more stats
2.5 miles
Distance
478 ft
Climb
-469 ft
Descent
00:31:41
Avg time
7 ft
Altitude change
1,039 ft
Altitude min
1,377 ft
Altitude max
1,180 ft
Altitude start
1,188 ft
Altitude end
0.1%
Grade
-45.8%
Grade max
24%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
2,185 ft
Distance flat
00:31:41
Avg time

Inner Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Snowshoe
  • Riding Area
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 100 in Hiking
    • 5 in Snowshoeing
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #51333 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #85785 in Trail Running
    • #28888 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Snow Grooming
    Groomed Smooth
  • Bike Type
    XC, Fat
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump, Log Ride
  • Year Opened
    2011
  • Land Owner
    Alaska Dept. Natural Resources - MLW

A shorter singletrack flow trail, less swoopy than the Outer Loop.

Brief closure during spring break-up.
Dogs: Leashed

The Inner Loop is a shorter trail of the Ester Dome Singletrack Happy Valley Trail System. Snaking its way around a forested loop on a south-facing hillside, this trail strikes a balance between winding forest singletrack and bermed-earth "bike-park" features. It also has a couple of smaller jumps and rock obstacles.

Similar in design to the Outer Loop, the trail bed is smooth and everything is do-able for a biker with intermediate skills. The trail runs mostly through open aspen forest with occasional forays into denser stands of mixed spruce and birch. Lots of squirrels and songbirds in the area, but especially keep watch for the occasional moose.

Take care at the intersections, as there are several. Look for the signs and colored reflectors (Inner Loop = Yellow, Outer Loop = Orange, TnT = Green). The Inner Loop and Outer Loop meet three times.

Access Info

Trailhead & parking, 1.6 mile Ester Dome Road.

Local Trail Association
  • trail association logo
  • Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
    trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 8 miles avg distance
All
  • 61 rides
  • Last: Aug 13, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Inner Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 14, 2026 @ 6:07pm (America/Anchorage)
Jul 14, 2026
There is some erosion damage in places, so use caution.
Sep 15, 2025 @ 6:15pm (America/Anchorage)
Sep 15, 2025
Mostly great shape, though some spots can be slick from wet and wet leaves. Also be aware a portion of the trail may be closed for upgrades. For...
Sep 7, 2025 @ 11:50am
Sep 7, 2025
The trail is in great shape and the new features are awesome. Part of one birch tree has fallen alongside one part of the trail. You can get...
Nov 5, 2024 @ 6:13pm
Nov 5, 2024
A bunch of us cleared from the second entrance of the Inner Loop to where the Inner and Outer loops meet. Someone else had earlier done part of...
Sep 24, 2024 @ 6:09pm
Sep 24, 2024
more »
Status:
on Jul 14, 2026
Variable
Avg: 4.21 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to inner-loop-91487 trailhead (64.889080, -147.994630)

      Photos

      7 more »
      mtb
      157 |
      Jun 7, 2020 @ 10:03pm
      Jun 7, 2020
      mtb
      147 |
      Sep 15, 2018 @ 12:41am
      Sep 15, 2018
      mtb
      137 |
      Sep 15, 2018 @ 12:41am
      Sep 15, 2018
      mtb
      166 |
      Sep 15, 2018 @ 12:40am
      Sep 15, 2018

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Inner Loop yet, add a video.
      4.4
      8 Ratings
      5 63%
      4 25%
      3
      2 13%
      1

      1 Review & Comments

      d2good
      This was a fun little hike for us. We are complete beginners and have young children.

      We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

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      • By gcorthTF Pro & contributors
      • #91487 - 1,911 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Where is Inner Loop located?
      Inner Loop is located in Ester Dome - Happy Valley Trail, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Ester Dome - Happy Valley Trail trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 64.88908, -147.99463.
      How hard is Inner Loop?
      Inner Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      What is the elevation gain for Inner Loop?
      Inner Loop has 478 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 469 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,039 ft to 1,377 ft.
      How long is Inner Loop?
      Inner Loop is 2.5 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      Are dogs allowed on Inner Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Inner Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      How do I access Inner Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Inner Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      How long does it take to ride Inner Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 32 minutes to ride Inner Loop. The trail is 2.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      How busy is Inner Loop?
      Inner Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 285 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 371 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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