LifeAnchorage · June 9, 2026
the missing mile
Anchorage is finally closing the most annoying gap in its trail system.
Daily Alaska staff · June 9, 2026 · Anchorage
Anchorage is building a new mile of paved trail downtown that will connect the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail, closing a longstanding gap near Elderberry Park in downtown Anchorage. The project is estimated at about 15.6 million dollars for the single mile, funded with a mix of local, state, and federal money, and is expected to be complete in 2027.
When finished, the connector will create one continuous 14-mile multiuse path along Cook Inlet and extend the local Moose Loop to about 32 miles, letting runners, cyclists, and families travel from downtown Anchorage to the water without stopping. It is also meant to eventually tie into the proposed Alaska Long Trail, which aims to run from Seward all the way to Fairbanks.
The project includes a new plaza at the small boat launch on Ship Creek. The plaza will carry the name Dgheyaytnu, the Dena'ina Athabascan name for the creek.
For now, the site remains an active construction zone rather than a finished trail, with work expected to continue through 2027.
In this story
Questions people ask
Where is the new downtown trail connector being built?
In downtown Anchorage near Elderberry Park, linking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail.
How much does the one-mile trail project cost?
About 15.6 million dollars, funded with local, state, and federal money.
When will the trail connector be finished?
The project is expected to be complete in 2027. This summer the area is an active construction zone.
What else is included in the project?
A new plaza at the small boat launch on Ship Creek, which will carry the name Dgheyaytnu, the Dena'ina Athabascan name for the creek.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The new downtown connector will link the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park. · adn.com
- The project is estimated to cost about 15.6 million dollars and is funded with local, state, and federal money. · adn.com
- The completed trail will create a continuous 14-mile path along Cook Inlet and extend the Moose Loop to about 32 miles. · adn.com
- The project is expected to be complete in 2027. · adn.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →