DeLong Lake
Closed now
Used by bikers, hikers, cross-country skiers, roller-bladers and families with strollers, the greenbelt travels for miles. Along the way, there are two tennis courts that may be reached from that intersection of the trail. Use extra care in winter, because this trail fills with moose drawn by the aspens that line the paved walkway. Fishing is permitted (with license). During the salmon "runs," visitors can observe the thousands of mating fish in the creek. No fees charged. No rest areas are available.
Spanning 110-acre (44.5 hectares), the Alaska Botanical Garden includes native perennials, an enclosed herb garden and an outdoor rock garden. Created in 1991 by volunteers, the garden has become an educational resource as well as a stunning showcase of Alaskan plants and wildflowers. Paths throughout allow for easy travel and a 1.2-mile (1.9 kilometer) hike provides views of the Chugach Mountains. One unusual feature is a still-used dog-mushing trail that travels through the garden.
This long and winding lake is home to many Anchorage residents who have floatplanes. With tie-downs right in their own backyards, these private plane owners store their planes with safety and convenience and utilize the official runway that the lake provides. Salmon voyage through the lake during spawning season by traveling through the small saltwater channel that meets the lake's overflow. Once there, the fish head north; fighting upstream through the Campbell Creek.
