Author: Cecilia

Point Bridget State Park
The 2,850 acre Point Bridget State Park is forty miles north of Juneau and has muskeg, meadows, cliffs,  salmon spawning streams, and rocky beaches on the sea. Point Bridget Trail is said to be easy.
Point Bridget Trail  3.5 miles one way.  Description from Alaska.org:  The trail “meanders through muskeg, mature forest, and grassland until it reaches a beaver dam and views of the Lynn Canal. Bears often visit the meadow, but leave it to fish the stream. In spring, thousands of white-winged and surf scooters swim wing to wing in one giant raft. It is quite a sight to behold. Sea lions and harbor seals are often seen near shore and every once-in-awhile a humpback whale is offshore.”
At 7 miles round trip with an elevation gain of over 400′ this trail is likely to be too long and have too much elevation gain for you to do the entire trail, although it is described as suitable for all skill levels and “kid friendly”.   The wildflowers and scenery may make it worthwhile walking part way.  Here is the park website    and a description of  Trails in Point Bridget State Park     Park Map  Park Guide
Phone 907-465-4563

Mendenhall Wetlands – State Game Refuge easy, accessible trails
Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge at Juneau, Alaska has some accessible trails.  The refuge is a saltwater wetlands which provides a vital feeding and resting area for both resident birds and migrants traveling to and from their Arctic breeding grounds. The 4,000-acre wildlife refuge stretches nine miles along the shores of Gastineau Channel  and is enjoyed for waterfowl hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and photography, boating, fishing, and scientific and educational studies.  Here is their website.  Phone 907-465-4266  A fuller description of these trails is found on Alaska.org’s  Juneau Hiking Trails.
Airport Dike Trail   1.2 miles paved.  Elevation gain 3′.   “It has many opportunities for waterfowl and bird watching.”
Mendenhall Wetlands Trail  1 mile “…runs through the wetlands between the mainland and Douglas Island. It’s a great walk for families, birdwatchers, and exercisers. There are interpretive signs along the trail, with information about the birds, animals, and the wetlands ecosystems. “

University of Alaska Fairbanks Trail System
The university maintains an in-town trail network.  “North Campus consists of approximately 1,100 acres of largely forested land on the north-to-northwest side of campus. ”  Thank you, Kara Axx, North Campus Manager, for writing”…our trails are not officially up to the ADA standard for wheelchair accessibility. That being said, most of the trails on the UAF network would be considered on the easier side. Our Viereck Nature trail is actually in a steeper area of our trail system, but a senior in relevantly good shape should be fine completing. It is about a 1K – 2K loop of fairly level natural surface with minimal tripping hazards. There are signs identifying plant species, so it is like a self guided nature walk.  Here is the website for the Trail System.
“Other areas that might be more friendly would be Ballaine Lake (east side of campus) because there is easy access via a state maintained wayside with ample parking and a picnic area. There are several trail connections, so trips can be very short to loops, to mid range. The trails are all relatively flat in that area with a level surface and minimal tripping hazards. One thing to highlight for our trail system is that they are open for walking with or without dogs, wildlife viewing and bird watching (even rainbow trout fishing at Ballaine lake) during the summer months, but in the winter almost all of the trails become a network of groomed ski trails that are closed to walking and dogs. ” 
Map   Phone 907-474-2648   Facebook