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You're on vacation in Alaska, with a few days based in Anchorage. The sun is shining brightly, the outdoors seem to be calling your name. Where do you go?

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Cindy Finwall hikes on the Turnagain Arm Trail near the McHugh Creek trail head in Chugach State Park.

If you've brought along some hiking boots, the options are basically limitless. Chugach State Park and its 500,000 or so acres are Anchorage's eastern border. Farther to the south, there are plenty of trails and opportunities around Girdwood or on the northern portion of the Kenai Peninsula. Heading north, there are some great hikes outside of Palmer, and Hatcher Pass is just an hour or so from Anchorage.

Where do you head? A few experts on local hiking offer their suggestions on where to put your boots:

RAINBOW PEAK

When summer days are long and I want to go out for a hike after work, one of my favorite spots is off the Turnagain Arm Trail to Rainbow Peak. In only 20 minutes from Midtown, I can find myself out in the fresh air climbing up through aspen groves. After a gradual mile or two, the trail cuts off and up ... straight up! If you are not fond of scree or instability maybe you should stick to the main trail.

After a well earned 3,000 feet or so you will find yourself on a ridge overlooking Turnagain Arm and possibly an aerial view of beluga whales below. Round-trip total distance is about five miles and can be completed in three to five hours depending on your level of physical fitness. I find this hike to be especially gratifying because when I am climbing up the steep trail I not only gain altitude, but fortitude and a greater appreciation for my health and ability to live and work close to such majesty.

Where: Mile 108 Seward Highway. Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, the Rainbow parking lot is on the left.

-- Josh Morehouse

Outreach coordinator at REI

TURNAGAIN ARM TRAIL

My favorite local hike is Potter Marsh to McHugh Creek (and back of course). It's about 6 1/2 miles round trip. It's a great easy hike without much elevation gain. It can be made longer by going all the way to Rainbow or shorter by turning around when tired. The views of the Inlet are wonderful. The trail is well-kept but can get really muddy after rains and spring thaw.

Every time I've hiked this trail I've seen bear scat but so far no actual bear. Bringing pepper spray and a friend are really good ideas.

It's a great trail run -- if you don't have the time for a hike.

Where: Mile 115 Seward Highway. Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, the Potter parking lot is on the left just past Potter Marsh.

-- Janell Kurchinski

Merchandise manager at Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking

EAGLE AND SYMPHONY LAKES

If you're in Anchorage and you have the whole day to go hiking, my number one choice would be Eagle and Symphony lakes. The trail head is in the town of Eagle River and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Anchorage. This hike is probably one of the easiest ways to get into some serious backcountry close to town. The entire hike to the lakes is about six hours round trip, but if you can swing an overnight backpacking trip, even better!

The trail starts over a ridge then descends into a long valley, commonly referred to as the south fork of Eagle River. At the end of the valley, after climbing over a slew of rocks and boulders from a long ago slide, are two lakes situated on both sides of a lateral moraine; Eagle Lake, which is a green milky color, and Symphony Lake, a rich blue aquamarine color. The contrast in color is amazing and is one of the coolest sites in Chugach State Park.

If you hike farther down past Eagle Lake, a deep canyon forms where you have a good chance of spotting Dall sheep. If you have the time, you could proceed up the end to Flute Glacier and Eagle Peak. However, be aware that the canyon is quite boggy and requires periods of bushwhacking.

If you go farther down the Symphony Lake side, there is another canyon with waterfalls, boulder slopes and hidden lakes (tarns), as well as the trail to Triangle Peak. You may even want to explore the mountain, Cantata, which runs right up the middle of the moraine. However, ending your trip with a nice lunch at the moraine should be more than satisfactory for the first-time Alaska visitor.

The ridge part of the trail is on private property so stay on the trail till you go down and over the bridge. The traverse across the boulders may not be good for a dog with sensitive pads. Keep a jug of water and a bowl in your vehicle. There are no water sources (except boggy stuff), from the bridge to the trail head. If it's a hot day, your dog will thank you.

Where: South Fork Eagle River Trail head. From Anchorage, take the Glenn Highway until the Eagle River Loop / Hiland Drive exit; turn right from the exit and right again at Hiland Drive. Follow the road for several miles to South Creek Road and West River Drive.

-- Bill Davidson

Organizer of Alaska Hike Search (www.akhs.atfreeweb.com)

RENDEZVOUS PEAK, MOUNT GORDON LYON AND MOUNT EKLUTNA

When many people arrive in Anchorage for the first time and find the time and inclination to go hiking, they usually get directed to Flattop, Wolverine Peak and Bird Ridge.

Three mountains that often get unnoticed include the Rendezvous Peak and Mount Gordon Lyon massif, Mount Eklutna and Rainbow Peak. Of these three, most people go to Rendezvous Peak and Mount Gordon Lyon that rise above the far northern end of the Chugach Range on the other side of the Ship Creek basin. Just hiking to the pass that hangs between the two summits offers a panoramic view of the South Fork of Eagle River and Eagle River valleys.

To reach the summit of Mount Eklutna entails a little more difficulty in that it involves more elevation gain on a climb up an unofficial trail. Beginning only a few hundred feet up Peters Creek Trail, this steep but not dangerous trail first climbs up the backside of the cliffs that overlook Mirror Lake on the Glenn Highway. From there, one can hike back to the ridge a mile or so to the summit of Mount Eklutna and its overviews of Peters Creek, Thunderbird Creek and even the Eklutna Lake valley.

Where: For Rendezvous Peak and Mount Gordon Lyon, head north from Anchorage on the Glenn Highway, exiting at Arctic Valley Road. Follow the road east until arriving at a parking lot. For Mount Eklutna, follow the Glenn Highway north to the Peters Creek exit, turn right onto Ski Road and eventually onto Malcolm Drive.

-- Shawn Lyons

Anchorage hiker and author of "Walk-About Guide to Alaska," of which three volumes are currently available covering trails from the Kenai Peninsula to Hatcher Pass

Special sections editor Steve Edwards can be reached at sedwards@ adn.com. Visit his travel blog at www.alaska.com/alaskology. •

Editor's picks

Hiking is one of the best ways to get that "Alaska" experience. Here are some of the best hikes around Anchorage:

• Flattop Mountain: Sure, it's a bit overdone. But there is a good reason it's Alaska's most-hiked mountain. The view from the top is wonderful, it's not too challenging and you can be up and down in a couple of hours if you hike fairly quickly.

• Wolverine Peak: If you've got more than a couple of hours and an adventurous spirit, this should be your destination. From the peak, it seems like the Chugach Mountains simply go on forever. The terrain is varied, starting in the forest and ending well above treeline.

• Penguin Peak: The trail head is easy to reach near Bird Creek along the Seward Highway. You'll spend several hours on this one, but it's absolutely worth it. It's not too busy, and in the late summer the hills burst with color.

• Kincaid Park: This in-town hiking isn't for those looking for a view from a peak, but there are loads of trails through the 1,400-acre park, and there are outstanding views looking at the mountains across Cook Inlet. Plus, this is your best chance to see moose. Editor's picks