Eklutna Lake, AK – Trail Report August 2016

Fatbassador Travis, from Anchorage, sent us this trail report about an overnighter he did recently!

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The Eklutna Lake trail is just a 36 mile drive north of Anchorage. It is a very popular trail for hiking, biking and ATV’s. The lake is also a hot spot for kayaking. The original trail is basically a dirt road that runs above the lake for all users and there is a lakeside trail for hikers and bikers only. Taking the lakeside trail is the way to go, it rolls nice and you get more epic views.

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The trail is predominantly flat and fast rolling, our destination was the Eklutna Alex campground at the back of the lake, approximately 9 miles in. At a leisurely pace we were at the back of the lake in an hour and a half. We had our Revelate bags in tow and all the gear we needed for a comfortable overnighter.

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Eklutna River

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View from the back of the lake.

The Eklutna Alex Campground has 6 tent sites, all have picnic tables and fire rings. I was surprised to find an outhouse, glampin at its best. We had the whole campground to ourselves. Being a Saturday, ATV’s were not allowed in the area, ATV use is restricted to Sundays through Wednesdays.

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Fat Camp Alaska Style

The towering peaks, emerald green lake, and easy access make Eklutna Lake a great place for an overnight trip.

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The Bar is Open!

The trail is a busy one, we crossed paths with several bikers and hikers on our way in and out. Coming out on Sunday with the ATV traffic was not a big deal, there is a speed limit of 15 mph. We passed a ton of ATV’s and all were considerate. I’d recommend this ride to anyone looking for a quick bike packing trip.

Thanks for the report, Travis!

If you’ve got a trail or ride that you’d like us to feature here on fat-bike.com, let us know! We’d love to see what adventures you are up to on your fat-bikes! Shoot me a note to sven@fat-bike.com.