more stats
1.4 miles
Distance
141 ft
Climb
-147 ft
Descent
00:19:11
Avg time
-7 ft
Altitude change
972 ft
Altitude min
1,077 ft
Altitude max
979 ft
Altitude start
971 ft
Altitude end
-0.1%
Grade
-16.8%
Grade max
14%
Grade min
3,947 ft
Distance climb
2,940 ft
Distance down
705 ft
Distance flat
00:19:11
Avg time

Tower Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Nordic Ski
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Birch Hill Recreation Area
    Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Nordic Skiing [+]
    • 5 in Mountain Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #1663 in Nordic Skiing
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Ski Run (Piste)
  • Snow Grooming
    Classic / Skating
  • Direction
    One Direction
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Winter
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Year Opened
    1990
  • Land Owner
    Fairbanks North Star Borough

The Tower Loop was one of the "original" trails at Birch Hill, laid out by Floyd Reishus in 1981 in preparation for the 1982 Arctic Winter Games. Only minor modifications have been made to the original path in order to accommodate skating and the evoluttion of grooming technology. All the original 1981-designed trails were widened in the mid-1980's to accommodate skating.

Trail Supporters
  • past supporters

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 0 rides
  •  
All
  • 21 rides
  • Last: Jul 7, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jul 7, 2026
Snow Groomed
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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
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  • bi-directional trail
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  • < 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
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  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
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BC Backroad Status

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Slope Aspect
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Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to tower-loop-353400 trailhead (64.866630, -147.648240)

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        Nearby Trails

        Birch Hill Recreation Area

        • By OgreOfTheNorthTF Pro & contributors
        • #353400 - 655 views

        Frequently Asked Questions About Tower Loop

        ▼ Where is Tower Loop located?
        Tower Loop is located in Birch Hill Recreation Area, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Birch Hill Recreation Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 64.86663, -147.64824.
        ▼ How hard is Tower Loop?
        Tower Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 0.1%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Tower Loop?
        Tower Loop has 141 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 147 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 972 ft to 1,077 ft.
        ▼ Is Tower Loop a point to point trail?
        Yes, Tower Loop is a point to point trail. The direction is One Direction. The trail type is ski run (piste).
        ▼ How long is Tower Loop?
        Tower Loop is 1.4 miles long. The trail type is ski run (piste).
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Tower Loop?
        There is no information about dogs being allowed on Tower Loop. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ski Tower Loop?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ski Tower Loop are:
        • February (12 activities)
        • January (7 activities)
        • December (4 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Tower Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Tower Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ski Tower Loop?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 11 minutes to ski Tower Loop. The trail is 1.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Tower Loop?
        Tower Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 141 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 199 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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