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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
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- Icy
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Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users activity logs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Used
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
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- Description & Photos
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Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
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ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Winter Trails
Warning
A routing network for winter maps does not exist. Selecting trails using the winter trails layer has been disabled.
Missing Trails
Most Popular
Least Popular
Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
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Service Road Atlas is a free to use, community-driven service for viewing and creating reports on the numerous back-country service roads around B.C. and Alberta.
Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with no bike usage.
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SavePalmer trails and routes are listed on Trailforks with interactive trail maps, difficulty ratings, photos, and user-reported trail conditions. The Trailforks community has mapped hundreds of trails and shared hundreds of photos in this region. Supported activity types include Mountain Biking, Hiking, Trail Running, Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, E-Biking, Gravel Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Adaptive Biking, Backcountry Skiing, Horseback, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Skiing and Observed Trials. Popular destinations include Moose Range, Matanuska Greenbelt Trails and Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA).
This is an auto-generated description of Palmer.
Login or register to submit a custom description.
Trail info last updated
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
236 trails
- E-Bike
64 trails
- Gravel Bike
46 trails
- Adaptive Bike
23 trails
- Winter Fat Bike
30 trails
- Horse
14 trails
- Hike
235 trails
- Trail Running
234 trails
- Dirtbike/Moto
14 trails
- Observed Trials
9 trails
- ATV/ORV/OHV
14 trails
- Snowmobile
78 trails
- Snowshoe
83 trails
- Downhill Ski
14 trails
- Backcountry Ski
17 trails
- Nordic Ski
105 trails
Region Details
- 33
- 10
- 107
- 51
- 30
- 3
- 2
Region Status
Open as of Aug 13, 2026Local Trail Association
Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 295
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 236
- Trails E-Bike
- 64
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 46
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 23
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 30
- Trails Horse
- 14
- Trails Hike
- 235
- Trails Trail Running
- 234
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 14
- Trails Observed Trials
- 9
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 14
- Trails Snowmobile
- 78
- Trails Snowshoe
- 83
- Trails Downhill Ski
- 14
- Trails Backcountry Ski
- 17
- Trails Nordic Ski
- 105
- Total Distance
- 303 miles
- Total Descent
- 24,513 ft
- Total Vertical
- 6,004 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 6,032 ft
- Reports
- 524
- Photos
- 188
- Completed Counter
- 11,645
Sub Regions
-
Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA)
- 15
- 9
- 14
- 1
-
Knik River Public Use Area
- 1
- 7
- 5
- 2
- 2
-
Lazy Mountain
- 1
- 1
- 4
-
Matanuska Greenbelt Trails
- 12
- 21
- 6
-
Moose Range
- 72
- 6
-
Palmer Bike Park
- 5
- 6
- 1
Popular Palmer Mountain Biking Trails
• 100 ★ 1.5 • 495 ft • 13 ft • 398 •
This is a from the Parking Lot to the South Loop
• 100 ★ 3.5 • 1 mile • 134 ft • 313 •
Super fun and fast berm section. Excellent grade choice and berm radius, ensuring that once you hit top speed you will not need to use your brakes. The trail has some fun uphill technical rock sections that are easy to strike a pedal on...
• 100 ★ 5.0 • 1,694 ft • 135 ft • 265 •
This dual direction trail connects the middle of the connector trail and upper portion of the Trail. This trail will provide a more technical climb than other trails at GPRA. There intact roots that you will need to navigate, a few...
• 100 ★ 5.0 • 1,266 ft • 0 ft • 261 •
One way DH trail. No hiking or uphill travel. Jumps, drops, roots, and mandatory two gaps.
• 95 ★ 0.0 • 1 mile • 95 ft • 226 •
This ride utilizes great new (2015) trails thanks to the Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers group All two-way singletrack, with a few options from the start and a connecting trail in the middle. Great bermed corners make for great flow,...
Palmer Mountain Bike Routes
★ 5.0 • 14 miles • 968 ft • 14 •
An Advanced-rated loop at the Matanuska lakes riding area. 15 miles of mostly blue single track with some...
10 miles • 568 ft • 9 •
An intermediate-rated loop at the Matanuska lakes riding area. 10 miles of mostly blue and green single...
★ 2.0 • 9 miles • 415 ft • 5 • Loop •
A nice little route starting and ending at the college. Mixes single track and farm roads
5 miles • 133 ft • 4 •
A beginner-rated loop at the Matanuska lakes riding area. 5 miles of mostly double track trails with some...
