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If you don't spend at least a couple of hours on a bicycle during a stop in Anchorage, you're missing out on what could be the highlight of your vacation.

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A mountain biker rides over roots near the Spencer Loop trail in Anchorage's Far North Bicentennial/Hillside Park. Bicentennial Park and Kincaid Park offer excellent in-town mountain biking.

Anchorage combines the perfect amount of wildness with a few cycling amenities to make it a great bicycling location. Anchorage has more than 120 miles of paved trails and has been rated as one of the nation's best trail towns by Bicycling Magazine and the American Hiking Society. A November 2004 Bicycling Magazine article called Anchorage a "utopia" for cyclists.

There is excellent mountain biking in town -- including 180 miles of unpaved and wilderness trails -- and stunning single-track riding within a couple of hours' driving time.

Couple all those trails with beautiful scenery, potential wildlife encounters (including moose and bear) and an abundance of bicycle rental shops and it's easy to see why a day spent on a bicycle seat shouldn't be missed.

The starting point for most cycling-minded visitors is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. While the 11-mile trail is worth all its notice, it doesn't stand alone. It is joined by the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail and the Campbell Creek Trail as beautiful in-town options.

Outside the city, the Glenn Highway Trail takes riders north toward Eagle River and beyond, while the Indian-to-Girdwood Trail parallels the Seward Highway south of Anchorage.

• The COASTAL TRAIL is Anchorage's most popular trail. Its location, access and viewpoints make it easy to see why it's so popular. The trail starts downtown and winds past Westchester Lagoon, Point Woronzof and into Kincaid Park. The scenery changes significantly along the route and can include views of Mount McKinley, Knik Arm, Mount Susitna, Cook Inlet and the wooded beauty of Kincaid Park.

Additionally, wildlife encounters are common. I've passed a dozen moose on a round-trip ride between Kincaid and downtown. Black bears also inhabit the park, and beluga whales will sometimes swim within view of the trail, especially near Point Woronzof.

"The highlight for most visitors who cycle on the Coastal Trail is seeing wildlife," said Peter Roberts, owner of Downtown Bicycle Rental. "After Earthquake Park, the four-mile swatch of woods between the ocean and the airport concentrates wildlife, mostly moose, sometimes right on the trail."

The trail is packed with places to stop and sights to see.

Interesting points include Elderberry Park and the Oscar Anderson House Museum just a little more than a mile after the trail starts. The museum is in one of Anchorage's oldest homes. Westchester Lagoon is home to a wide variety of waterfowl. Head south and toward Lyn Ary Park, which includes a playground area, baseball fields and tennis courts. It is also an excellent place to sit and look across the Inlet at Mount Susitna. One of the planets in the Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk is just off the trail at the park.

Earthquake Park includes interpretive information about the powerful 1964 earthquake. It also is a great place to see downtown Anchorage or Mount McKinley on a clear day. Point Woronzof is next and it also has stunning views of the Alaska Range, including Mount McKinley. Jets frequently pass overhead during takeoff or landing from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. From there it's on to Kincaid Park -- and keep your eyes open for moose.

"I think evening is the best time to ride the Coastal Trail," Roberts said. "One reason why is the lighting. Depending on the time of year, sunsets can go on for hours. The second reason is to incorporate dinner into your ride."

• The LANIE FLEISCHER CHESTER CREEK TRAIL connects with the Coastal Trail at Westchester Lagoon, just south of Anchorage's downtown. From there, the trail heads east toward the Chugach Mountains.

The trail is six miles and parallels Chester Creek, rolling through a greenbelt for miles and crossing the creek several times. The trail ends at Goose Lake Park, but it is easy to make a couple of connections and end up at the Campbell Creek Trail. (Skirt by the University of Alaska Anchorage and hook up with a bike path along Elmore Road. Use a bike/pedestrian bridge to cross Tudor Road and then connect with the Campbell Creek Trail.)

• The CAMPBELL CREEK TRAIL is about eight miles long, starting in a corner of Far North Bicentennial Park and traveling alongside Campbell Creek through a pretty greenbelt. Cyclists can walk their bikes under the Seward Highway and continue along the pathway. The trail travels through neighborhoods and crosses one busy street, but you might encounter moose on the trail and the creek is a constant companion.

