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    Eagle River Nature Center

    4.9 (45 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Services - Eagle River Nature Center

    Community Service/Non-Profit

    Eagle River Nature Center Photos

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    Michelle A.

    OMG, this place was absolutely gorgeous for a day hike. I carried bear spray and and air horn just in case. Didn't see any bears or moose though. I got turned around and lost on dew lake trail. So, I didn't make it to the lake. The dew trail has plenty of tree roots and rocks on trails, especially on rapids cutoff. Lots of mud, so be careful. The trail to eagle river and views were breathtaking and beautiful.

    Few miles up towards Polar Bear Peak
    Andrew H.

    Deducting stars because Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC) are literal gate keepers. ERNC is located on public lands. Specifically, they are in Chugach State Park (CSP). I happily pay for an annual pass for Alaska State Parks. I have for the past 8 years. I love the parks. I'm even trying to climb every mountain in CSP (currently at 84 of 120). However, ERNC charges for additional parking fees...your Alaska State Park pass is worth nothing here. Why? How? How is this even legal? They also have an annual pass, it's $50. A pass that allows you to access every State Park in the entire state, INCLUDING CSP...upon which ERNC is located in, is $60. $50 to access a single trailhead in a single State Park while accessing EVERY STATE PARK IN THE STATE is $60 is highway robbery! A line of questioning you would reasonably ask me might go something like this: But, Andrew, didn't you give them 5-stars before?! Yes, I did! But, weren't they charging $5 then, too? They were but, I honestly had no idea they were. And, probably because of COVID, I was miraculously never ticketed and kept blissfully unaware. I found out when, with a 55lb pack strapped to by back after 30 minutes of prep in at my car...I finally set out to climb Yukla (which I was nervous about) and a volunteer from ERNC stopped me on the trial and made me go back and pay $5/day for the honor of parking while I camped in the backcountry. It was so jarring that I accidentally left my card in the credit card machine. Some questions you might be wondering about them: What is that money even going to, what does your $50/year get you? A gift shop, where they sell goods to tourists and the people that work there are largely volunteers? (which was closed during COVID) Yurts and cabins that are already expensive? A few miles of overly graded trails? It seems so ridiculous to park here and pay $5/day and not use any of these silly "perks" ERNC provides. Get the money by increasing gift shop prices, or yurt/cabin prices, or even charge more for an Alaska State Park pass. Or, hell, really beef up services! Serve beer and wine, have a foodtruck, employ security to prevent break-ins. Give me SOMETHING useful for this outrageous stacked charge. All are better options than nickel and diming Alaskans for land that belongs to everyone...and that they already pay a lot of money to access via an existing park pass. Crazy that Alaska tolerates people literally blocking and charging money for the public to access public lands. (the other, way more egregious examples of this are Matanuska Glacier and, to some extent, Ram Valley (RIP))

    Brian S.

    If you are looking for some beautiful hiking trails that aren't too far from Anchorage, Eagle River Nature Center is a great place to go. There are a ton of hiking options here, from short, nearly flat trails that use boardwalks to cross the river, to steep, rugged trails that go on for miles. All of the trails are well marked, and some even have interpretive signage. The views from the trails are amazing, and while you won't really see any glaciers here, you do have a pretty good chance of spotting wildlife (bear spray is recommended). There's no charge to enter, but they do charge a parking fee. I did deduct a star because there's no bicycle parking/racks, so I had to walk my bike with me on my hike, which was a pain. Otherwise, it was a great experience!

    Viewing deck on the rodak trail
    Daniella A.

