HomeAlaskaAnchorage › Falls Creek Trail

Falls Creek Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 145 Google reviews · Running trail in Anchorage, Alaska · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Falls Creek Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hScenicHillyTrailhead parking

Short, easy hike leading to a picturesque waterfall that visitors can walk around.

What runners say about Falls Creek Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (145 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 10 mentions

“You are surrounded by bushes and trees the whole time, cross a creek at multiple points, and end at a beautiful lake surrounded by a bowl of cliffs.”

Falls Creek Trail is one of those hidden gems that thousands drive by each day. This trail is not incredibly long, but would be a great hike for beginners. However, this trail can be pretty steep at times, so don't underestimate it!

★★★★★ — J , Nov 2023

This is an awesome hike down along Seward Highway. You are surrounded by bushes and trees the whole time, cross a creek at multiple points, and end at a beautiful lake surrounded by a bowl of cliffs. I saw mountain sheep up on the hills, a big owl, and a bear at one point. There were lots of blueberries at the top.

★★★★★ — Landon , Oct 2022

Great trail, super views, but straight up. Trail starts out very nice but ends up in a game trail near the lake.

★★★★☆ — Peter , Jul 2024

Made a quick stop to look at the falls and hike a little ways up the trail.

★★★★★ — Marc , Jul 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 145 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 24 mentions

“You are surrounded by bushes and trees the whole time, cross a creek at multiple points, and end at a beautiful lake surrounded by a bowl of cliffs.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 5 mentions

“Definitely an intense hike; the incline, especially at the beginning of the hike, is pretty steep.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“Right off the road falls and trailhead.”

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Plan your run at Falls Creek Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitednr.alaska.gov
  • Phone(907) 345-5014
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Falls Creek Trail

27301 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99540

Get directions

Running trails near Anchorage

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Bear Valley - Golden View Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 41 reviews

Anchorage, AK

LoopScenic

7.2 miles away

Sunnyside Trailhead (Flattop)

4.7 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Anchorage, AK

Scenic

7.6 miles away

Turnagain Arm Trail, Northern Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Anchorage, AK

Scenic

8.5 miles away

Glen Alps / Flattop Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,072 reviews

Anchorage, AK

LoopMixedScenic

Walking route past blueberry bushes & hemlock trees, with panoramic views of Anchorage & Cook Inlet.

9.0 miles away

Anchorage Overlook Trail

5 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Anchorage, AK

Scenic

9.0 miles away

Prospect Heights Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 95 reviews

Anchorage, AK

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Popular hiking area with trails toward Wolverine Peak, featuring scenic vistas of the Chugach.

11.6 miles away

All running trails in Anchorage, AK →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.