Lisa Maloney

At the Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory near Wrangell, black bears are the most numerous, and the setup allows a certain amount of intimacy.

A new state campground that includes cabins and jaw-dropping views of Denali and the rest of the Alaska Range will be unveiled this weekend at Mile 135.4 of the Parks Highway.

Bolt-on kits open up year-round fun for dirt bike fans, and the conversions are gaining steam in Alaska despite the hefty price tag.

Which Alaska cabins book up first? Which are underutilized gems? Which are perfect for shoulder-season escapes? And which are fairly new?

Alaska’s biggest hikes naturally get the most attention — but some short hikes are worth a look too. Take the Mile High Saddle trail in Eagle River: At three-quarters of a mile to the end of the “official” trail at the saddle, it’s easy to dismiss. But this little trail is really a gateway to … Continue reading Short and sweet, Mile High Saddle in Eagle River delivers magnificent views

STERLING — If you do much hiking in Southcentral, you’ve probably resigned yourself to the necessity of pushing uphill. It’s not like you have much of a choice: Surrounded by mountains, you do what you gotta do. But there are a precious few flat hikes to be had in Southcentral, and earlier this summer I … Continue reading Try out Seven Lakes Trail for some flat, waterfront Alaska hiking

SOLDOTNA — Fishermen already know the Kenai River offers a bounty of fish. But for hikers like me, it’s also the backdrop to one of Alaska’s most interesting short forest hikes: The Upper and Lower Kenai River trails, both of which were partially rerouted two summers ago. There are two trailheads off Skilak Lake Road: … Continue reading Easy hike offers gorgeous Kenai River views

The once-stodgy, homemade snow-or-sand runner has evolved into everything from sleek commuter to bridled race horse, with price tags to match.

On average, each baby eagle has less than a 50 percent chance of making it through its first year of life; some experts place a juvenile eagle’s overall mortality rate at up to 75 percent. So far, so good for one Anchorage eagle family.

Beginners would do well to stick to easier trails around the Bear Cub Quad until they’ve mastered the basics of hurtling downhill on two wheels. Trails reached from the other two lifts -- Ted’s Express and the Glacier Bowl Express -- are more suitable for intermediate and advanced riders.

Portage Pass weather is notoriously unpredictable, able to turn from pleasant to snotty to a deluge of rain quickly. Savvy Alaska hikers check the FAA webcam in Whitter before setting out.

The team's 559 pounds of gear include the usual mountaineering equipment, cold-weather survival gear -- and American flags that bear the names of fallen veterans. There’s also a Sharpie so they can add more names, relayed to them by satellite phone as they climb the mountain.

From hiking, to riding a zipline to flightseeing to fishing for elusive steelhead or king salmon, it's not too early to start enjoying an Alaska spring and summer outdoors.

COMMENT: Alaskans who brush up on the paddling and rolling skills during the winter will be ready to roll once it warms up. And for fun, there kayak polo and bumper boats for students who develop and fine-tuning their ability in the cold months.

Alaska Safe Trails has been circulating a petition in hopes of generating public support to prohibit trapping in a few areas in the Mat-Su: The Crevasse-Moraine trail system, the Government Peak recreational trail system, and Borough Core area schools. Mitchell said the petition had about 100 signatures in three days.