Alaska Outdoor Reports

Hillside Yesterday 6PM by Sam Sterling

Huge thanks to NSAA for getting out and grooming once again! Really fun skiing, especially on Spencer Loop. Very cool to see the Abbott Trailhead at full capacity with skiers at the end of April... thanks NSAA!

Hillside Yesterday 6PM by TC

We echo other people's sentiments that we really appreciate Ricky getting out there to groom for all us this morning. With this stoke for spring skiing, I felt it necessary to be the word of caution for folks heading over to ski Hillside. Conditions have changed dramatically from the afternoon corduroy to the evening blend of dense snow with pockets of bare soil. Randy's Loop is over for the season as there are long stretches of dirt that require walking to get around. Besh Lighted had some patches of dirt but thinner areas are completely avoidable. Hillside also has some thin-icy spots, but these show up on steep slopes and are a bit more technical to navigate. Thanks for the great season NSAA!

Archangel Road Yesterday 2PM by Eric Skis

Will there be grooming Tuesday night or Wednesday morning? Thank you MSSC!

Indain to Bird point Yesterday 1PM by Paul

Indian to Bird point coastal trail
I started at the parking lot across from the Brown bear. The trail was in good shape, no ice or snow. D.O.T. was in the process of cleaning up, looked like they would finish in a day or two and they were doing a good job of it. Traffic noise wasnât bad, a lot of the trail is away from hwy and waterfalls drowned out a lot.

Hillside Yesterday 12PM by Alison Arians

NSAA groomed the Hillside trails again! Thank you, NSAA! It's beautiful corduroy out there--ski it while it lasts! You don't even need your rock skis!

Hillside Yesterday 12PM by devo

32F, blue sky. Skate skied lighted loops from Abbott parking lot. Fresh groom. Good coverage. Soft but fun. No bear or moose tracks.

Hillside Yesterday 8AM by MOA Nordic Map

NSAA groomed Besh Loop; Gasline - Not ready until Noon; Hillside Loop; Jr. Nordic/ Service; Randy's Loop; Spencer Loop - Not ready until Noon. Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Upper O'Malley Trailhead Yesterday 7AM by LisaM

Remember to bring your Bear (Pepper) Spray. First report that I know of, of big brown bear on Tuesday morning near Upper O'Malley Trailhead.

Hillside Monday 6PM by Chris S

Loop from Service to Coaches Cutoff. Trails could use some grooming and I think we could get a few more days of spring skiing. Get our and enjoy it while you can!!

Glen Alps Monday 6PM by J and K

It was beautiful conditions with a few inches of new light and fluffy snow on top of last week's snowfall to make for great ski touring both on and off of the Powerline Trail. Just enough snow to cover up most of the rocks and brush but not so much to make it really slow going. Skied pretty much all the way up to the lake. Watch out for some spectacular wind blown tree and rock wells as you get up past the German bridge.

Chester Creek Trail Monday 5PM by Bike Commuter

Chester was pretty difficult for 1-inch tires. 70% was like riding through a Slurpee (no complaints with that). The other 30%, which hadn't melted and had packed somewhat with foot/bike traffic, was bad. A hard freeze tonight would make it all a bone shaker tomorrow.

Upper Chester Creek/APU bypass had been plowed and was excellent.

Far North Bicentennial Park Monday 12PM by Trailbreaker

The fat biking in Campbell Tract is quite good right now and will remain good as long as we have freezing nights. Put some bear spray in your frame bag and clip out if you encounter mud. I rode the gravel trails at lunch time today (Viewpoint, Salmon Run, Moose Track, Lynx) and only encountered one soft spot on Viewpoint. Rovers, Speedway, Moose Meadow, etc. are probably good as well, but might have a few more soft spots.

Hatcher Pass Monday 10AM by kelsey

Happy Earth Day!

Does anyone know of public access trails that lead up from the Sutton area into Hatcher Pass?

Archangel Road Sunday 3PM by Kelly

Skate skied Archangel today. Could not have been nicer. Many skiers out -
Classic and skate. Stellar day. Snow is a little
soft in spots but hardly noticeable.
Looking forward to much more skiing up there! Thank you MSSC for the grooming!

