- Chugach National Forest
Chugach National Forest is only a 45 minute drive from Anchorage and that drive is down a beautiful scenic byway with many optional scenic outlooks where you can stop and stretch your legs or take pictures. It is the second largest national forest in the nation. The most popular trail is Portage Pass Trail, which has mountain and waterfall views along a trail leading to Portage Glacier and its lake. We did this trail in September in the pouring rain, so I did not have as much fun or have as good views as if we had hiked it in the summer. Max, however, didn’t seem to mind the rain or obscured views and had a blast. You can check out other dog-friendly hikes in Chugach National Forest on my blog “5 dog-friendly trails in Chugach National Forest.”
2. Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is known for its blueberry picking in August and September. There are many dog-friendly trails to choose from. We did Blueberry Knoll Loop, Eklutna Lake, and Thunderbird Falls. There is a $5 parking fee at every trailhead. Most of the trailheads have a bathroom, but I did notice there were not trash barrels anywhere to be found at the trails, which is probably what contributed to me coming across dog waste bags along the trails. The state park is beautiful, but could benefit from trash barrels.
3. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Wildlife Center costs $27 to enter and offers 1.5 miles of animal enclosures. You have the option of walking the whole loop, but your dog does not. In that case, you can drive the entire loop with the option of parking at each enclosure and leaving your dog in the car while you get a closer look at the animals. My dog absolutely loved this experience. It was a rainy day, so I drove the loop and got to stay dry in my car while Max stuck his head out the window and got to see and smell all the animals. He had a blast and after we left his head was on a swivel still looking for more animals.
4. Spenard Roadhouse
Spenard Roadhouse has a seasonal patio with picnic tables that are dog friendly. We visited Anchorage in late September and found the patio to be closed for the season, so I ordered food to-go and ate it at our AirBnB. I ordered to AK grilled Salmon dinner for myself and a cheeseburger for Max, as well as the peanut butter pie for dessert. This was the second-best meal of my life, second only to a steakhouse in Vegas. Both the salmon and the sides were absolutely delicious. I shared some salmon with Max and he agreed. I will dream about this meal.
5. Downtown Anchorage
Downtown Anchorage is very walkable, and parking is easy to find. Max and I went downtown twice to go shopping and explore some of the art, statues, and history. There are also ample restaurants and breweries. Many of them have seasonal patios where your dog can join you. Wild Scoops is a seasonal ice cream shop where you can order at the window and share an ice cream with your dog as you walk around downtown. Our favorite gift shop was Grizzly’s Gifts, where Max was welcome to peruse the store with me. He even picked out his own Moose bone in the pet section.