From the southwest end of the trail, some sidewalk and bike-path riding along residential streets can lead cyclists to Raspberry Road and, eventually, Kincaid Park. From there it's an easy ride along the Coastal Trail back to town.

Without too much difficulty, cyclists can make a circular ride on all three trails enjoying some of the best of Anchorage. There are also several restaurants along the route, including Arctic Roadrunner on the Campbell Creek Trail and Tastee Freez at the intersection of Raspberry and Jewel Lake roads.

Out-of-town paths include:

• The INDIAN-TO-GIRDWOOD bike path is probably one of the most scenic bike trails in the country. The trail covers nearly 17 miles, allowing cyclists to ride from Alyeska Resort in Girdwood to Indian, nearly halfway to Anchorage. The trail parallels the Seward Highway, which was designated a National Scenic Byway in 1998.

• The GLENN HIGHWAY TRAIL is not nearly as scenic as its southerly cousin, but it does offer a nice piece of fairly flat pavement for cyclists looking to log some miles. It also makes a day trip to Eagle River via bicycle a nice option.

Special sections editor Steve Edwards can be reached at sedwards@adn.com or 257-4316. Visit his travel blog at www.alaska.com/alaskology.

Bicycle rentals

• Alaska Backcountry Bike Tours (1-866-354-2453, www.mountainbikealaska. com)

• Coastal Trail Rentals (at Millennium Alaskan Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road, 301-2165, www.coastaltrailrentals. com)

• Downtown Bicycle Rentals (333 W. Fourth Ave., 279-5293, www.alaska-bike-rentals.com).

• Girdwood Ski and Cyclery (Mile 1.5 Alyeska Highway in Girdwood, 783-2453, www.girdwood-ski-and-cyclery.com).

• Lifetime Adventures (at Eklutna Lake, 1-800-952-8624, www.lifetime adventures.net).

• Pablo's Bicycle Rentals (440 L St., 250-2871, www.pablobicyclerentals.com).

• Sunshine Sports (1231 W. Northern Lights Blvd., 272-6444).

Get dirty

Anchorage's paved paths make riding pleasant, but sometimes you want to get a little dirt under your tires. Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska are blessed with miles of off-road riding. So grab a mountain bike and try these spots:

• KINCAID PARK: The park's trails have been developed as a world-class cross-country skiing system. This pays off for mountain bikers during summer months. More than 35 miles of trails wind through the thick woods. Since it's a skiing area, follow the "easiest," "more difficult" and "most difficult" trails that fit your skills. Reach the park from Raspberry Road.

• FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK / HILLSIDE PARK: On the opposite side of town from Kincaid Park, these cross-country skiing trails are in the Chugach Mountain foothills. The challenging Spencer Loop parallels Campbell Creek and then climbs a ridge to an overlook of the city and the Alaska Range. The trails can be accessed from Abbott Road and Basher Drive off Tudor Road.

• POWERLINE PASS: The trail takes riders into the heart of Chugach State Park. It's 11 miles from the Glen Alps trail head parking lot to Indian. The ride starts at about 2,000 feet, climbs to 3,500 feet and then descends to nearly sea level. The trail is accessible from the Glen Alps trail head parking lot. To get there, head up O'Malley Road, and follow the park signs.

• JOHNSON PASS TRAIL: The Johnson Pass Trail is part of the original Iditarod Trail. The 21-mile single-track trail is challenging but not too difficult. Reach the trail from the Granite Creek trail head (Mile 63.8 Seward Highway) and the Upper Trail Lake trail head (Mile 32.7 Seward Highway).

• RESURRECTION PASS TRAIL: It is one of the truly inspiring rides on the Kenai Peninsula. The mostly single-track trail is more than 38 miles from Hope to the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing.

If you want to get really dirty, try downhill mountain biking:

• ALYESKA RESORT: In Girdwood, take a ski lift up the mountain and ride down the snow-free trails.