Just a block west of downtown Anchorage are the mud flats leading to Knick Arm, a part of the Cook Inlet – where urban legend has it that a woman became stuck and a helicopter came to pull her out and ripped her body in half. It isn’t true, of course- but when you go to Anchorage and ask about the mud flats someone is going to repeat that story to you.
The mudflats are dangerous
The mudflats of Cook Inlet, Knick Arm and Turnagain arm – are glacier silt – remains of glaciers that rubbed against rock creating silt that is quite deep. Part of Anchorage is built on that glacier silt – and the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 (9.4 on the Richter scale lasting 4 minutes) – did a great deal more damage because of the house built on sand.
The tides come in quickly- up to 40 foot tides
Low tide and the mudflats appear benign
But the mudflats are beautiful also – serving as a wild life refuge for many species of birds – providing warm tidal pools in the winter months.
The mudflats serve as wildlife refuges for many birds
All along the coast of Anchorage are trails where people can walk, roller blade, wheelchair, cross-country ski, or bike. In our case, they are a perfect place to take our son in a stroller, or in a bike rickshaw – to get him out and see the city. And from these trails you can see the flats when the tide is our- or the water as it comes in. There are four trails – the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, along which the Alaska Railroad, the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail, the Campbell Creek Greenbelt, and the Ship Creek Trail. You can see more from their website http://www.trailsofanchorage.com/introduction.htm
Downtown Anchorage - Captain Cook in the background- close to the trail
So when you stay downtown- don’t hesitate to go to 5th and L street and rent a bike and ride along the trail. If you bring your dog, they are welcome to walk along the trail also. It is a beautiful part of nature- and a reminder of what the earthquake can do.
The Alaska Railroad runs adjacent to the trail