Parks and Recreation Areas in and around Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska is a cold but beautiful place with many fun and exciting places to visit and explore. Some of the best areas to visit in Alaska are the national parks, state parks, historical parks, recreation areas, and especially the preserves. Here is a list of the parks located either near Anchorage, or a scenic road trip away, and a few descriptions of the destinations.
National Parks
The national parks have a wide variety of activities and an exceptional view to the interesting and diverse habitat that resides there. Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell St. Elias, Glacier Bay, Gates of the Arctic, Katmai, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, and St. Elias are all national parks that you can visit in Alaska.
Denali National Park was founded in 1917 by the name of Mount McKinley National Park but got the name changed and was expanded in 1980. The tallest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, is featured in these six million acres. Wildlife watching, hiking, and backpacking are some of the most fun activities in this intact wilderness.
State Parks
Chugach, Denali, Kachemak Bay, Shuyak Island, and Wood-Tikchik are state parks situated all around Anchorage. Chugach is near the top of the list for most visited state parks in Alaska featuring 500,000 acres of opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife watching.
There is a Hillside Trail System that is found on the doorstep of Anchorage in the Chugach Mountains that form the Eastern border. Three campgrounds are available for use including Eagle River, Eklutna Lake and Bird Creek. The Eagle River Nature Center offers a few exhibits and nature walks of backcountry wilderness.
Historical Parks
Historical parks are all around this part of the state and include Big Delta, Independence Mine, Klondike Gold Rush, and Totem Bight. Totem Bight State Historical Park can be found ten miles outside of Ketchikan.
It offers an educational view of the Tlingit and Haida tribes of Indians. Totem poles have been recreated and restored to bring back to life the originals that had been damaged by the weather over time. 14 totem poles still stand.
Recreation Areas
Recreation areas have many diverse activities and fun adventures waiting to be had. Nancy Lake, Independence Mine, Fort Abercrombie, Caines Head, and Chena River are destinations for recreation.
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is a popular place to camp, hike, fish, and to go canoeing. There are 13 cabins for the public to use and more accessible only by the canoe or boat.
National Preserves
Chilkat Bald Eagle and Charley Rivers are both national preserves concerned with keeping the wildlife protected. Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve protects the largest group of bald eagles which numbers over 3000 when the surrounding waters freeze.
The Chilkat River does not ice up and it attracts a lot the wildlife from the surrounding areas.
These parks are fun places to get to know and enjoy the natural wildlife of the area and the state as a whole. Many activities are available and the wildlife is like no other part of the United States. This list of parks will help you in finding one that is right for you.