Eagle River Nature Center
A great place to get your hike on!
The view from the edge of the lake on the Dew Mound Trail.Fall has officially hit Alaska. The delicate yellows and vivid oranges are creeping into the trees, the air has a good nip to it in the morning (and let’s be honest, for most of the day), and the bears are out in full force trying to round out their fat stores for hibernation. What a perfect time to go out for a hike. Michigan is no slouch when it comes to fall, but in true Alaska form, Alaska just does it well.
The point where the Dew Mound Trail meets the Crow Pass Trail.The Eagle River Nature Center is a quick drive from Anchorage (about half an hour) and is has several hiking trails available for public use year-round. The nature center is run by a small non-profit organization. The trails are maintained by volunteers, and the facilities are maintained by donations. There are several excellent hiking paths with stunning views for all fitness levels. As with most Alaska trailheads, there is a small parking fee to help maintain the center’s parking areas and roads. The Eagle River Nature Center boarders Chugach State Park, so there is plenty of nature out there to explore. The mission of the nature center is to provide preservation, protection, and enhancement of the historical, natural and recreational resources within the Chugach State Park. They do a fantastic job.
The salmon viewing platform can easily be seen from the beaver viewing platform. The mist on the river was magical!There are four main trails that the nature center has clearly marked. Each trail is a different length and difficulty. The shortest trail is the Rodak Nature Trail. This trail is only ¾ mile long, and has educational signage along the way. It also has a few viewing decks that overlook the river and mountains. It’s a great shorter hike for kids, or to spend the evening watching the sunlight bounce off the clouds as it sets.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to complete the Albert Loop Trail since it has been closed in order to give the bears space to catch salmon during the salmon run. I have been able to complete the Dew Mound Trail. Be prepared, this trail is not as well-groomed as the other trails, and there are several places where the roots are sticking up, making the trail fairly uneven. The views of this trail may not be quite as grand as the other trails, but if you are looking for a hike in the woods, this is a great hike. There are several loops in the trail, so you can make the trail as long (six miles) or as short (half a mile) as you would like. I recommend the full hike. It gets a little more challenging as you get further out, but in the middle of the hike, (about three miles into the loop) there is a beautiful lake. My siblings and I sat on the shore and admired the tranquil calm of the water with the fall colors. It was so peaceful! The Dew Mound trail meets the Crow Pass (Historic Iditarod) Trail. Take the Crow Pass trail back along the river back to the nature center for the full 6-mile loop.
As you get closer to the lake, you see boulders and rocks covered in moss. It’s feels like a magical fairy forest.The Crow Pass Trail does continue on past the end of the Dew Mound Trail. The full trail is twenty-three miles and takes you from the Eagle River Nature Center to Girdwood. The nature center’s website says that it can be done in one twelve-hour day, but most people complete this hike in two or three days. Regardless, the hike promises to be pretty epic with all the scenery you would expect from Alaska (think glaciers, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and mountain vistas). If you decide to embark on this hike, send pictures my way!
These bright orange tabs mark the path of the Dew Mound Trail. They come in handy the further into the hike you get because sometimes the trail isn’t as clearly defined as it is here. Eagle River Nature Center is a great place to spend an afternoon or a full day. If you are interested in learning more about the educational programs the center has to offer, or information about the conditions of the trails (they keep that portion of the website pretty well updated) you can visit their website here. The trails are open all year long, and in the winter time, they have some of them groomed for cross country skiing. Dogs are welcome, but they do ask that you keep them on a leash for the first mile of the trail. I hope you get a chance to visit this amazing place the next time you are in Anchorage.
Happy Traveling!
Kat