Winter Activities in Chena River State Recreation Area
Ski trails come in two sizes at Twin Bears
Most trails in Chena River State Recreation Area offer opportunities
for snowshoeing and cross country skiing, two winter activities allowed
throughout the park. Generally, the trails are packed for these activities
either by snowmachine riders or by snowshoeing and skiing enthusiasts
traveling along the trail.
Twin Bears Camp offers an exception to this norm. There you can find
two cross country ski trails that are occasionally groomed. One is 5
km., about 3 miles long and the other is 3.5 km., about 2 miles long.
These intermediate level trails are set with single tracks, about 32
inches wide, after major snowfalls. The tracks are maintained by the
Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, by private contractors,
and by volunteer organizations. The 5-kilometer loop takes approximately
one hour to two hours to complete. The shorter loop will require about
one hour, possibly less for experienced skiers. The loops connect with
the Chena Hot Springs Winter Trail, presenting skiers with an exciting
variety of possible routes.
When skiing the loops, be sure to ski in a clockwise direction as
indicated on the accompanying map. Hills, sharp turns, and the narrow
width of the trail could make two-way skiing dangerous. The ski trailhead
is at mile 30 of Chena Hot Springs Road.
Winter Mountain Biking -- a New Twist on a Summer Sport
Mountain bikers are discovering that Chena River Recreation Area trails
offer more than fair-weather riding. Increasing numbers of bicyclists
are venturing onto area trails for winter riding. Snow-covered winter
trails are often well-packed thanks to long periods between snowfalls
in Alaska's Interior, and riders are discovering scenery and solitude
go hand-in-hand on winter rides. Local mountain biking enthusiasts recommend
several trails in the recreation area for winter biking. The Colorado
Creek Trail is a good choice for a short winter day ride, typically
taking 3 to 4 hours. From the parking area at 31.5 mile Chena Hot Springs
Road, the distance is 5.8 miles to the Colorado Creek Cabin, making
for a round trip of 11.6 miles with an approximate 600 ft elevation
gain. The main trail is well marked.
Another popular trail is the Angel Creek Valley Trail, which begins
at mile 50.5 Chena Hot Springs Road. This trail will travel to two separate
State Parks cabins. The first cabin is at mile 3.6 and the second is
at mile 6.8. Round-trip distance is 13.6 miles with an elevation gain
of about 600 feet. The trail gets less midwinter sun than other area
trails, but is usually well-packed by snowmachines.
The Chena Hot
Springs Winter Trail is generally well-packed and level, and is a good
choice for persons new to winter mountain biking. This trail does receive
heavy use from dog teams. Riders can access the trail at mile 26.6 and
ride all the way to the hot springs, for a one-way distance of over
30 miles.
According to local experts, winter mountain biking only requires a
few extra preparations beyond that of normal riding. One tip for winter
riding is gluing tires to the rims, using tire glue available at local
bike shops. This allows for running the tires at low pressure without
damage to tires or valve stems. Some riders invest in special rims for
winter riding. The most important consideration for winter riding is
appropriate clothing and survival gear. Winter temperatures can dip
to minus 30 degrees F, and can range above plus 30. The same layered
clothing recommended for winter hiking and cross-country skiing works
well for winter biking. Riders must take care to carry extra food and
to drink plenty of fluids.
Winter activities abound in the recreation area
If the temperature is nippy and there's enough snow on the ground,
you might catch Ev Wenrick with his dog Jack out on the ski trails at
Chena River State Recreation Area. Wenrick first tried cross-country
skiing 23 years ago, and he has covered thousands of miles since then.
"I got hooked," Wenrick said.
Like many winter sport enthusiasts, Wenrick appreciates the Chena
River State Recreation Area because of its scenery and challenging trails.
The trails in the area offer many opportunities for winter adventure
from mid-October to mid-April. The cabins are spaced so that skiers
can reach them in an easy day ski, and continue on from there, deeper
into the park. Skiers can choose between relatively flat trails like
the one that leads to Colorado Creek cabin, or steeper and tougher trails
such as the Stiles Creek Trail that leads to the Stiles Creek Cabin.
A group that is a cross between the mushers and skiers is the skijoring
group, or skiers who are attached to one, two, or even three dogs. Use of the cabins and trail system by this group is strong. Beginning
skijorers frequent the closer cabins, and often ski the more difficult
terrain after leaving their dog-hauled gear at the cabin. More adventurous
skijorers tackle the toughest terrain the park has to offer, enjoying
the bond that the challenge brings between them and their dogs.
Many of the park's visitors come from as far
away as Anchorage to snowmachine. The vehicles are
a popular way to reach the public use cabins, which are available for
rent all year long. People snowmachine out, stay the night, and snowmachine
back.
Four cabins are
located on trails three to seven miles from Chena Hot Springs Road.
Another cabin one-quarter mile from the road can be reached by car.
Easy access to the cabins is not the only reason snowmachiners flock
to the recreation area. Many people like the long range travel made
possible by snowmachines, and the amount of gear that they can carry
for extended trips. "People all over the world know we've got world-class
snowmachining up here," said Bob Krize, owner of Alaska River Charters
and a member of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Center Bureau
Board. "We're trying to get more people from the Lower 48 to come up
and ride." Trails for snowmachines are designated as such. Park officials
ask that riders make certain they are using the appropriate trails.
Local mushers take advantage of the area's terrain to train for the
1000-mile Yukon Quest, the Iditarod and local dog sled races. The Chena
Hot Springs Winter Trail, used by the Yukon Quest sled dog race, runs
through the recreation area for about 26 miles. Mushers also enjoy the
use of the cabins. "A lot of people train their dogs there," Hunt said,
adding that some smaller local dog sled races are held within the recreation
area itself.
Trappers and hunters find that small game animals are abundant in
the park during the winter months. Sport hunting includes moose, bear,
rabbit, grouse, ptarmigan and fur animals. Park officials advise that
people bringing firearms into the recreation area familiarize themselves
with appropriate regulations.
Wildlife viewing and photography offer additional incentives to seek
out animals in the recreation area. Grouse, fox and lynx are common
in the park and moose are everywhere. Snowshoeing is a great way to
follow animal tracks. New trail development proposals at the Chena River
State Recreation Area promise to provide even more areas for winter
sport enthusiasts to enjoy. Some of the well-established trails may
be linked together. Some day in the future it will be possible to reach
the 300 miles of winter trails and ten cabins in the White Mountains
National Recreation Area. "It's better every year, and I think it will
keep getting better," Krize said. Don't miss out on the many opportunities
available.
