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Volunteers add new trail to Anchorage

by Heather Balderson
Saturday, June 07, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- You can add another trail to Anchorage's network of hiking and biking paths.

More than 30 volunteers celebrated National Trails Day Saturday by breaking ground on a new trail at Helen Louise McDowell Sanctuary in Midtown.

They built about 250 feet of the soft-surface trail, which will include three bridges spanning wet areas. Construction on the remainder of the trail will continue throughout the summer.

"We're going to try to finish this loop within the next month here," said Jillian Morrissey, executive director of Alaska Trails. "Then there'll be about 3,000 linear feet of trail that people can start to walk, and we'll continue working our way around the property until it's done, and they'll have stacked loops that can be utilized."

The new trail, which will be wheelchair accessible, is a joint effort between Alaska Trails, Greatland Trust and the municipality.

Visitors can find the trail by heading east on 36th Avenue past the Seward Highway. Take a right, heading south, on Locarno Drive. Follow Locarno Drive to St. Gotthard Avenue and turn right, heading west. Follow St. Gotthard Avenue and look for signs on the left. Parking is available in designated areas but is limited.

Contact Heather Balderson at hbalderson@ktuu.com