Enjoying Turnagain Arm’s Winter Wonderland
By Girdwood Parks and Recreation, Girdwood Trails Committee, Girdwood Nordic Ski Club
Girdwood is a magical wonderland in the winter because of the variety of activities available during this special time of the year. Ask any local, and most will say their favorite time of year is winter! Download a Girdwood Trails Winter Map or a map from the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club and get prepared to ski, walk, bike, or snowshoe on some of the best winter trails in Southcentral Alaska.
Starting a couple of years ago, narrow-gauge grooming was initiated around the perimeter of Moose Meadows and upper valley, on Winner Creek Trail, the Lower Iditarod Trail and part of the Beaver Pond Trail. Narrow-gauge grooming provides a great multi-use surface for walking, biking and skiing and is maintained as snow conditions allow.
Cross Country Skiing
The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club and Girdwood Parks and Rec volunteers groom diagonal and skate skiing lanes in Moose Meadow, some upper meadows, and the community’s Nordic 5K Loop. Moose Meadow and the upper valley multi-use trails are groomed once the snow depth measures 16”. The Nordic 5K Loop is groomed once 6” of snow has collected on the trail.
Moose Meadow is the ideal place to go if you are unsure of your ability or have small children who want to cross country ski. This multi-use trail is approximately 2K, slopes gently toward the middle of the valley, and has terrain that is most often soft and forgiving. The ski trail is set wide enough to accommodate diagonal as well as skate skiers, and dogs are welcome. A headlamp can be handy on dark winter nights, but if the night skiing lights are on at Alyeska Mountain, try a lap without your headlamp. You’ll be amazed at how your eyes adjust and how well you can see. Stop for a minute and listen for owls, too!
Connector cross-country trails lead from the northwest end of Moose Meadow to the upper meadows, requiring a thrilling trip down Horror Hill. It is fine to side-step or walk down this hill. Grooming through the upper valley meadows makes a great out-and-back ski, although if you like to go off-trail, you can ski through the trees and discover social trails and quiet meadows.
The Nordic 5K Loop is accessed from the parking lot at the end of Arlberg Road. The Nordic 5K Loop is a ski-only, one way trail. The terrain is challenging, so be prepared for a workout! The downhill is a great reward for the uphill burn. Once grooming has started, be respectful of the 5K Nordic Loop rules: follow the signs and leave your dog at home. Girdwood Nordic Ski Club maintains a website with current conditions, events, trail maps, and weather. The Nordic 5K Loop is a great place to hone your uphill and downhill skills and is perfect for intermediate and advanced skiers. People new to cross-country skiing should start with the meadows and progress to the Nordic 5K Loop as they gain skills and confidence. Upper valley trails also can be accessed from the Arlberg Rd parking lot.
Chugach Powder Guides grooms the snow cat trail as it winds through the forest to access the cat skiing area beyond Winner Creek. This is a terrific out-and-back hike, ski, bike, or snowshoe. It is possible to leave from the snow cat trail by the Hotel Alyeska, cross the cat bridge, and make your way up to the cat-skiing terrain. Pay attention and watch for snow machines and the snow cat! They’re quieter than you expect!
Winter Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire bikes are available for rent at a couple of shops in Girdwood. Rest your skis and give it a try! It’s a little different than mountain biking, so get started with easy terrain, like the Alyeska Bike Path. Once you’ve got that mastered, and if the snowpack is good and solid, try the Moose Meadow trail. When you are ready, go for the Snow Cat Trail, Winner Creek Trail, Iditarod National Historic Trail, and the Beaver Pond Trail. You can make some great loops with minimal road/bike path routing.
Remember to ride only on multi-use trails, yield to other users, and ride on the firmest part of the track. If you are leaving a furrow in your wake, the snow is too soft, and not only is this not good for the trails, but the fun factor takes a serious nose-dive too. Soft snow is for skiing.
(Graphic courtesy of Corvus Designs)
Town Trails
Multi-use paths along our roads are plowed and sanded and can be a wonderful walk or bike in Girdwood. Alyeska Highway pathway runs along this main corridor from the mouth of the valley to the T intersection with Arlberg Road. Arlberg Road pathway runs from that intersection to the Hotel Alyeska. The last section, from the Hotel Alyeska to the Arlberg parking lot is packed and groomed for multi-use trail users.
General Guidelines
Please help us keep these ski trails in top-notch shape by letting them set up after the groomers have finished; keeping paws, boots, and bikes off the diagonal ski grooves; and making sure that your footsteps are not creating potholes. Your dogs are welcome on the multi-use trails, but please pick up after them. Nobody enjoys a coating of brown klister on their skis.
Unauthorized snow machines are not allowed on any trail in the valley.
Beware of avalanches when you recreate near the sides of the valley, such as the Beaver Pond Trail. The sides of the valley are very steep, and snow does avalanche to the bottom of the valley without warning. The Gird-to-Bird Bike Path is closed during the winter for this reason.
Whenever you go out, be prepared. Weather changes, people fall, stuff happens. Carry a basic first kit and a cell phone. Let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back. Pay attention to where you are on the trails, so if you do have to call for help, responders can get to you swiftly!
Girdwood Nordic Ski Club volunteers shovel party. (Photo courtesy of GNSC)
All trail grooming is done by volunteers. If you would like to donate time to working on the trails, contact Margaret Tyler at 907-343-8373 to be added to the trail volunteer list. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to support trails in Girdwood, send a check to Girdwood Trails Committee C/O Girdwood Parks and Recreation, PO Box 390, Girdwood, AK 99587. Please write “trails” in the memo so that we put your contribution in the right account. Commercial use of Girdwood Trails requires a permit from Girdwood Parks and Recreation. Contact the parks and recreation office: girdwoodpermits@anchorageak.gov to arrange for a permit.
Have fun out there!