Extending the Coastal Trail north may take a land deal, not an easement

Anchorage wants to run its Coastal Trail north, from Beach Lake Park toward Mirror Lake, and eventually from Thunderbird Falls to the Knik River as a link in the proposed Alaska Long Trail. Much of the ground it would cross belongs to Eklutna Inc.

According to the city's 2026 Recreational Trails Plan, the corporation strongly prefers selling or trading land to the municipality rather than granting easements for public trails across property it keeps.

The plan gives the reason: "illegal dumping, tree cutting, arson, and other nefarious activities" by trespassers that damage Eklutna's property. If ownership transfers, the plan notes, so do the responsibilities for managing, patrolling and cleaning up the land.

That shapes both projects. Each carries the plan's highest cost tier and a long timeframe, and each states that close coordination with Eklutna Inc. on management and maintenance will be required. The plan also flags culturally sensitive resources on Eklutna land and the likelihood of more trespassing as concerns.

After public comment, the Beach Lake to Mirror Lake segment was redrawn as a hatched corridor rather than a fixed route, leaving room to plan around Eklutna's trespass concerns and an existing Great Land Trust conservation easement.

The city has little leverage to force the issue. Municipal code bars using eminent domain to take private property for trails and other recreational amenities. Any purchase would go through the municipal Real Estate Department and would likely need bonds, a state appropriation, grants or federal conservation money.

Eklutna Inc. has not commented publicly on the plan. Its website says its lands are "not available for public access unless a permit has been issued," and that cutting trees is prohibited.

An AMATS technical committee takes up the final draft at 1 pm Thursday and may send it to the policy committee that decides.