UAF Skarland Trail System Management Plan
UAF Trails 1999 User Survey Results
March 2, 2000
Comments on New Trails - 52 respondents had comments
More snowmobile access/trails desired.
commuter trail from Muskox farm to west ridge for winter traffic- so we can avoid the ski trails. A ski-jour trail or winter dog trail from west ridge to B. lake
remaining portion of 6-mile trail that has not been maintained in recent years: classic skiing only in winter
Upgrade/reroute Arboretum classic trail to allow diagonal stride grooming.
Not really a new trail, but I would like to see the Skarland Classic trails upgraded so that they can be groomed and have track set. Seems to me we should make all existing trails usable before making new ones.
I would like to see more ski trails. Lets make UAF as good as Birch Hill. You pick the best location of the ski trails.
Need a trail around Smith Lake - Could be constructed of boardwalk to keep people channeled and off vegetation. Really need short boardwalk segments added to existing main trail near Ballaine Lake.
Not really new, but upgrade the Skarland Classic sections of the trails so they can be groomed, not necessarily for skating, but at least for diagonal
more lighted ski trails behind west ridge
widen the 6 mile classic loop so it can be maintained, and so it can be used for skating as well maintain the 9 mile and 12 mile trails for classic skiing
Maintain some connection between the Natural Sciences Facility and the ski trails. If the road behind NSF is constructed this will cut off much of our trail access. A connection behind he museum and/or maintaining the connection behind SAC is essential. Also a loop could be constructed that exits the parking lot behind (north of) NSF, runs behind the museum and circles back also connecting up to the Skarland 6 mile trail.
Make the trail down to Smith Lake a loop trail--return along commuter trail along Sheep Creek Road
all of the above route have access already. Just upgrading them where damage is occurring should be priority, DOT can take care of Loftus Road trail
A multi-use trail through the northern portion of the UAF property connecting the Farmers Loop bike path with the Sheep Cr. Rd. bike path. A multi-use trail under Farmers Loop Rd. to connect to the Jeff Studdard Trails
Ski Trail connecting from T-field up to the top of Miller Hill then back down to Smith Lake. This will improve the amount of hills offered at the trail system. Trails connecting onto Rosie Creek Trail system. On the south side of the Parks Hwy. across Isberg Rd. then onto trail system of Rosie Creek.
As the University campus is situated at a cross roads of sorts for area trail systems this plan needs to address how area trail users will get through or around the campus. Many winter trail users have no interest in using the campus trails but rather have a need to get through or around it. Snowmobiles are the prime example. The plan will need to address how trail users get from the Geist Road area to the Farmers Loop or Sheep Creek area. While it is stated that snowmobiles are prohibited because of liability that really is not the case. There is no evidence that the University is exposed to any greater level of liability than it is from any other use. The plan should recommend that the University take a realistic look at liability. A plan should be the process for making things work.
I would like more trails for walking/biking/running, but please don't interfere with ongoing research projects. Research should take priority.
work with the community, borough, and ski club to construct connector trail from UAF to Birch hill and from UAF to Ester. Provide numerous and easily accessible trail entry/exit points.
This is perhaps too grand a scheme, but I'd like to see a trail for skiing from UAF to Birch Hill, perhaps along the ridge top of the hills north of Farmers Loop, or along the electric utility easements. The bike path isn't very skiable.
Please more for snowmachines
Since the current trails aren't being well enough maintained to even ski without whipping through the brush I'd say why not try first just to maintain and upgrade existing trails. Maybe then you can consider new construction
multi-use trail along Miller Hill and Yankovich Roads
I am not sure from reading your draft plan how exactly you would treat the commuter and run paths in winter, so I thought I would mention this: if you groom/pass with a snowmachine over the ski trails, you should do likewise for the other trails, as it is not very much fun to run or commute through fresh snow if there is a groomed trail available. Regarding bridge or tunnel across existing roads, yes, it is a good idea, but I believe at this moment in time the skiers have enough facilities while no one else can go anywhere except the side of the road. Let's face it, if every UAF student/Faculty/staff went skiing at lest twice a week, the trails would be very crowded. Thus I think it's time to make a trail for the rest, all the other people that for one reason or another are currently left out. Seriously, there is no place to go run in winter, or if there is, please correct me.