    In honor of Earth day figured I should review an area that I go to frequently as it's practically in my backyard! Only a 15 minute drive from my home & I can be in the outdoors with no cell reception. This is a breathtaking area with wonderful views of the glacially carved valley. The Eagle River Nature Center is a building right at the entrance of the trail system. The building is staffed during the day, has restrooms, a water fountain, and tons of cool information on the area & Alaskan wildlife. You can also purchase souvenirs & snacks. A non profit organization manages this piece of the Chugach state park. I believe without them this trail system & area would not be as well maintained or as loved by locals. The staff are mainly volunteers & they are all super friendly as well as extremely knowledgeable about the area. I love taking visitors here to chat with the staff. When I first moved to AK I was confused as to why this area wasn't included in the state park pass, but as I began using more of their services I understood why. It's $5 to park for a 24 hr period, or you can get a yearly pass for $50. This area has trails for everyone with the shortest one being under a mile. There are several different yurts/cabins for rent as well as tent camping areas all maintained by Friends of the Eagle River Nature Center. They host tons of different programs for kids & adults. A lot of them are free of charge. There are 4 different hiking trails including Crow Pass, which connects to Girdwood. We frequently hike Albert Loop & Rodak Trail for good kid friendly hiking. We also have enjoyed hiking Dew Mound trail & one day hope to tackle crow pass once my tot is a bit older. From April-October I take my son to their weekly toddler hiking program. Once he's older I will enroll him in the other programs that they offer. Outdoor education is so valuable & as someone who grew up in Chicago where outdoor opportunities weren't as readily available it's something I missed out on. So I am happy my child gets to experience such beauty right by his home. We really enjoy coming to ERNC & the only thing that would make this area better is if they could have food trucks & a beer garden in the summertime!

    Adam D.

    Great hiking. Four different trails, the shortest being about a 3 mile loop, the longest being about 6 miles one way and 6 miles back. The Albert Loop (3 miles) has great views with access to Eagle River. Bring bear spray and bug spray. Parking fee. You'll likely lose service on the trail.

    The famous hollowed tree
    Kaitlin R.

    I grew up going to the Eagle River Nature Center and have been going to these trails since before I could walk. This remains one of my favorite spots because of the serene scenery, the quiet, and how nice the trails are. The maps are accurate and the trails are really easy. Parking is $5 and it is not included with your State Park annual pass. The trails are accessible all year long; however, there are typically closures in late summer to early fall for moose kills and bears feasting on salmon (public safety). There are public campgrounds and cabins you can backpack into, and are perfect for those first time trips since the trail is so easy. In the winter time, many people ski and snowshoe. Also, make sure you visit the hollowed our tree. This trail system connects to the historic Iditarod trail and is the usually how people choose to end (not begin) their trek for their route for the Crow's Pass trail out of Girdwood.

    Clear Day at Eagle River Nature Center
    Michael S.

    The Eagle River Nature Center is one of many breathtaking and beautiful opportunities to see nature in the heart of the Chugach State Park. That's not surprising given how amazing the landscape is in Alaska; however, I'm impressed that the ERNC and trails around it are run by a non-profit organization. The organization formed after the State Park didn't have money to frequently open the visitor center here in the 1990s. That facility was converted to the non-profit Nature Center in 1995 with the contract extended in 2005 until 2030. The results is a convenient and educational excursion into nature just 45 minutes from Anchorage. If you are driving northeast from the city on Alaska Route 1 (aka the Glenn Highway) then you'll be driving past the Hiland Road/Eagle River Loop exit and the short 20 minute drive to the parking lot. Parking is $5 for the entire day. Since the ENRC is run by the non-profit instead of the state, Alaska State Park parking passes are NOT accepted. There is no additional cost of admission. Inside the center's main building you'll find plenty of informative exhibits and workers ready to give exploration tips or information about the park. From here, plan to take one of the many well-maintained trails depending on your energy, experience, and ability to get back before dark. * Rodak Nature Trail (0.75 mile) Easy 45-minute loop and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. * Albert Loop Trail (3 miles) Popular 90 to 120-minute nature hike, but closed Aug-Nov for bears to eat salmon; Perfect for winter cross country skiing. * Dew Mound Trail (6 miles) A moderate trail with 4 shorter options; The loop takes 4 to 5 hours in summer; Portions are prepped for cross country skiing in the winter. * Historic Iditarod Trail (23 miles) This moderate-to-strenuous one-way hike to Crows Pass follow part of the an old Iditarod Trail and will take 2-3 days. The first 3 miles are easy and worth doing by anyone, but after that it includes crossing the river and elevation gains over 3,000 feet. Much of the trail is closed in winter due to avalanche risk. No matter which trail you take, there are educational markers along the way. More importantly, the Eagle River Nature Center trails provide a year-round breathtaking landscape to feast your eyes and your soul.

    Heading toward a large rock!
    Randell H.

    I just got back from the hike and it was awesome. I wish I could explore more of it and seen more things. I can't wait to go again and adventure even more. There was someone on horseback which is freaking amazing. I wanna go on horseback on these trails and do some overnight camping. That seems awesome. Can horses protect you from bears?