Glen Alps Sunday 3PM by Eva and Dan

Perfect snowball snow at Glen Alps this afternoon, paired with blinding sunshine and intermittently aggressive winds. We had a delightful if bumpy classic ski out the Gasline a ways. Walkers, expect to posthole! We were occasionally punching through even on our skis. Find a clearing, build some snow people, and have an epic snowball fight.

Campbell Creek Trail Sunday 2PM by Steve P

Rode Campbell Creek from Elmore to Diamond. Two unrideable snow patches just before Lake Otis Park. Ice under Old Seward Hiway at Peanut Farm.

Archangel Road, Hatcher Pass Sunday 10AM by Rebecca Shaffer

Skjored at 8:30 am. 42 degrees at the parking lot. The road is freshly groomed and not the least bit icy. Fresh snow, with corduroy. Base is slightly soft. Here's hoping foot traffic stays to the edges. Potential for deep holes and ruts will grow as the day goes on. Flat light but amazing ski. Also, Hatcher Pass Road is dry and clear.

Archangel Road Saturday 11PM by ZackS

Ran the groomer over Archangel Rd to the bridge late Sat night. Re-set both sets of tracks and the skate lane on top of the fresh snow. It should make for a great Easter ski on Sunday! Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Hillside Saturday 11AM by Ben Arians

Remarkably decent skate skiing at Hillside today, NSAA snow machine packed the entire system (maybe not the BLM? ), and despite some ruts, it was quite good after last night's freeze. Thanks to NSAA for that, there was a pretty good number of people out enjoying the snow and sun. Spring skiing is back on!

Archangel Road Friday 11PM by Jerry Hupp

Mat-Su Ski Club packed the non-motorized section of Archangel Road on Friday evening. Probably will be a bit soft for fat bikes and walkers, but ok for skiing. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Hillside Friday 4PM by Alison Arians

Thank you, NSAA, for grooming the Hillside trails today!!! Several laps of a snowmachine packed the lighted loop nicely. The classic skiing was lovely, and skating would be great, too!!

Glen Alps Friday 1PM by cavalley

Skied Powerline as some earlier poster suggested and I was so happy I did. Worth the effort of a very thick and slushy drive up. I had a fantastic time, lots of fresh snow and sun shining nearly the entire time, definitely got lucky with my timing!

Archangel Road Friday 12PM by Jeffkase

For some reason last nights post did not show up? Anyway. 8â heavy snow at AA. Packed the road to the bridge parking lot. Snow began to fall as I left last night

Hillside Friday 9AM by Skijoring Ladybugs

One foot of fresh snow (and still lightly falling) at 1000' bodes well for higher elevations. The new snow is drier/lighter than yesterday's glop, so skiing should be near April-epic.

Eklutna Lake Thursday 6PM by Gailyn

Anyone know what Eklutna is like right now? Skiable at all?

Glen Alps Thursday 2PM by Chris Hellmann

Donât put the XC skis away yet. There was about a foot of snow this afternoon on the Powerline trail.

Archangel Road Thursday 9AM by Jeff Kase

Due to the large spring snow fall we just received we are unable to groom midweek but will (try) have the trails groomed for the weekend.

Hillside Wednesday Apr 17 by Julian Mason

The trails are soggy wet from winter snow melt and current rain and snow. A few selfish bikers have made big ruts. Enthusiasm for damaging the trails may be reduced by the large number of black bear tracks on top of the new snow.

Rabbit Creek Valley Tuesday Apr 16 by Awayne eski

Started a little late around 9:30am. First half mile or so the trail has little snow, but after that the crust riding was quite good all the way to the lake. Very few people. The crust got softer as you approach the lake, so stayed on the hiking trail that last section, but majority of valley crust was still firm and rideable as we rode out between 11am-noon.

Far North Bicentennial Park Monday Apr 15 by Andesite

Does anyone know if Far North trails are dry enough for running and relatively free of ice/mud/lake-sized puddles?

Archangel Road Sunday Apr 14 by Zack S

Ran the groomer over the non-motorized trail from the parking lot to the bridge Sunday night. Very hard packed base with recycled corn on top. Did not re-set the two pair of deep tracks since they were holding up fine. Crust skiing was OK (not great) this morning. Should be good for another week at Archangel, then time to hang the skiis or go high. For groomer skating at Archangel, best to time your arrival between morning hard freeze and late afternoon melt - sometime 11a-4p depending on daily temps. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Archangel Road Sunday Apr 14 by Erin

Skied out of the Snowbird hut, and found a Salomon running shoe right before getting down into the Reed Lakes valley. Left it at the Archangel trailhead if it's yours! Skating out the road was slushy but still holding up ok.

