Category: Alaska Federal

Tongass National Forest
Tongass National Forest has accessible and easy trails.  It is the nation’s largest national forest.  It covers most of Southeast Alaska, including the Inside Passage, Mendenhall Glacier, Bear Creek, and Admiralty Island.  This national forest “is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, and is home to a majestic array of islands, mountains, forests, glaciers, salmon streams, fjords and bays.”  From TravelAlaska.com
Ward Creek Trail    1.4 miles gravel surfaced in rolling terrain.

Pipeline Trail 3.1 miles  gravel surface in rolling terrain.

Mosquito Cove Trail  1.5 mile loop through hemlock/spruce forest.  The first 1000′ is ADA complaint.
Eagle’s Nest Campground Interpretive Trail  0.5 mile through spruce trees, along Control Creek where salmon spawn.
Wukuklook Beach Trail   0.5 mile boardwalk to Wukuklook Beach.

Crystal Lake Trail  0.8 mile on natural glacier gravel deposits.  This trail is rated “easy”, but may not be easy enough.  Call the Forest to learn more.
Lake Florence Trail  1.4 miles “The trail gradually climbs from saltwater on Chatham Strait through a spruce/hemlock forest and ends at Lake Florence.”  Rated easy, but check first.
Tongas National Forest Headquarters 907-225-3101 website    Map

The Forest Service has produced this guide to Trails outside Ketchikan.  It includes trails within the Forest and some administered by the City of Ketchikan.  A number of these sound pretty easy, although not wheelchair accessible. Call the Ranger District to learn more. 907-225-2148

Know more about  Tongas National Forest ?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.

Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Reserve
Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Reserve is a  birding area near Fairbanks with some easy walking trails.  It covers 1800 acres of wetland, forest, ponds, and open fields.
There are three nature trails, described as “flat and easy” by visitors.     Here are some reviews from Trip Advisor.   To avoid disappointment, it would be wise to call to learn the best times to coincide with the birds’ migration and to check trail conditions.  Laurie Boeck, Refuge Manager, wrote me that “Creamer’s does have an handicapped accessible loop in a typical year, but this year has been an exception with the persistent flooding events (we flooded again on Monday [9/1/14]).  The boreal forest trail is also a relatively easy walking, and while it is not up to ADA standards, it is a flat trail with frequently placed benches for people to rest as they traverse the trail. ”  Call 907-459-7307 for more information.    Here is the website.         Thanks to Ontario artist Terry Best for telling me about it.

Katmai National Park – Accessible trails
“Katmai National Monument was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes….  It is still an active volcanic area, but also preserves 9000 years of human history.”  Katmai spans over four million acres of remote, wild, and spectacular country.  There are “vast multi–lake watersheds with hundreds of miles of wild, untamed rivers and streams.”  It is important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
All bear viewing platforms are accessible. “The trails to the Brooks Falls and Riffles platforms are accessible. However, the narrow paths at Brooks Camp are rough and can become very muddy. ”  Also be aware you might have to move off a trail to make way for a passing bear.
Accessibility  907-246-3305  Here is their website. 

Know more about Katmai National Park ?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.