Walking on the Cook Inlet Mud Flats
Residents are reminded of dangerous conditions and potentially deadly outcomes

The Anchorage Fire Department reminds residents that the mud flats in Cook Inlet are inherently dangerous and walking on them should be avoided. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Anchorage’s 30-foot Cook Inlet tidal range is the second largest in the world. The combination of extreme tidal range and glacial silt in the mud make for dangerous and uncertain conditions due to the potential for getting trapped in the mud while being surrounded by rising water. During a recent rescue in the mud flats near Kincaid Park, two teenagers were stranded in the flats and the water level rose from below the knee to chest high in less than one hour. These teens were very fortunate that crews were able to access them before the water rose any higher. Due to the unstable conditions, a positive rescue outcome such as this one might not always occur.

Cook Inlet mud rescues require multiple local and state agency coordination and is resource intensive. Residents are reminded that a rescue in the mud flats anywhere in Cook Inlet surrounding Anchorage is outside of the service area for the Anchorage Fire Department and could result in a fee assessed for those needing assistance.

Contact Jennifer Collins at 317-9929 for more information.