Alaska lawmakers greenlit $3.7 million in funding for nine projects integral to an expansive trail network envisioned to match the fame of the Appalachian Trail in the East and the Pacific Crest Trail in the West. Dubbed the Alaska Long Trail, though subject to potential renaming, the system aims to span over 500 miles, linking Fairbanks in the Interior to the Kenai Peninsula’s Gulf of Alaska coastline. Seamlessly integrating existing trails across federal, state, and municipal lands, it promises uninterrupted exploration.
The Alaska Long Trail projects included in the upcoming fiscal year’s capital budget were part of a more extensive list of 21 projects, totaling $20.3 million in costs, advocated for at the onset of this year’s legislative session. Championed by Alaska Trails, a nonprofit organization, and various partner organizations, these projects secured legislative funding for the forthcoming fiscal year, commencing on July 1st. Spanning across the Municipality of Anchorage, they are scattered from Peters Creek in the north to Girdwood in the south.
Lawmakers greenlit the largest Alaska Long Trail project, allocating slightly over $1 million to establish a connection between existing trails, forming an uninterrupted 25-mile pathway from Turnagain Arm to the northern region of Anchorage. Another notable initiative involves investing $500,000 in trail enhancements on Flattop Mountain in Anchorage, the state’s most frequently climbed peak. Despite being a popular summertime destination, certain deteriorating trail conditions present safety risks to hikers.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s approval of the projects remains to be determined. According to spokesperson Jeff Turner, the governor authorized the making of line-item budget vetoes. The budget was received on Wednesday and still requires time to be assessed. Turner stated that the governor’s decisions are expected by June 28. In 2022, Dunleavy vetoed $10.5 million in funding for the Alaska Long Trail, which lawmakers had sanctioned for the 2023 fiscal year. Consequently, only seven projects received funding totaling $4.22 million in that year’s budget.
The state budget allocated over $1.43 million for three Alaska Long Trail projects in Chugach State Park, situated within the Municipality of Anchorage, during the current fiscal year, which concludes on June 30.
Concurrently, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is soliciting public feedback for a feasibility study to determine whether the Alaska Long Trail should be designated as a national scenic trail. There are 11 officially recognized national scenic trails, varying in length from the 235-mile New England Trail to the 4,600-mile North Country Trail traversing the Great Lakes region.
Public meetings were held in April, and the BLM has scheduled three online sessions for June 11, 13, and 27.
