Just outside of the hustle-and-bustle of the city of Anchorage you’ll find endless wilderness. If you just want to dip your toe into that wilderness without venturing too far, the Turnagain Arm Trail, which runs along the Seward Highway, is a great place to start. There are trailhead access points in 4 places: Potter Marsh Trailhead(mile 115), McHugh Creek Trailhead(mile 112), Rainbow Trailhead(mile 108) and Windy Corner Trailhead(mile 106). I have explored just a bit of the Potter Trailhead, which is VERY accessible with platforms for birdviewing. I found it kind of boring, but bird-lovers will love it. This portion of the trail is very wide and open with vistas of the mud flats and inlet. I’ve explored the Rainbow Trail thoroughly and it’s one of my favorites. The trail starts of with sparse trees and alpiney type terrain and develops into a lovely wooded, closed in trail. It’s very secluded and has several waterfalls, one of which has a trail which is moderately difficult and ends at a glacial lake. Another of the waterfalls doesn’t really have a trail along it, but the water is shallow and slow moving enough that you can rock hop your way up. It’s lovely. Lots of berries along this trail. Watch out for bear fer reals! Bring bear spray. Don’t travel alone, there’s no cell service and no help if you twist your ankle or run into trouble. This trail is lots of fun!
