and short loop trails designed for families could help lower the barrier to entry for new riders while supporting skill development. These features are especially important in underserved areas of East Anchorage and Chugiak-Eagle River, where trail access is currently limited. Investing in visible,
well-designed community trail hubs will ensure mountain biking remains inclusive and accessible to the next wave of riders.
4 Trail Data Tools Enable Smart Planning
The Trail Attribute and Trail Analysis tools developed for this plan provide powerful platforms for inventorying, evaluating, and visualizing over 21,000 individual trail data points across 750+ trails in Southcentral Alaska. These tools allow land managers and advocates to identify gaps in trail difficulty, feature density, and bike optimized trail types—enabling more strategic and equitable investment. By filtering and comparing trail systems, planners can also measure network strengths, highlight underutilization, and better understand where trail upgrades or expansion are most needed. The tools support public engagement by making trail data more accessible and actionable. With continued updates and use, these resources will be central to ongoing planning, maintenance, and grant application processes.
5 Backcountry and Connectivity Gaps Remain
While Anchorage’s urban trail systems are relatively well- connected, there are still significant gaps in trail access across the broader region—particularly for backcountry routes and underserved neighborhoods. High-potential corridors like the Arctic to Indian Traverse and Upper Winner Creek remain underdeveloped, with limited signage, rough tread, and barriers to looped or point-to-point riding. In the Mat-Su,
efforts to connect zones like Hatcher Pass to Government Peak are still in early stages, and fragmented land ownership poses
logistical challenges. Within urban areas, neighborhoods in East Anchorage and Chugiak-Eagle River lack clear, safe connections to nearby trailheads, limiting access for those without vehicles or nearby options.
Trail data and population density maps offer valuable tools for identifying where new connections will have the greatest impact. By overlaying demographic and access data, planners can prioritize trail segments that fill connectivity gaps, especially in high-need areas. Expanding connector trails, improving signage, and developing sustainable backcountry routes will be key to creating a more cohesive, inclusive trail network across Southcentral Alaska.
El Jefe jump line is UNDER CONSTRUCTION! The trail is closed to the public. We will host a volunteer work day and test ride in early August 2025, weather dependent. Stay tuned for details. Thanks!
After last year’s inventory and analysis of southcentral Alaska mountain bike trail systems, professional trail builders at IMBA Trail Solutions found that the majority of trails at Mirror Lake fell into the intermediate blue square difficulty rating and recommended adding a “very difficult” black diamond trail, and more “easier” green trails to balance the system.
As a part of this project, the high speed Bee-Line run out onto the the multiuse trail will be rerouted and will connect further up the return trail at a lower speed. The new El Jefe jump line will exit at the same new intersection.
For begineers and those seeking a quieter ride, the new Xtra Easy trail will connect Easy Peasy back to Mirror Lake, creating a loop with Lakeside trail.
These projects are a part of the new Mirror Lake Master Plan, which also includes funding for multiuse trail improvements summer 2026.
Spearheaded by Chugach Mountain Bike Riders (CMBR) in collaboration with local trail groups, public agencies, and regional advocates, the plan reflects more than a year of outreach, data collection, and shared visioning.
Recognizing the region’s unique combination of urban access, wild backcountry, and diverse terrain, this initiative aims to create a world-class network of sustainable, accessible, and purpose-built mountain bike trails that support both local recreation and destination tourism.
Chugach Mountain Bike Riders (CMBR) and Singletrack Advocates (STA) request a modification to the Chugach State Park (CSP) trails plan to include bicycles as a design use on the Arctic to Indian Traverse.
This trail will connect to the Powerline Trail (design use: bicycle) and create a through trail for bicycles from Arctic Valley to the Anchorage Hillside, linking existing Anchorage trails and pathways and providing a world-class loop for backcountry cyclists.
The Arctic to Indian Traverse includes the Muktuk Marston Trails 300-301, Ship Creek Trails 304a-304b, and Indian Valley Trails 509a-509b. Bicycles are already recommended as managed use on the Marston Trails 300-301.
Chapter 5 of the Chugach State Park Plan, Regulation Changes, states that a periodic review is triggered by written public request and/or changes in use. We believe that both triggers have been met.
