Anchorage Unveils Plan to Expand and Connect Trail Network

New recreation plan aims to fill gaps and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The municipality of Anchorage is seeking public feedback on a new long-range trails plan that outlines dozens of projects to expand and connect the city's extensive trail system over the next two decades. The plan focuses on improving connectivity, addressing dangerous highway crossings, and creating more north-south routes and links through commercial areas.

Why it matters

The updated trails plan is an important step in making Anchorage more walkable and bikeable for residents. Improved trail connectivity will provide better access to parks, green spaces, and workplaces, while also enhancing safety by reducing the need for dangerous highway crossings.

The details

The draft plan lays out over 70 proposed trail projects on municipal land, ranging from bridge replacements and tunnel improvements to the construction of new multi-use paths. Higher priority projects would be funded through municipal bonds, while lower-ranked initiatives may rely on partnerships, grants, or state funding. Key focus areas include connecting the Campbell and Chester Creek trails, creating an elevated crossing over Lake Otis Boulevard, and linking the Fish Creek Trail to the Coastal Trail.

  • The public comment period on the draft plan is open until March 31, 2026.
  • A final version of the trails plan is expected to be released this summer.

The players

Nicolette Dent

Senior Planner with the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department, overseeing the development of the trails plan.

Alexa Dobson

Executive Director of Bike Anchorage, an advocacy group for cyclists in the city.

Janice Tower

Founder and board member of Singletrack Advocates, a nonprofit that has developed around 40 miles of mountain bike trails in the Anchorage Bowl.

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What they’re saying

“In the same way that a road in the middle of a cornfield with nothing at either end is not very useful to cars, our trails have to connect to each other and have to go somewhere for them to be useful.”

— Alexa Dobson, Executive Director, Bike Anchorage (adn.com)

“As a community, it's much better to be able to access trails out your front door, rather than to have to get in your car and drive. ... Plus it's just more fun to be able to ride out your front door.”

— Janice Tower, Founder and Board Member, Singletrack Advocates (adn.com)

What’s next

The Anchorage Assembly will review the final trails plan this summer and determine which projects to prioritize for funding.

The takeaway

Anchorage's updated recreation plan represents a significant investment in making the city more walkable and bikeable, with a focus on improving trail connectivity and safety. If implemented, the plan could transform how residents access parks, green spaces, and workplaces, while also promoting active and sustainable transportation.