Point Woronzof Park
Point Woronzof Park Map
About Point Woronzof Park in Anchorage
Point Woronzof Park is a 191.7-acre municipal park located in Anchorage, Alaska, situated between Point Woronzof and Point Campbell. Established in 1994 as dedicated parkland, the park is valued for its wildlife habitat, coastal tidelands, and recreational opportunities. The park's western boundary is formed by the ocean, with the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail running along this edge.
The park offers spectacular views of Cook Inlet and the surrounding mountain ranges. On clear days, visitors can see Denali in the distance. The park's location also provides unique opportunities to observe both natural and human-made phenomena. Visitors can spot beluga whales in the inlet during salmon runs in mid to late summer. Additionally, the park's proximity to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport allows visitors to watch planes take off and land.
Point Woronzof Park is home to diverse flora and fauna. The vegetation includes birch trees (especially on the hills), spruce, cottonwood, and alder. Devil's Club and elderberry are also endemic to the area. Wildlife in the park is similar to that found in nearby Kincaid Park, with fox, coyote, snowshoe hare, lynx, and moose known to inhabit the area. The park also hosts a large bank swallow colony, with the birds nesting in burrows in the silty face of the bluff.
The park offers recreational opportunities year-round. In winter, it's excellent for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. During summer months, visitors can enjoy hiking, running, and bicycling. The park's terrain includes both upland areas and coastal wetlands, separated by a coastal bluff.
Point Woronzof Park got its name from Lt. Joseph Whidbey, a member of a 1794 expedition, who named it after the Russian ambassador Count Simon Romanovitch Woronzof. It's worth noting that Point Woronzof itself is not within the park boundaries but is located about 1 mile to the north.