Much has happened since the Chugach State Park Master Plan was adopted in 1980 and the Trail Plan in 1986. Anchorage has grown rapidly resulting in increased use of the park. This use has stressed park facilities that are often at capacity during busy summer days and raised new land use concerns. These concerns include park access along a boundary that is being rapidly developed, building and maintaining park facilities complementary to the area, trails and trail connectivity, and resource protection.

In an effort to address these issues and update plan recommendations, the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation initiated a planning process to revise these plans in the spring of 2008. The master plan will set forth management guidelines and make recommendations for the development of recreational facilities within the park while the trail plan will provide specific guidance for trail management and development. As part of this planning effort, the Department is also working with the Municipality of Anchorage on a joint Chugach Access Plan. This plan will provide guidance to both agencies for the placement and development of access points along the boundary of the park.

The first phase of the planning process concluded with the end of the public scoping period. During the scoping phase, the planning team learned about issues, concerns and ideas the public has regarding the park. After gathering additional information and analyzing issues, the planning team decided to initially focus on the development of the park trail management plan and the access plan. The input received on these plans has informed the development of the overall park management plan and ultimately made it a more comprehensive document.

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The public review draft comment periods for all three draft plans released as part of this planning effort have closed. The planning team is reviewing the comments received and addressing the issues raised. An Issue Response Summary for the Draft Chugach State Park Trail Management Plan has been assembled and is now available. Visit the links below for more information on each plan, to view the drafts that were issued for public review and any other documents related to these plans.

Draft Chugach State Park Management Plan

Draft Chugach Access Plan

Draft Chugach State Park Trail Management Plan



For more information or to send written comments, contact:

Public Scoping - Public Comment List, June 2008.

Newsletter #1, April 2008.

Newsletter #2, Summer 2008.

Chugach State Parks Master Plan, February 1980.

Chugach State Parks Trail Plan, January 1986.

Chugach State Park Access Inventory, Analysis and Recommendations, October 2002