3 miles • 421 ft • 8 • Loop •
Loop for and trail in the counterclockwise direction
Photos of Palmer Mountain Bike
Videos of Palmer Mountain Bike
mtb
2:24 |
10 |
May 21, 2026
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain of Lakes Footpath | Aug 13, 2026 @ 10:28am (America/Anchorage) Aug 13, 2026 | Wet | Beaularousse | ||
| Matanuska Peak Trail | Jul 12, 2026 @ 9:16pm (America/Anchorage) Jul 12, 2026 | Wet | Beaularousse | ||
| Field of Dreams | Jun 1, 2026 @ 2:26pm (America/Anchorage) Jun 1, 2026 | Unknown | gtakmtb | ||
| Unnamed Trail | May 31, 2026 @ 11:13am (America/Anchorage) May 31, 2026 | Variable | Darken18 | ||
| Steeze Grater | May 8, 2026 @ 9:08am (America/Anchorage) May 8, 2026 | Dry | gmember | ||
| The Sequel | May 8, 2026 @ 9:08am (America/Anchorage) May 8, 2026 | Variable | gmember | ||
| Cliffhanger | May 8, 2026 @ 9:08am (America/Anchorage) May 8, 2026 | Variable | gmember | ||
| Cucaracha | May 8, 2026 @ 9:08am (America/Anchorage) May 8, 2026 | Ideal | gmember | ||
| The March Loamer | May 8, 2026 @ 9:08am (America/Anchorage) May 8, 2026 | Variable | gmember | ||
| Knik Glacier - Hunter Creek | Mar 16, 2026 @ 10:58am (America/Anchorage) Mar 16, 2026 | Snow Packed | btsouth |
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wolfdoodle5017 | vote | trail | activity #103449865 | Sep 9, 2026 @ 6:42pm Sep 9, 2026 |
| Estanton05 | ridden | trail | activity #102414877 and 2 more | Aug 26, 2026 @ 7:27pm Aug 26, 2026 |
| radeuradeu | ridden | trail | activity #101742170 and 1 more | Aug 17, 2026 @ 8:24pm Aug 17, 2026 |
| Beaularousse | add | report | activity #101399765 | Aug 13, 2026 @ 11:28am Aug 13, 2026 |
| lalmondjen | wishlist | region | activity #101033846 | Aug 8, 2026 @ 12:45pm Aug 8, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trail | The trail has been completely washed out... | Sep 23, 2025 @ 3:33pm Sep 23, 2025 | ||
| trail | Nice ride. Dry. Only did the upper half of the... | Jun 15, 2025 @ 4:14pm Jun 15, 2025 | ||
| trail | Good ride. Dry. | Jun 15, 2025 @ 4:13pm Jun 15, 2025 | ||
| trail | Very rooty. Also, there is a tree down across... | Jun 15, 2025 @ 4:12pm Jun 15, 2025 | ||
| trail | Dry, steep, anything but lazy. Good hiking. | Jun 2, 2025 @ 6:06pm Jun 2, 2025 |
Local Badges
-
Completionist0 awarded -
Big Ride 30k716 awarded -
Epic Ride 50k237 awarded -
Top 10 Trails4 awarded -
10 Black Trails34 awarded -
Completionist0 awarded
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 236 | 269 miles | 20,108 ft | 80 miles | 6,004 ft | #722 | #277 | 170 | 516 | 12 | 10,012 | |
| E-Bike | 64 | 104 miles | 9,268 ft | 41 miles | 2,484 ft | #1,870 | #913 | 392 | 1 | 283 | ||
| Gravel Bike | 46 | 79 miles | 3,130 ft | 31 miles | 1,250 ft | #1,248 | #300 | 37 | 84 | |||
| Adaptive Bike | 23 | 43 miles | 1,257 ft | 20 miles | 1,106 ft | #2,051 | #384 | 49 | ||||
| Winter Fat Bike | 30 | 36 miles | 3,064 ft | 13 miles | 2,461 ft | #192 | #62 | 13 | 34 | 150 | ||
| Horse | 14 | 34 miles | 1,329 ft | 9 miles | 2,244 ft | #1,553 | #839 | 55 | 2 | |||
| Hike | 235 | 285 miles | 19,295 ft | 78 miles | 6,004 ft | #551 | #251 | 5 | 458 | 1,560 | ||
| Trail Running | 234 | 284 miles | 18,389 ft | 78 miles | 6,004 ft | #455 | #179 | 458 | 544 | |||
| Dirtbike/Moto | 14 | 31 miles | 1,148 ft | 9 miles | 1,657 ft | #894 | #338 | 54 | 4 | |||
| Observed Trials | 9 | 26 miles | 774 ft | 7 miles | 761 ft | #209 | #41 | 7 | 4 | |||
| ATV/ORV/OHV | 14 | 36 miles | 1,148 ft | 10 miles | 1,660 ft | #621 | #251 | 55 | 11 | |||
| Snowmobile | 78 | 65 miles | 5,955 ft | 22 miles | 4,216 ft | #126 | #63 | 8 | 3 | |||
| Snowshoe | 83 | 78 miles | 6,821 ft | 24 miles | 5,981 ft | #290 | #71 | 11 | 30 | |||
| Downhill Ski | 14 | 3 miles | 1,352 ft | 2 miles | 1,440 ft | #680 | #338 | 8 | 63 | |||
| Backcountry Ski | 17 | 29 miles | 1,709 ft | 6 miles | 5,968 ft | #412 | #85 | 11 | 164 | |||
| Nordic Ski | 105 | 71 miles | 7,011 ft | 25 miles | 2,415 ft | #273 | #73 | 10 | 469 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best places to ride in Palmer?
