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Among Anchorages many large expanses of public land, Earthquake Park is unassuming. Mostpeople bike or run right through it on the Coastal Trail, pausing only to glance at the Alaska Rangeacross Cook Inlet. Despite its relatively small size, Earthquake is home to adense and growingnetwork of outstanding single track trails that are more challenging than nearly anything found atKincaid or the Hillside.Earthquake has a roly-poly array of kettle ponds and moraine piles leftbehind by glaciation fromthousands of years ago. This results in an unusual mosaic of micro-ponds separated by very well-drained ridges, which are perfect for mountain bike trails. Longer, gentler climbs and descendsconnect short, steep pitches. While there is a great deal of water and marshland, it is almost entirelylimited to the little pools amidst moraine piles. This landscape, in combination with mature forestcover, means that Earthquake’s trails stay dry during light to moderate precipitation and dry outquickly following heavier rain.The primary challenge is finding your way around. No signs mark the starting point of trails, and theyintersect in a confusion web. To get started exploring the trails, here’s one easy option: About halfwayup the gradual hill in Earthquake Park, where the Coastal Trail climbs from the water up to the bluff, there is an obvious intersection with a wide, unpaved walking path that heads south, away from thewater. From this wide dirt trail, several smaller single track trails depart to east and west. Some of thebest ones have interpretive signs along them, and loop around and over moraine piles to the east.Starting from this general area, eastbound trails gradually head downhill before connecting back to alarge, flat informal trail. This mostly straight trail cuts off the switchback corner of the Coastal Trail,and is a common cut-through for dog walkers, as well as skiers and snow bikers in the winter. It has acouple muddy sections in the summer, with small wooden boardwalks over them. A narrow bridgecrosses a ravine, which is the only real landmark.As you explore the Earthquake Park singletrack, you’ll find yourself returning to this flat trail and thisnarrow bridge repeatedly, and it will help reorient you after you’ve been zooming around on steepclimbs and descends in the woods. There is also a smaller set of single track trails on the northwestside of the Coastal Trail, which is best ridden from higher to lowerelevation to take advantage of afew steep descents.Since Earthquake Park single track trails are informal, they may have mountain bikers and otherusers going in both direction. Make sure you’re riding in control, and keeping an eye far enough downthe trail to stop or avoid others. The steep pitches and tight turns also mean one should be vigilant forwildlife. Of course, the fact that you’d even need to think of this is testament to the great trails: They’re steep and technical, but have more than enough flow to ridefast. If there are more fun trails tomountain bike in Anchorage, I haven’t found them, and certainly no trails are closer for people wholive in Turnagain, South Addition, or the Forest Park neighborhoods. Page 1 of 2 CommentsActivity WSWrite a comment Post a comment to start a discussion. @Mention someone to notify them.WSYou viewedJust nowWSYou added this file7 days ago