HIKE/BIKE COMBO

 $35.

Rent a bike and put it on the back of the 1 p.m shuttle to Flattop.ÂAfter locking up bike at trailhead, hike as fast and as far, or as slow and as little as you like.  After hiking, unlock your bike and pick one of the following return routes.

RETURN ROUTE ONE.  (Mountain Bike Required.)

Distance: About 11 miles.  First five miles downhill, remaining miles flat.

Duration:  About one hour.

Description:  This mountain bike route is steep, technical and for experienced riders only.  Trail is obstructed by ruts, roots and rocks.

Directions:  From Flattop trailhead, bike to Powerline Trail and take a left.  At intersection with Wolverine Trail, go left on Upper Gasline Trail.  Descent ends at Hilltop Ski Area.  Mountain bike through Far North Bicentennial Park and exit on Campbell Airstrip Road where you take a left.  Alaska Botanical Gardens will be on the right just before Tudor Road.  Left on Tudor.  (Ride on bike path against traffic.)  Right on Elmore Road.  Left on Providence.  Right on UAA Dr.  Right on Goose Lake Drive.  Left out of parking lot onto bike path.  Quick left onto long pedestrian bridge over N. Lights Blvd.  Now you are on the Chester Creek Trail.  Left at roundabout intersection.  Trail follows creek.  Exit trail either at Valley of the Moon Park (rocket ship playground slide) and return downtown on Arctic/E St., or continue to Westchester Lagoon and take a right on Coastal Trail which returns downtown.

 

POWERLINE PASS TRAIL. LEFT PHOTO: From the north flank of Flattop, Powerline Trail ascends east into the Chugach mountains.  Eventually, if you ride over the pass, you will descend into Indian along Turnagain Arm. From there, it's another 25 miles back to Anchorage. RIGHT PHOTO: Upper right corner of photo shows Powerline Trail and Gasline Trail descending into Anchorage bowl.

 

RETURN ROUTE TWO: Distance:  Thirteen miles.  Half downhill, half flat. Duration:  About one hour. Description:  Ride downhill on shoulder of paved road with moderate traffic and speed limits of 25 to 45 mph for first five miles.  Bike paths buffered from road or through greenbelts thereafter.  Tour university. Directions:   From Flattop trailhead, retrace route van took to O'Malley.  (Right on Toilsome, left on Upper Huffman, right on Hillside.)  Right on O'Malley which quicly curves to left and becomes Abbott.  Down hill, right on Elmore Road.  Cross Tudor intersection.  Left on Providence.  Right on UAA Dr.  Right into Goose Lake parking lot.  Exit lot on left.  Quick left onto long pedestrian over N. Lights.  Now you are on the Chester Creek trail.  Left at triangle intersection.  Trail follows the creek.  Exit at Valley of the Moon Park and return downtown on E/Arctic or continue to Coastal Trail.  RETURN ROUTE THREE: Distance:  15  -26 miles .  First eight miles downhill. Duration:  1.5 to 4 hours. Description:ÂConsider this route if you have only one day in Anchorage and want to bike the Coastal Trail, see midtown, visit the zoo, play golf, or visit a baseball batting cage.  If you can ride the Coastal Trail on another day, for most people, Return Route One is preferred.  Directions:  From Flattop trailhead, retrace route van took to O'Malley.  (Right on Toilsome, left on Upper Huffman, right on Hillside.)  Left on O'Malley.  The Zoo and the golf course will be on your right..   Bike under Seward Hwy.  Right on Old Seward.  Left on E 100.  Right on King.  Perhaps stop at Baseball Batting Cage.  Continue on King past Costco.  Cross Dimond.  Left into Taku Lake Park where you enter the Campbell Creek Trail.  When you get to fishhook lamp under C. St. bridge, either "Pull the Plug" and return directly to downtown on Midtown Bike Trail, or pedal to Kincaid Park and return downtown via Coastal Trail.  Â

More than 1,600 moose live in the city of Anchorage. This one was photographed near the university on Route 2. "The Cage" King St. & 100th

Return to Downtown Bicycle Rental by 6:30 p.m. $4 extra until 8 p.m.