Palmer has 7 areas to explore for mountain biking. The top rated areas are:
▼
What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Palmer?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Palmer are:
- Larkspur (4.3/5)
- Jacob's Ladder (4.2/5)
- Julie's (4.2/5)
- Palmer Bike Park Flow Trail (4.2/5)
- Birch Run (4.1/5)
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What is the best time of the year to ride in Palmer?
Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride in Palmer are:
- June (225 activities)
- July (225 activities)
- May (176 activities)
▼
Where can I park to ride in Palmer?
There are 22 parking locations listed in Palmer. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
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What is the longest trail in Palmer?
The longest trail in Palmer is Knik Glacier - Jim Creek at 19.1 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Palmer?
The best hiking trails in Palmer are: View all hiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Palmer?
The best trail running trails in Palmer are: View all trail running trails sorted by popularity score.
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What are the best & highest rated dirtbiking trails in Palmer?
The best dirtbiking trails in Palmer are: View all dirtbiking trails sorted by popularity score.
▼
How many trails are in Palmer?
Palmer has a total of 295 trails. Of those, 236 are designated for mountain biking. Browse top mountain biking trails in Palmer to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Palmer?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Palmer is Matanuska Peak Trail with 5,478 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Palmer?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Palmer is Skyline with 1,379 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
▼
What activities are most popular in Palmer?
Palmer supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Gravel Biking, Adaptive Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Horseback, Hiking, Trail Running, Dirtbiking, Observed Trials, ATVing/Offroading, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Nordic Skiing.
▼
What bike services are there in Palmer?
The following bike services are available in Palmer:
- Bike Shop (1)
- Race Team (1)
- Shuttle Service (1)
- Trail Association (1)
▼
What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Palmer?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Palmer is Lazy Mountain Trail with an average grade of 27%. View all trails sorted by grade.
▼
Are the trails open in Palmer?
The overall region status for Palmer is Clear / Green. Out of 92 trails:
- Clear / Green: 75
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 13
- Significant Issue / Amber: 3
- Closed: 1
▼
Can I ride an ebike in Palmer?
Yes, Palmer supports e-bike riding. There are 50 trails in Palmer that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
▼
What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Palmer?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Palmer are:
- Backcountry Bike and Ski Advanced Kin-Win route
- Backcountry Bike and Ski Intermediate Kin-Win route
- GP clockwise strava blast
▼
What type of bike is most common in Palmer?
Based on activity log data, the most common bike types used in Palmer are:
- AM (104 activities)
- Fat (30 activities)
- DH (3 activities)
- XC (1 activities)
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What is the highest summit in Palmer?
The highest summit in Palmer is Ice Cream Cone Mountain at 8,675 ft elevation.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Palmer?
The most popular Strava segments in Palmer are:
- In case of flood climb to safety (942 athletes)
- Larkspur (801 athletes)
- Up Jacob's Ladder (736 athletes)
▼
What trails are closed in Palmer?
There are currently 1 closed trails in Palmer. The breakdown of all trail statuses is:
- Clear / Green: 75
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 13
- Significant Issue / Amber: 3
- Closed: 1
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Are there accessible or adaptive trails in Palmer?
Yes, there are 23 accessible/adaptive trails in Palmer. View all adaptive trails in Palmer for specific accessibility information.
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Are there local clubs or events in Palmer?
There are 1 local clubs or associations listed in the Palmer directory. Browse the local directory for details.
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Palmer?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Palmer are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by popularity.
▼
What are the best beginner ride trails in Palmer?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Palmer are:
- Fox Run (4.5/5)
- Connector Trail (3.5/5)
- Old Cat Trail (3/5)
Activities
- Palmer Mountain Biking Trails
- Palmer E-Biking Trails
- Palmer Gravel Biking Trails
- Palmer Adaptive Biking Trails
- Palmer Winter Fat Biking Trails
- Palmer Horseback Trails
- Palmer Hiking Trails
- Palmer Trail Running Trails
- Palmer Dirtbiking Trails
- Palmer Observed Trials Trails
- Palmer ATVing/Offroading Trails
- Palmer Snowmobiling Trails
- Palmer Snowshoeing Trails
- Palmer Skiing Trails
- Palmer Backcountry Skiing Trails
- Palmer Nordic Skiing Trails
Trails
- By akhelibike & contributors
- Admins: CMBR, LeeBolling, forrestt30, JDUERParks, A-Lens-for-Wanderlust, AK-Biking
- #9191 - 10,044 views
- palmer activity log | embed map of Palmer mountain bike trails | palmer mountain biking points of interest polygons
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