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    4 years ago

    Easy hike with beautiful views. It has a few different trails. You do have to pay for parking.

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    Beautiful place! A must see! Lots of trails, majestic views! Easy to get too! Staff is friendly and informative!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Eagle River Nature Center

    Review Highlights - Eagle River Nature Center

    Still enjoyed the shorter Rodak trail which brings you to a deck and amazingly scenic overlook.

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    South Fork Falls

    South Fork Falls

    (14 reviews)

    We went here to do a little hiking and to check out the waterfall. The trail to the waterfall was…read morepretty good, but a bit close to the edge in 1 or 2 places. The waterfall itself was impressive. I really felt the power of it, being so close to it. I did not see any wildlife on the trail other than a few ducks in the stream. I would recommend this trail.

    Like some other trails in Anchorage (Ram Valley, McHugh Peak) the legality of this trail probably…read morevaries depending on who you ask. I'm pretty sure it is legal, but you have to follow the rules: - obey any and all private property signs: while the waterfall itself is probably public land, there is lots of land around it that is not. - DO NOT park directly at the end of this cul-de-sac. You will probably get towed. Pull forward until you stop seeing all the no parking signage. Got it? OK. So there are two ways to get to the falls. If one were walking up the creek (against the flow) I'm going to describe them as viewer's left and viewer's right. Both ways start by walking down a road with a locked gate. If you hear a big Great Pyrenees barking at you, you're probably in the right spot. Folks describing this as a "trail" confused me and I ended up doing some minor bushwhacking on this completely easy and mundane trail. In a very short amount of time, you'll come to a sturdy bridge. This is where the paths diverge. 1) To get to the viewpoint: continue across this bridge. In maybe 100-200ft you'll see a sign saying "Barbara Falls" with an arrow pointing right. Go right. You're still on a very wide road that you could drive a truck on. Following this uphill, veering right-ward at any junctions. This will take you to the viewpoint with guard rails. With a 50mm-ish lens (the "zoomed in lens" on most modern phones), you can get pretty decent shots of the falls. If you want to get closer, you can go around the guard rails and climb down. BE EXTREMELY careful and take it slow. This terrain is really slippery and pretty steep, a fall would not be good. This view isn't that great for more "serious" (on a tripod) photography though. Why? Because the wind is constantly blowing mist off of the falls and to this point. 2) To get to the "right" side of the falls: BEFORE the sturdy bridge, look for a FOOT PATH (NOT a big, truck-wide road) on your right. It starts almost exactly where the bridge begins (see my photos). Fall foliage may make it hard to find. It hugs the creek pretty closely the entire way. This is the best spot for photography. It takes you to a pretty big area where you can safely explore the falls at their base...without any sketchy down-climbing. Wide-angle lenses work great down here, this is a very photogenic falls. In the "Fall" (*groan*) there are lots of nice autumnal colors here. Have fun and obey the rules so that others may do the same in the future!

    Falls Creek Trail

    Falls Creek Trail

    (6 reviews)

    Man, how am I just now getting around to hiking this?!…read more Falls Creek is located at ~Mile Post 105.6 on the Seward Highway. In relation to other trails: To the West: Rainbow Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-trailhead-anchorage) To the East: Indian Valley Trailhead (https://www.yelp.com/biz/indian-valley-trail-anchorage) Stats: Mileage: 2.7 (one-way) Gain: 2,900 ft About a 1,000 ft/mile, steep but not *too* steep. The trail starts out...next to a falls! It closely follows Falls Creek for the first half of its length. As the water is loud and the brush is thick, I'd highly recommend doing some trail karaoke with your friends to make sure you alert any bears in the area that you're coming. Eventually, you get out of the brush and the valley expands. It's gorgeous. It's wide and it's bright-freakin'-green (my favorite shade of that color), or at least it was in mid-June. This is going to sound odd but, it actually reminded me of some of the valleys I hiked in Hawaii! It made me a little butthurt that I am only just-now getting around to hiking the trail. The trail ends at a lake. I'm not sure what the name of it is, so I'll just call it "Falls Lake". The lake frequently has snow on/in/around it, up until July. But, there is an ample amount of vegetated, snow-free flat area around the lake, this would be a perfect "Baby's First Backpacking" trip. (no permits required, just load yourself down and hike up) You can continue up past the lake, onto the ridge between South Suicide Peak and Indianhouse Mountain. The path will quickly change from "hiking" to "scrambling" though. I'd only recommend going up South Suicide if you are confident on your feet, and I'd only recommend going up Indianhouse if you have a rope and a partner! If you're quick enough, this can be done as an after-work hike. If you're slow or looking for a casual stroll, you can easily make a day of this hike.

