Difficulty: Easy
Distance: About 11 miles
Elevation gain: Less than 500 feet
Meandering through active farmland, open fields, and forest, this loop is set on agricultural research land owned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This is the same area where farm research was done 100 years ago before the government relocated Midwest farmers as part of the Colony Project. The hiking here is mostly flat with a few forested hills, and there are nice views from the fields overlooking Matanuska Lake. For beginner hikers and bikers, this is the best place in the greenbelt for easy walks. Just be sure to be considerate of these fields, as they’re being used for research and production.
