A mountain biker was attacked by a brown bear while out trail riding on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
According to Alaska Fish and Game biologist Cory Stantorf, the man was riding Dome Trail near Stuckagain Heights in Chugach State Park, just outside Anchorage, Alaska, when he was attacked. Dome Trail connects to a larger network of popular trails near Anchorage.
As the man came down the hill on his bike, he saw the bear walking along the trail ahead of him. He braked and got off his bike while talking to the bear. The bear reportedly charged him and his bike, making contact before retreating. The man had bear spray on his person but did not get to use it before the bear charged. Luckily, he only reported minor injuries.
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Alaska Fish and Game is not currently looking for the bear, but did collect samples to determine its sex and species. They also closed the area where the attack happened for a week as a precautionary measure.
Stantorf told a local news outlet that it sounded like the man had startled the bear, and the bear acted out of defense and then left the area. He also said bikers could be at greater risk of attack due to the speed at which they travel and the possibility of startling animals like bears on the trail.
Stantorf recommended that folks make plenty of noise, expect animal encounters while biking or hiking on trails, and have the knowledge to act accordingly.
It was not specified whether the bear was a grizzly. Grizzly bears often live inland in contrast to Alaskan brown bears. Alaskan brown bears are the largest brown bears and can eat 80 to 90 pounds of food per day.
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