    I'm still sore. Dragged my spouse and our neurodivergent son with me to do this hike on a sunny…read moreSeptember Saturday. We parked at 1pm (parking lot was packed). Got back to the parking lot after 5pm. You'll need most of your day to do this hike if you're not a professional. This hike is beautiful but it is challenging for sure. You are going uphill the entire time. On the way down it's so steep you're jamming your toes trying not to fall. We did the bulk of this hike with nothing but backpacks full of snacks hahaha. Everyone that passed us up or down had poles, guns, bear spray, bells, dogs, the whole enchilada. I don't recommend hiking this area the way we did, we just got lucky :) It was a beautiful day and we were never alone for longer than 15-20min at a time. Weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm but the breeze was breezin'. The falls are a sight to see and made this strenuous hike completely worth it for my water-loving son. I can't wait to return soon and make it further.

    Mt Rumble

    Mt Rumble

    (1 review)

    I don't know if bittersweet is the right word but, this is one of the most scenic zones in the park…read moreand access issues are fraught. It reminds me of when I lived in the PacNW and would read about access into the Picket range of the North Cascades. There would often be 3 approaches listed, all painful, all for different reasons. For Rumble, it goes something like this: 1. Hike in about 20ish miles on Peter's Creek Trail 2. Go up and over a steep, off-trail mountain pass of questionable quality and feasibility from Eagle River Nature center. 3. Luck out and get access from a private property owner bordering the park boundary. Optionally, I've heard a decent access area might be the pass behind The Watchman (I took photos of it while I was on the summit). Anyway, I lucked out and was able to do option #3. My hope is that @mountaineering can secure legal and efficient access before I finish the 120. As I crested up over into the valley, I was bloom away by the serenity of it all. It's a magical place. I anxiously scanned for bears (I've had some encounters that were a little too close for comfort in this area...maybe they are hanging out here more now that there are less people) and started hiking up the valley. I road the tundra-cuts and consolidated snow all the way to Bombardment Pass. I was debating if I should camp at the pass or carry my overnight gear down into the (next) valley. I decided to split the difference and camp at a pretty lake about halfway down. I slept for exactly 8 hours and woke up to Rumble completely obscured from my tent. I attempted to snooze another hour but sleep wouldn't come back. The series of sheep trails winding down the pass into the valley are magic. The grade is perfectly gentle. It made me feel "fast" even though I very much am not. Finding a spot to cross the creek to keep my precious princess feet dry was initially a challenge. But I just kept following the creek uphill until I found a sturdy snow bridge. This whole area (Peter's Creek Valley?) is even more scenic than Ram Valley. It's got bright green hills of sod rolling down off the craggy peaks, dotted with massive boulders that almost resemble stonehenge. I made my way up into the long gully of Rumble and it didn't look as intimidating as I was expecting. It looked boring. A long slope of scree with old snow tongues on climber's right. Towards the end, things do get tricky. The gully funnels into a tight corridor that ends in a drop. There are probably a couple ways to scramble up. I went up some wet fourth class climber's right. It wasn't too bad but eventually I had to traverse across a very short but very scary snow tongue. it was maybe only 10 ft wide but the top was bullet-hard and 5 ft below it, where my feet were, was loose sugar. I didn't realize it till I was halfway across, so booted a platform so I could have a decent stance. I awkwardly took my pack off and more awkwardly put my aluminium crampons on. The snow was so hard that I could probably only get 4 inches of my ice axe shaft into it, but the crampons really helped I was able to take a wide step onto the wet choss on the other side. Looking back at this snow feature, I felt ridiculous. It looks so easy, why was I so flummoxed? Once above that it was just fun, choose-your-own-adventure, snow and rock ramps that were no harder than 3rd class. In classic mountaineering style, as soon as I got into the ridgeline, the sweltering sun subsided and clouds covered the south-side of the mountain. I drank a pint of my luck beer "'Scend"(it's 2/2 so far) on the summit and took in the great views of Thunderbird to Bellicose and everything inbetween. I saw a pile of rocks where the's usually a summit register, but I couldn't find one. I saw that Caltopo/Gaia/Peakbagger/OSM have the true summit marked further down the ridge so I walked over there just in case. (just eyeballing it, I don't think it's taller) I took a summit selfie, summit pano, checked-in with my emergency contacts/family (had 2 bars of LTE on Verizon on top, the only place with any signal on the trip, save Bombardment Pass) The hike out was gorgeous with light coming over the pass and shading the layered golf courses of Peter's Creek Valley various bright and shiny shades of green. Coming back to a ready-made tent with no chores (other than delicious rehydration) is really something special. Hike out was largely uneventful, save for the fact that I got my first unobstructed view of the entire massiveness that is Rumble.

