Earthquake Park
4.5(1.4K)google
4.1(28)yelp
GeologyHistoryPhoto SpotOutdoor
Overview
Earthquake Park is a poignant, 134-acre historic wooded park located near western downtown Anchorage along the coast of Kincaid. The park sits on the exact site of the infamous 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, the most powerful recorded earthquake in North American history, where an entire neighborhood violently slid into the ocean. Today, travelers can walk interpretive trails to view the dramatic waves of contorted earth and read educational plaques, gaining deep historical insight into the immense, reshaping geological forces of nature.
Practical Info
Mon6:00 AM –11:00 PM
Tue6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wed6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thu6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Fri6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sat6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Suggested Duration30-60 minutes
Best TimeClear summer or autumn afternoons and early evenings are ideal. The park preserves the fractured, undulating topography caused by an entire neighborhood sliding toward the sea during the massive 1964 earthquake. Trails offer informative signs and skyline views over Cook Inlet.
Getting ThereSituated near the airport at the westernmost end of West Northern Lights Boulevard. Drivers can easily park in the dedicated mid-sized free parking lot at the trailhead. The park is also a major access point on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail for cyclists.
Travel Tips
- Dense thickets host urban moose; hikers must make audible noise during dawn and dusk to prevent dangerous startled charges.
- Active topographical fissures from the 1964 quake lattice the forest floor; leaving the paved boardwalk risks severe fall injuries.
- Exposed positions facing the inlet experience sudden insect swarms; long sleeves with cinched cuffs are essential against biting gnats.
Reviews
Positive
- Here you can vividly learn about the history of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake that caused the land to slide into the sea, holding immense educational value.
- The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs right through the park; the pathway is very flat and wide, perfect for walking, jogging, and cycling.
- Completely free with a large, no-charge parking lot, it also offers distant views across the water of downtown Anchorage and Mount Denali.
- Lush with trees, the environment is peaceful and completely devoid of commercial traces, allowing visitors to quietly walk and relax in nature.
Heads up
- The dramatic earth shifts from the earthquake are now mostly obscured by decades of plant growth, significantly reducing the visual impact.
- The mosquitoes are aggressively fierce and incredible in number; stepping still for a single second invites an ambush, requiring heavy bug spray.
- Some deep wooded areas have blocked sightlines and occasional homeless camps, making solo walks at dusk feel somewhat unsafe.
- There are no proper public restrooms inside the park, only a very basic portable toilet in the parking lot with poor hygiene.