The best MTB trails in Chugach State Park

This is the start of the Eklutna Lakeside Trail, which runs for miles along the aforementioned lake. The trail is actually an old road, and motorized traffic (ATVs and snowmachines, depending on trail conditions) is allowed Sunday through Wednesday. You can still bike on those days, and there are a few cutoffs that are only open to non-motorized traffic and offer you chances at a quieter ride. However, the cutoffs are frequently eroded and washed out.

This primitive campsite makes a logical turnaround point if you're just out for the day, or an overnight location if you're on a bikepacking trip. Make sure you don't set up camp on the airstrip itself; it may still be used by small planes.

This is one of the very few bike-designated trails in Chugach State Park. It's set for beginner to intermediate riders, and one-way travel is recommended from the Glen Alps Trailhead to Prospect Heights. Keep an eye out for hikers who might wander onto the trail, and for wildlife like bears and moose, both of which are commonly sighted in this area. When biking in Chugach State Park (and actually all of Alaska) you should always know how to handle wildlife encounters and consider carrying bear spray for extra protection.

This is a fun, non-technical ride with a few surprisingly pretty viewpoints over Campbell Creek Gorge. Some parts of the trail do get pretty grassy by mid to late summer, especially toward the southeast end as you rejoin the Powerline Trail. Be alert for hikers on this shared trail. Loose dogs and wildlife sightings are all common in the area, too.

Because the Prospect Heights Trailhead is only a few miles from the Glen Alps Trailhead and they're both connected by bikeable trails, they make good alternatives to each other. If one is full, you might as well head to the other. With that said, Prospect Heights tends to be a bit less crowded than Glen Alps.

This stretch of the Powerline Trail, between the Prospect Heights and Glen Alps trailheads, is fairly straight and not very technical. If you're heading south you can look forward to almost three miles of constant uphill at varying grades. If you're heading north, you can look forward to the corresponding extended downhill. Watch out for hikers and for other bikers who may emerge from the few connecting side trails.

This is the actual pass (a low, passable place between two mountains) that gives the Powerline Pass Trail its name. It's also accessible from the Indian Creek Trailhead east and south of here, but at the moment the trail from the pass down to Indian is in poor shape. Funds have been secured to improve it sometime in the next few years but in the meantime, the best riding is between here and the Glen Alps or Prospect Heights trailheads.

At the end of the trail is the stunning alpine Rabbit Lake surrounded by mountain peaks, a great reward for completing the moderate climb. Enjoy some time on the scenic shoreline before beginning the pleasant downhill ride. This lake is a popular choice for hikers, so it is advisable to be alert for pedestrian travel.