Discover The Largest City Park In the United States (Over 500 Times Bigger Than Central Park)

Key Points:

• The largest city park in the United States is Chugach State Park in Anchorage Alaska. This large park has about 495,000 acres of land.
• The state park was established on August 6, 1970. It was created to provide recreational activities and protect the scenic value of the Chugach Mountains.
• Some of the best views can be seen near Eklutna Lake and Eagle River.

The U.S. has many public city parks, but do you know where the largest one is? To give you a hint, it’s not Central Park! Actually, the largest city park in the United States is over 500 times bigger than Central Park and has many outdoor activities you can choose from. City parks have multiple definitions. Some people categorize city parks as parks that are maintained by a city government. While others categorize city parks are urban green spaces within a city. Follow along to learn more about the largest city park in the United States.

What Is The Largest City Park In The United States?

The largest city park in the United States is Chugach State Park in Anchorage Alaska. This large park has about 495,000 acres of land. It’s a wild-life rich park with many walking trails. The state park was established on August 6, 1970. It was created to provide recreational activities and protect the scenic value of the Chugach Mountains.

Some of the best views can be seen near Eklutna Lake and Eagle River. Eklutna Lake is 7 miles long and 1 mile wide. This 1,424.5 hectares lake is only accessible by land when using the Eklutna Lake Road. Eklutna Lake is Anchorage’s main source of drinking water. It also features a hydroelectric dam. No matter where you are in the park, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see different types of wildlife.

Where is the Largest City Park in the U.S. Located on a Map?

The largest city park in the United States, Chugach State Park, is located in Anchorage Alaska. Access to the 495,000-acre park is through the Park Headquarters shown on the map below.

Things to Do and See in Chugach State Park

It’s unlikely you’ll grow bored visiting Chugach State Park. It’s very big and filled with activities, wildlife viewing spots, and nature centers with educational programs. Keep reading to learn more about what to do at Chugach State Park.

Beluga Point

Beluga Point offers Chugach State Park visitors a unique and interesting opportunity to whale watch. It’s located near Seward Highway Milepost 110. Old human artifacts have been found in this area around 8,000–10,000 years old. These artifacts suggest that the settlers once lived in the oldest habitation in Anchorage municipality. Beluga Point isn’t just interesting for its finds, but the large animals you can spot when visiting. This rocky outpost is best visited from mid-July through August since this is when beluga whales are more active in the area. They search for salmon running in Cook Inlet.

Thunderbird Falls

Thunderbird Falls is a stunning waterfall located in Chugach State Park north of Eagle River. Although it’s a steep and rocky hike to the falls, it’s worth the beauty. Thunderbird Falls’ elevation is about 100 feet. There are two hiking trails less than 2 miles long that lead to the falls. One has a viewing deck near the top of the falls and is best for beginners. Although the waterfall is a popular tourist site, it’s not always swimmable. The average high temperature during summer is 67°F. The falls receive about 79 inches of snow annually.

Flattop Mountain

Flattop Mountain is beautiful, regardless if you are climbing the 3,510-foot mountain, or admiring its beauty from a looking point. It’s the most climbed mountain in the state and generally starts at the Glen Alps trailhead. The beginning of the hike to the mountain is smooth and well-taken care of, however, when you reach the plateau loop, the hike becomes more difficult. There are many activities residents and visitors do when on Flattop Mountain. Other popular activities include hiking, kayaking, swimming, berry picking, and paragliding.

Common Animals in Chugach State Park

Chugach State Park is filled with animals. It’s likely you will at least see one when visiting. But what are some of the most common? Follow along to learn more.

Beluga Whales

Beluga whales are very common alongside the park off of the coast. They are Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It’s nicknamed the white whale and the sea canary. Beluga whales can measure up to 18 feet long and weigh as much as 3,530 pounds. They have stocky bodies and have similar features to a dolphin. Beluga whales are migratory animals with a seasonal pattern. They can travel as much as 3728.2 miles a year.

Moose

Alaskan moose are large. They are one of the most common mammals spotted at the Chugach State Park. These large mammals belong to the Cervidae family. Moose are generally gentle animals, staying away from humans and other large predators. Although they are gentle and calm, you should never intentionally mess with a moose.

Moose are vegetarians, mainly consuming forbs and shoots from trees. They need a lot of food every day, consuming up to 9770 kilocalories daily. Moose can easily weigh over 1,500 pounds. The largest moose ever caught weighed 1,808 pounds.

Mountain Goats

Another common animal in Chugach State Park is the mountain goat. These goats are large and have white thick curly coats. They are often mistaken for Dall sheep, but mountain goats sport black horns. There are few differences between female and male mountain goats, but the males are about 40% larger than the females. Mountain goats can sometimes weigh over 300 pounds.

Black Bears

Black bears are very common in Alaska. About 100,000 black bears are living in the state. While they are the smallest of the North American bears, they can still weigh over 200 pounds. Males alone can reach 500 pounds, while females weigh up to 375 pounds. Although most black bears have thick black coats, others are born with white, cinnamon-colored, or bluish-colored fur. Black bears with black coats have some white on their chest. While they are common in the state park, you should avoid looking for them. If you spot a black bear, avoid direct contact, make yourself as large as possible, and walk backward without turning back.

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