Kincaid Park Sunday Apr 14 by Zach H.

Kincaid bike trail was basically all clear except a couple small spots of ice/snow. The coastal trail had a lot more snow and icy spots but they were easy to roll over even with a road bike. It was early in the day so it may be better or worse once itâs warmed up a bit. It was no problem really, just slowed ya down a bit. Riding again tomorrow.

Turnagain Arm Trail Sunday Apr 14 by KO

Hiked from McHugh to Potter and back. Some mud and slick trail spots on the McHugh end, all within the first 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile of the trail. Otherwise trail conditions are very good. Lots of people on the trail this weekend.

Bird to Gird Trail Saturday Apr 13 by Tracy

I found one glove on the trail today. I left it by the fee collection box at the first parking lot near Indian where the paved trail starts. Photo of glove will be posted on FB.

Kenai Lake Rest Stop Saturday Apr 13 by pH

Anyone been over to Gull Rock? Is trail clear, icy, full of blow-down?? Thanks.

Archangel Road Friday Apr 12 by Ashley Wise

Groomed the non-motorized section tonight. The road is in great shape with 2 new inches of snow. Fresh corduroy and the classic track is in great shape. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Archangel Road Friday Apr 12 by Randal Bladel

Did Archangel and / or the Independence Mine trails get snow? If so, will either one be groomed for skiing tomorrow? Thanks.

Campbell Creek Trail Thursday Apr 11 by TC

Campbell Creek trail from Elmore to the Seward Hwy still has a few long patches ice. It is particularly bad between the Campbell Creek bridge and Lake Otis (adjacent to the public park and playground). There is evidence of the muni chipping up some of the stretches, but sadly this trail has not seen the same degree of ice clearing as Chester Creek trail.

Bean Creek Thursday Apr 11 by Heidi

Cody, Two weeks ago (March 30), Bean Creek trail was about 60% mud and 40% ice. Walking was the only available travel mode.

Chester Creek Trail Wednesday Apr 10 by John

What differenced couple of days and more plowing make! The trail is essentially clear and the tiny amounts remaining mostly near the Russian Jack end don't have long on a day like this. Thanks to folks at the Muni for staying on this. One of the trail's regulars said that it was now time to get the tricycle out.

South Resurrection Pass Trail Wednesday Apr 10 by cody

Anyone know the conditions on South Resurrection Pass trail? Wondering if skiing or walking is the best travel mode these days from Bean creek. Thanks.

Chester Creek Trail Wednesday Apr 10 by Bike commuter

I wanted to thank the Muni and possibly APU staff for the amazing job of clearing the trails this spring. Your work over the last two weeks was noticed and appreciated. Thanks you!

Archangel Road Wednesday Apr 10 by Chris Jones

MSSC groomed the non-motorized section for skate and classic. Skate lanes are good. Classic tracks ruddy but ski-able. Lotsa fat tires on the crust havin fun, it's bullet proof solid in the am, but getting a little bumpy for skating. Support Mat-Su Ski Club. Donate!

Archangel Road Tuesday Apr 9 by Mindy

Great crust skiing along Archangel Road

Chester Creek Trail Monday Apr 8 by John

Possibly a little less ice than reported on Friday, but still lots of it in the shady spots although the Muni has done some plowing and sweeping. It doesn't look like it's going to be gone before at least a few more days.

Independence Mine Monday Apr 8 by Bob

Groomed trails were very nice at midday for skating. Crust skiing good until early afternoon, a bit soft by 2 or 3.

Archangel Road Monday Apr 8 by Ed Strabel

MSSC regroomed Archangel for Skating and Classic. Excellent condition for Skating - "Fast" and good edging. The Classic tracks are fair to good.

Neighborhood streets Sunday Apr 7 by Alan S

Ship Creek multi-use Trail, Anchorage Port area

No snow. Some melty puddles.

Hatcher Pass Sunday Apr 7 by Gary

Skied up Gold Mint Trail again. The crust is good, likely for a few more days if it gets cold. The further you go the better it gets. Left the trail after about a mile. Glorious day of crust up there. Perfect 10 after about 2 miles.