Goose Lake is probably the most popular swimming hole in Anchorage, mostly because its the most centrally located, not because there’s anything great about it. It does have a sort of Sandy beach, but it’s dirty sand– fine back dirt that sticks to everything. During swimming season they do have a lifeguard and a roped off«safe zone» for the little ones, which is pretty UNCOMMON in Alaska. I also think the water is flipping disgusting looking. I’m not a fan of swimming with waterfowl because of the coliform. I don’t care if if they test the water… if there’s enough shit in the water they have to test it regularly to ensure its safety, then I’m not swimming in it. Anyway, if that kind of stuff doesn’t bother you… they also have free life jackets. This is also one of the few parks in Anchorage that has flush toilets, but they’re pretty soggy and dirty from all the swimmers. Once upon a time there was a snack bar and paddle boat rental, but alas they’ve fallen prey to budget cuts. There’s also ample parking, a small ground for toddlers, a few picnic tables and a basketball court. The coolest part about this park is its connectivity to the bike trails. The paved Northern Lights, Westchester and Mosquito Lake trails all connect here. There’s tons of smaller unpaved trail branches that weave through the surrounding greenbelt to explore. This also the site of the annual Polar Plunge, which is an absolute blast.
