This is not meant to be a comprehensive page – but I have friends making a quick trip to Alaska and I’m putting a few resources up here. Back to If I Had 3 Days page.

Check for snow / conditions / grooming reports all across Alaska. Note the search option at the top to find your area of interest. Go ahead and try searches for back-country areas like Portage Lake.

Nordic Pulse provides grooming information for many south-central Alaskan ski areas.

Avenza Maps has GPS maps of Kincaid and Hillside in Anchorage.

Anchorage and surroundings – groomed skiing. I made a fairly long page about skiing in Anchorage a number of years ago for a club meeting. Long-winded, but most of the information is still current: Anchorage skiing. Kincaid is the ‘destination’ ski area, Hillside has elevation gain and great views, Bartlett might have late season snow (if it’s groomed). Grooming happens at Government Peak and sometimes at Hatcher Pass north past Palmer.

Anchorage and surroundings – back country skiing. Prospect Heights trailhead is at the edge of town and usually has spring skiing. The Glen Alps trailhead is further up the hillside – longer drive, more elevation. Both Prospect Heights and Glen Alps require a $5 day pass for parking. I believe there are fee envelopes there, but better bring cash for them. If I went, I’d probably go to Glen Alps, start out the trail, turn left to drop down and across the valley, then go around the end of the ridge and go towards Williwaw Lakes. Portage Lake is a great place for ‘crust skiing’ when the conditions are right in the spring. Use common sense – you are on a lake and there is an active glacier at the end of it!

Fairbanks – There are two main trail systems: Birch Hill (The James Whisenhant Trails) and the University trails. Birch Hill is the fully developed area, the University trails are a collection of well-groomed loops and old, established commuting trails.

Seward – road trip from Anchorage. A beautiful 130 mile drive from Anchorage. Stop at the parking area on the East side of the highway in Turnagain pass and ski for a bit through the woods. Follow someone else’s tracks for a ways, or make your own. Stop at the Seward ski trails (trail reports) for a quick loop and then on into town for a walk on the beach (Lowell Point Beach Access) and halibut and chips at a harbor (or downtown restaurant).