In winter people who don't ski can only do things on the side of the roads. I believe a perhaps 5km loop from west ridge through the woods towards/past Sheep Creek/smith lake and back would allow runners/joggers and commuters to get their exercise too. Of course this would not be necessary if you would allow people to use some of the currently ski only trails for other uses. I work on west ridge, but I am sure people from lower campus would appreciate a short path connecting lower campus (for example, by Yukon/Kobuk intersection, or somewhere by the health center) to the ski trails. PS If money becomes the issue, I would recommend designating some trails as multiple use.
I think that bike paths along the roads will not only make commuting or recreating by bicycle safer, but will also actually encourage bicycling. People perception of the options available to them is often driven by the infrastructure that exists.
Don't think there should be any new trails, really, unless there's a glut of money to put towards trail construction. How can University with a current limited budget afford all these new trails you're presenting. Don't see need for a new trail along Geist.
The roads around campus are all completely too narrow for use by joggers and cyclists. Yukon Drive cannot safely pass two vehicles and a bicycle. Tanana Loop and Yukon Drive both are in dire need of a shoulder, much less a bike lane. The shoulders down the road below Butrovitch are nothing less than dangerous in the winter because they slope downward and are not near flat enough. I've cursed this hill for over a decade and can't understand why nothing is being done to make the UAF streets a safe place to jog or cycle.
I am annoyed at the shape of the UAF ski trails. After allowing vehicles to drive on the road and create deep ruts they were never filled in. IF the trails cannot be maintained over the summer all of this is mute.
Will walk/run/bike paths also be open to mushers and skijorers?
Commuter trail for RUNNERS/WALKERS between Musk Ox farm and West Ridge (following part of Skarland classic loop, along powerline to top of T-field, then along road to picnic ground/trailhead. This doesn't have to be a new trail as long as running/walking is allowed on this portion of the trail! A number of people are commuting year-round on these trails. Most commuters ski in the winter but there are times when the outer classic trails are not yet skiable or not skiable anymore, leaving commuters no choice but to run on the existing trails or run along the road system instead. There is currently no good connection between the Skarland 6 mile loop (from the corner of Ballaine/Farmer's Loop) and the Skarland 12 mile classic loop (plus the Pearl Creek trail system). I don't have any ideas where to put a connector trail but I would be willing to check into it.
Perhaps, somewhere up on west ridge, make a dog walk path that can be used in the winter. This would be very helpful, since we cannot walk our doggies on the ski-trails. Then, we could use this path for skijoring!
One problem area on campus for pedestrians and bikers is getting off Fairbanks Street at Lola Tilly Commons and turning left as if to go to the Paddy Center--this is very unsafe (especially in winter) because you have to get off the bike path on Fairbanks
I'm in favor of as many skate-groomable trails as possible.
The sheep creek to west ridge trail should be OK for dog use. There needs to be a way to get to campus even if it is just to meet a friend and get picked up.
some all purpose commuter trail between West Ridge and where Ballaine and Farmer's Loop diverge?
I would like a trail that is maintained during the winter that I can feel comfortable (i.e. not pissing the skier's off) jogging or skiing with my dog.
The trail from the parking lot west of Chapman to NSB is heavily used and should be upgraded and maintained. A short stairway going up to the road just across from NSB is especially needed.
during winter, I would recommend to ground for classic and skating skis, the trail ( or is it a future road) that is behind the natural science facility and connect to the parking place behind the GI. It will help people coming from natural science building to access rapidly and easily the ski hut and will provide the beginners with a nice flat trail to practice, without using the Skarland trail. The butte at the end of this trail should be pushed out of the way.
There are multiple narrow trails running behind the caribou enclosure on west ridge (e.g. the one paralleling the fence, plus multiple ones going at right angle from it, towards the north). Many of these trails would be suitable from classic skiing/jogging/ walking/running if the trees and bushes leaning into the trails would be cleared. Since the trails are already there, it should not be too expensive to clear them and perhaps level them.
Trail connecting NSF with the start of west ridge trails is needed!
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