Alaska News

Photos: Winter's arriving along Turnagain Arm

If you've got a few hours, a hike down the Turnagain Arm Trail can be the perfect bookend to the season. Typically, the 9.4-mile trail from Potter Marsh to Windy Corner is among the first in Anchorage to dry out each spring. But by late fall, all the leaves are down, revealing wide-open vistas of Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Mountains across the water.

The three miles between Potter and McHugh Creek include about 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Less than a mile in, a bench overlooks the Turnagain Arm. Moose can be plentiful in this portion of the trail.

Watch for views of the North and South Suicide peaks. About halfway, look down at Beluga Point on the shore of Turnagain Arm. Toward the end of your hike, there's a nice rock ledge that offers views of Windy Corner and the town of Hope on the other side of the Arm. You're probably most likely to spot a Dall sheep near Windy Corner.

Read more: How to enjoy winter's arrival before the snow flies

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