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Lakeside Trail, Eklutna Lake Mountain Bike Trail
Eklutna, Alaska
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:    |
2 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 6/12/09 by AK_Dan |
Difficulty:  Beginner |
| Length: 13 miles | Global Rank: #1863 |
| Tread: Doubletrack | Configuration: Out & Back |
| Ridden: 12 | Wishlist: 7 |
| Avg. Speed: 8 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 30min |
Directions:
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Description: Multiuse trail that changes from hike/bike only, to hooking up with ATV use. Follows Eklutna Lake, and very scenic. The trail itself is easy, but 13 miles one-way. It ends at Eklutna Glacier Trail. There are several hiking trail offshoots. Bring a camera and binoculars for wildflowers, wildlife, and vistas
Description: Multiuse trail that changes from hike/bike only, to hooking up with ATV use. Follows Eklutna Lake, and very scenic. The trail itself is easy, but 13 miles one-way. It ends at Eklutna Glacier Trail. There are several hiking trail offshoots. Bring a camera and binoculars for wildflowers, wildlife, and vistas
added on September 20, 2005 by 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by Xerien on June 11, 2009
Multi-use trail shared by foot, ATV, bike, (ski, snowmachine in season) traffic. Motorized traffic is limited to certain days of the week. Begins at the Eklutna Lake campground and follows the length of the lake, continuing past the end of the lake ultimately to Eklutna glacier. There are several fun singletrack splits where ATV traffic and foot/bike are separated along the length of the lake, including some almost permanently muddy sections. All of the fun, none of the guilt about trail erosion! After the end of the lake, trail remains truck-trail (becoming rockier/bumpier) until ~mile 12.5/13 at which point it becomes a hike to the glacier (if it's still visible.) The views are spectacular as you progress and the valley becomes more narrow with the walls on either side becoming steeper with sheer vertical cliifs at points. Words can't do it justice. The trail is very mellow - good for a family outing. On one run, our son, 9 at the time, managed 11 miles in/22 rt without complaint until the last mile or two. As a "Singletracks MTB trail", it's fairly ho-hum, but the views make it worth every second. Do be bear aware. Saw 5 on one outing.
reviewed by AK_Dan on May 17, 2009
This trail is one of the first to open of the year because of its low elevation and mostly gravel base, however there are still many wet spots to be ridden through. From mile 0 to about 8 there is a fair amount of singletrack along the lakes edge, from 8 to 12.something its basically an old jeep rd but still good ridding. At the end of the rd there is a turn around area for 4 wheelers and a good place to stash your bike if you wish to hike to the glacier itself. The trail is a pretty good scramble over rocks for at least a half mile- Over the past couple decades the glacier has receded far enough its hard to get too. If you came all this way to see a glacier you may be disappointed, if you are out just to ride through some great Alaskan scenery and have a good time, you are there!
Additional Alaska Mountain Bike Info
Related Alaska Resources
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