Crow Pass Trail (INHT)-Perch Reroute,
Chugach State Park,
Design-Build, 2024-2026
Interior Trails completed the design phase of this 3 year project in 2024, which included an assessment & prescription report for the 15 miles of the Crow Pass Trail inside Chugach State Park. The needed improvements were split into 18 distinct projects, with ROM costing, and a priority ranking. Alaska State Parks selected 2-3 projects that fit their goals, budget, and timeline to be completed by our crew by the end of 2026. We started with a one mile reroute between Echo Bend and the Perch. The existing thickly forested trail was actively being lost to the river during high water events, and the new alignment traverses the hillside at a higher elevation, providing spectacular views up and down stream in one of the most iconic & scenic valleys in South Central Alaska.
Curry-K'esugi Connector Trail
Denali State Park, Mat-Su Trails & Park Foundation
Design-Build, 2020-2024
After completing the design in 2020, Interior Trails hired a six-person crew to begin two seasons of hand construction on this mostly alpine trail connecting Denali State Park's well-loved K'esugi Ridge Trail to the Curry Ridge Trail. This 18 mile route creates a near 50 mile continuous trail through the Park's spectacular eastern segment.
Denali Discovery Center at Otto Lake
Lynx & Tundra Loop Trails
Premier Alaska Tours
Design-Build, 2022-2026
In 2022, 2024, and 2025 the IT crew completed almost 2 miles of 5' wide gravel pedestrian trail for PAT, at their spectacular Otto Lake campus, in Healy. Additionally, IT was a consultant for ECI Architects on the Denali Discovery Center building and site plan, which was awarded the AIA Alaska Design Award for excellence in Architecture (https://www.aiaalaska.space/design-awards-winners/).
Camp Kushtaka Upland Trails,
Campfire Alaska
Design-Build, 2021-2022
In 2022 the IT crew built 650' of helical pile elevated boardwalk, as well as machine-built gravel causeway, hand built natural surface bench cut, and rustic plankwalk, as part of the trail network expansion at this beloved kids camp on Kenai Lake.
Denali Discovery Center at Otto Lake
Lakeside Trail
Premier Alaska Tours
Design-Build, 2019
Just outside of Denali National Park, in our own backyard, Interior Trails designed and constructed a new 1/2 mile trail around the east shore of Otto Lake as part of the first phase of the development of a new private lodge. This migratory hotspot offers exceptional birding.
Saddle Trail Turnpikes
Kachemak Bay State Park
Construction, 2019
Interior Trails subcontracted to Trailwerx to build 120' of rustic log turnpike in Kachemak Bay State Park, across from Homer, Alaska. The remote site required mobilizing all tools and equipment by landing craft & ATV. Using on-site logs and fill material, we employed chainsaws, hand tools, and mini-mechanized equipment to build the structures and grade trail approaches.
Camp Kushtaka
Upper Access Trail, Lakeshore Trail Bridge & Plankwalk
Construction, 2017-2019
Interior Trails provided design & consulting on Camp K's overall trail plan, and completed multiple construction projects as part of an on-going phased build out. Projects include a 20' pedestrian bridge, 150' of wetland plankwalk, and 300' of gravel-capped causeway. Work included planning, flagging, clearing corridors, hand & mechanized grubbing & gravel capping, drainage, coordinating/supervising volunteer labor, and all carpentry associated with lumber construction.
Curry Ridge Trail
Denali State Park
Design-Build, 2015-2016
Interior Trails completed this multi-stage project in Denali State Park as part of the new Kesugi Ken Visitor Complex. IT designed and built a 2 mile, 4' wide bench cut hiking trail from the new trailhead to tree line, with a 2 ton mini- excavator (and lots of hand finishing). IT subcontracted the first dozer-cut to Jon Underwood, of Happy Trails, Inc., who brought his skills and Sutter 500 down from Fairbanks. Additionally, IT designed another mile in the sub-alpine area that was hand-built by the Denali State Park trail crew.
Denali State Park
Design-Build, 2015-2016
Interior Trails completed this multi-stage project in Denali State Park as part of the new Kesugi Ken Visitor Complex. IT designed and built a 2 mile, 4' wide bench cut hiking trail from the new trailhead to tree line, with a 2 ton mini- excavator (and lots of hand finishing). IT subcontracted the first dozer-cut to Jon Underwood, of Happy Trails, Inc., who brought his skills and Sutter 500 down from Fairbanks. Additionally, IT designed another mile in the sub-alpine area that was hand-built by the Denali State Park trail crew.
Island Lake Trail Bridge #1
Kodiak Island
Construction, 2016
IT built this 5' wide, 30' span glulam stringer bridge on the popular Island Lake Trail, for Island Trail Network, in Kodiak, AK. Construction included decommissioning the old bridge, and hauling stringers in by hand along the narrow non-mechanized trail.
Kodiak Island
Construction, 2016
IT built this 5' wide, 30' span glulam stringer bridge on the popular Island Lake Trail, for Island Trail Network, in Kodiak, AK. Construction included decommissioning the old bridge, and hauling stringers in by hand along the narrow non-mechanized trail.
Government Peak Singletrack
Construction, 2014
IT worked for Happy Trails, Inc. building 7 bridges (16-20' in length) on the GPRA Phase 1 mountain bike trails. IT also provided mechanized and hand finishing of all bridge approaches, misc excavator work, tread work, and volunteer management.
Construction, 2014
IT worked for Happy Trails, Inc. building 7 bridges (16-20' in length) on the GPRA Phase 1 mountain bike trails. IT also provided mechanized and hand finishing of all bridge approaches, misc excavator work, tread work, and volunteer management.
Rippy Trail & Upper Jim Creek Bridge
Knik River Public Use Area
Construction/Installation, 2014
IT worked for Happy Trails, Inc. performing clearing & tree felling, excavator operation & trail finishing; as well as construction of concrete abutments, assembly & installation of 6' wide 55' long prefabbed aluminum truss bridge, flown in by helicopter.
Knik River Public Use Area
Construction/Installation, 2014
IT worked for Happy Trails, Inc. performing clearing & tree felling, excavator operation & trail finishing; as well as construction of concrete abutments, assembly & installation of 6' wide 55' long prefabbed aluminum truss bridge, flown in by helicopter.
Denali Nat'l Park Front-country Multi-use Trails
Project Planning, Management, Crew Leadership & Construction,
2004-2007
While working for the NPS in Denali, Gabe and Christine led crews and used heavy and mini-mechanized equipment to build the network of gravel-capped trails connecting the brand new Visitors Center Complex buildings. This work included the relocation of more than an acre of native tundra from the trail alignments onto the Visitors Center Campus to serve as instant revegetation and landscaping-- pioneering this technique in the largest known native tundra transplanting effort of its kind at the time.
Project Planning, Management, Crew Leadership & Construction,
2004-2007
While working for the NPS in Denali, Gabe and Christine led crews and used heavy and mini-mechanized equipment to build the network of gravel-capped trails connecting the brand new Visitors Center Complex buildings. This work included the relocation of more than an acre of native tundra from the trail alignments onto the Visitors Center Campus to serve as instant revegetation and landscaping-- pioneering this technique in the largest known native tundra transplanting effort of its kind at the time.
