For one of the loopiest and fun Nordic ski areas in the city, go cruise the trails behind Bartlett High School along the boundary of the military base. Hilly, with lots of curves that spring into quick and sudden climbs, this five-kilometer-plus system through a mature forest packs a lot of skiing into a small footprint.
While a few of the hills feature steep segments, the trails are welcoming to new skiers and don’t require technical moves to navigate. The area often gets ignored by the general public and is a great place to score first tracks on corduroy—especially after high school ski season ends in February. Try it out after visiting the nearby Tikahtnu Commons shopping complex or the Alaska Native Heritage Center just to the east. Check out this interactive map with real-time updates.
The trails usually feature both a single classic track beside skate lane. You can see a map of the trail here. Note: Segments of the system have lights, but the illumination is not continuous. You will want a headlamp if tackling outlying loops on a moonless night. You can check what the real-time weather is like at Merrill Field which is four miles west of the trail.
