Swan Lake Boardwalk and Loop Trail: Just the place for a peaceful afternoon walk
Have you checked out the Swan Lake boardwalk and loop trails yet? I had the pleasure of visiting during The Great Land Trust’s virtual “grand opening” for this sweet little set of trails in Wasilla.
There are essentially two short trails here: The first is a 0.4-mile round-trip on the actual Swan Lake boardwalk, and the other is a pretty (but often buggy) woodland loop of about 1 mile. Either or both trips make a short, fun and easy outing for families, birdwatchers, or anyone who wants to take a quick break and breathe in some beauty.
| Round-Trip Distance: 1 mile, or 0.4 miles round-trip on the boardwalk | Nearest community: Wasilla |
| Elevation gain: ~25 feet | Typical season: Year-round |
| Parking fee: No fee | Nearby trails: Wasilla Creek, Scout Ridge, Cottonwood Creek |
Swan Lake Boardwalk Trailhead Directions
From Anchorage, take the Glenn Highway toward Wasilla. Take the Trunk Road exit and turn left onto Trunk Road. At the traffic circle, take the exit onto South Trunk Road, which will become E. Nelson Road.
After you’ve passed the Wasilla Creek parking area and Machetanz Elementary School, turn left onto S. Barn Gable Loop and look for the trailhead on your right, just before you enter the subdivision. Park on the right (south) side of the road, and take care not to end up in the ditch. The shoulder of the road can be pretty soft.
It’s been a while since I visited this trail so if the parking situation has changed, please follow any directional signs — and drop me a line so I can update this post!
Walking the Swan Lake Boardwalk
For the most bang for your walking buck, follow the obvious trail out of the parking area and take a left at the first fork, which leads you to the Swan Lake boardwalk. Walk 0.2 miles on the boardwalk to a viewing platform over reedy Swan (Quggesh) Lake, keeping a keen eye out for wildflower and birds.
The featured image on this post is what you’ll see from the viewing platform at the end of the Swan Lake boardwalk. There’s also a handy picnic table and a little interpretive sign.
Walking the Loop Trail
If you take a right at that aforementioned fork, you’ll embark on the 1-mile forested loop that looks… well, pretty much like the image above. Although it doesn’t offer much in the way of views, this walk is an easy and beautiful stroll through the forest — as long as you brought good bug spray with you. It’s also a great place to bring your favorite plant identification book.
There are a few false trails that are clearly marked off, along with one misleading fork where the trail veers either east (back toward the trailhead) or west (opposite direction from the trailhead). I only explored that west fork for a brief distance, because there was no breeze to keep the mosquitoes off and I’d unwisely left my bug spray in the car. A while late, a local told me that this is just a social trail that doesn’t lead anywhere in particular — at least not right now.
Note: This hike isn’t in my guidebooks Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska or 50 Hikes Around Anchorage because it’s brand new. But all together, the two books comprise more than 120 unique hikes in this part of the state.
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Lisa Maloney
A long-time Alaskan, Lisa has written three award-winning guidebooks including "Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska" and "50 Hikes Around Anchorage." She also served as senior editor of Alaska magazine and has written hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles about her adventures around the state. Learn more about her at http://maloneywrites.com.