CMBR and STA ask that the Chugach State Park Citizen’s Advisory Board (CAB) support this public request and write a letter requesting a CSP plan review specifically targeting the Arctic to Indian Traverse.
Additionally, we recommend that the planned Ship Creek Trail be changed from a class 2 to a class 3 trail, consistent with the Muktuk Marston and Indian Valley Trails. We believe a class 3 trail would require less maintenance and would better handle the anticipated popularity of this trail. More significantly, it would mean that the entire Arctic to Indian Traverse would be the same class of trail.
Of note, Ship Creek Valley is currently managed as a wilderness. According to the CSP Management Plan, trail construction in managed wilderness is allowed if included in the CSP Trails Plan. The recently built Muktuk Marston Trail is a class 3 trail built in the Ship Creek wilderness area. Furthermore, while CSP wilderness prohibits motorized use, bicycles are allowed if included as a managed use in the CSP trails plan and opened by regulation change. This means that bicycles are managed by CSP the same way in all three land use designations: recreation, natural, and wilderness.
CMBR and STA believe that this request can be implemented without modifying the wilderness management designation. However, designating a natural-zone buffer on either side of the trail, similar to the scenic corridor along the Crow Pass Trail, may allow the construction of a more sustainable trail with less need for maintenance.
This request is consistent with the latest Alaska SCORP, which mentions biking as one of the top increases of recreational use on Alaska’s public lands. Specifically, the 2023-2027 SCORP Goal 2, Objective 6. “Expand opportunities for biking, hiking, public use cabins, and hut-to-hut trail systems” should be considered with this request.
We are cautiously optimistic about Amendment #3 to AMATS TIP (Highway funding) to improve the main Eagle River exit (Artillery Road Interchange) and that this project will not only fix the roads, but also connect the Glenn Hwy Pathway.
If you’ve ever ridden the Glenn Hwy pathway, you know it disappears at the main Eagle River Exit (Artillery Rd Interchange) and many riders cut through various parking lots and side streets to find the path again.
Your comments are needed on a newly added project:
NHS0013 Glenn Highway and Artillery Road Interchange Improvements – The project will reconstruct the Glenn Highway and Artillery Road interchange in Eagle River to improve safety and operations. Work includes bridge (#1328) replacement, retaining walls, nearby intersections, channelization, pedestrian sidewalks and pathways, lighting, roadside hardware, ADA facilities, drainage improvements, landscaping, signing, striping, and utilities as needed.
SAMPLE COMMENTS.
I am pleased to see NHS0013 Glenn Highway and Artillery Road Interchange Improvements added to the TIP.
I would like to confirm that this new project combines two existing MTP2050 projects NMO202*Glenn Highway Pathway Connection at Artillery Road and CPS047* Artillery Road Interchange Reconstruction.
It would make sense that both roadway and pathway projects be completed at the same time.
MTP2050 NMO202* Glenn Highway Pathway Connection at Artillery Road – construct a connection for the Glenn Highway Pathway south to the Glenn Highway Pathway North through the Artillery Road Interchange.
MTP2050 CPS047* Artillery Road Interchange Reconstruction – reconstruct the interchange, including lengthening the southbound on ramp and the intersection of Old Glenn Highway and Eagle River Road near the artillery interchange to accommodate turning traffic from Eagle River Road.
Thursday April 3rd, 2025. Festivities Start 5:00pm Film 6:30pm
Celebrate 10 years of trail building, youth MTB coaching, and community rides with Chugach Mountain Bike Riders.
Youth and young adults (under 21) welcome with a parent. (All ages need tickets to attend)
Silent Auction – Cash Bar – Food Trucks – MTB Short Films
Ritual is a big screen celebration of the indomitable human spirit that defines the sport of mountain biking with unforgettable film – going experiences. The film series highlights incredible athletes, creative filmmakers, engaging storylines and stunning cinematography; bringing riders together in mountain biking’s greatest cities and venues.
Thanks to a Community Challenge Grant from the Anchorage Parks Foundation, our community has been able to leverage over $100k in funding for Mirror Lake trails!
We need to raise $10k in matching funds to unlock this funding.
This is a 10x match. Every $100 raised means $1,000 in trail projects. CAN YOU HELP?