    Eagle Peak - summit pano

    Eagle Peak

    (1 review)

    To climb this mountain, you gotta start at the South Fork Eagle River Trail:…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/south-fork-eagle-river-trail-anchorage Once you get to the lakes, you go climber's left and skirt the south flanks of Eagle Lake. This takes you into a peaceful valley area with multiple small streams criss-crossing over riverbed pebbles. You keep riding this valley up and trending left till you reach the south face of Eagle Peak, then the climbing begins. I chose to do this peak in non-ideal weather because I'm tired of all the rain and overcast weather in Anchorage...instead of putzing around online being butthurt that it wasn't "climbing weather", I decided to just go. Eagle Peak is about 22ish miles R/T. Most of it is pretty flat until the very end. Trailhead is at 2,000 ft. Summit is at ~6,900 ft. The mileage is what really makes doing it in a single day a doozy. It's a class 2/3 hike (a "scramble") in the summer, allegedly. That's not how I would've characterized it on Sunday (5/20). The south face was a mess of wet crusty, ball-busting snow and frosted, verglass-glazed rocks. I roughly followed the beta from summitpost and peakbagger, making my own adjustments for the wintery conditions. Despite it being cloudy and windy, snow/rain was only occasionally falling down. And temps were pretty warm for the most part. I never even had to get out my belay jacket. My feet though, were soaked. Even with gaiters, the wet snow was building up in and around them, and in my boots. I did something I never do anymore: I took a second pair of socks because I heard the approach can get wet (thanks to low flow on the streams and snow bridges, it wasn't!) I ended up using them anyway because my mountaineering boots were filled with water. I took a small iceaxe (the old, short hammer-design of the Petzl Sum'tec) and a whipper. I used the whippet for 99% of the ascent. I got the axe out for a short, very steep constriction that was filled with some water ice. However, the water ice was too rotten to trust (at least for someone of my risk tolerance), so I ended up down-climbing and finding another way around, and up. I took aluminum crampons because of all the mileage, they worked fine. Even with tons of clouds, gusts of wind, and scattered rain/snow showers...the summit was a sight to behold! Well worth the effort. I'm glad I got to scale it while it still has a snowy coat!

    Byron Glacier Trailhead - Avalanche debris (not the Byron Glacier, contrary to popular belief, which is much further up-valley)

    Byron Glacier Trailhead

    (18 reviews)

    This is the perfect trail for a family! People of all ages can come. It's super short with an easy,…read moreflat dirt path. We saw senior citizens, kids, dogs, etc. all comfortably share this path. I took my husband and parents who are in their 60s to this trail. My parents aren't too fond of when I take them on what they call "too crazy of an adventure," but this trail they handled just fine. It only took 55 minutes to drive from Anchorage to the trail head. And you get to drive the beautiful scenic Seward Highway. That itself already made the trip worth it. The trail is only 1.4 miles one way. There are no river crossings or switch backs. It's just out and back. It's a pretty sunny walk, so bring a hat/sunscreen. At the endpoint, you get a nice view of the Byron Glacier. Apparently you can even sometimes visit ice tunnels. Those weren't available when we went because an avalanche reportedly happened the week prior. But it was still definitely worth the trip. If you take your time to enjoy the walk and glacier, the "hike" takes about 3-4 hours.

    Absolutely stunning trail! Very friendly to all ages and all levels of athleticism. I've hiked out…read morethere with people as young as 3 and as old as 70-something! It takes about 10 or 15 minutes to walk out there if you're going at a relaxed/moderate pace. PLEASE be careful around the snow and be VERY aware that the ice above the river is often very thin! You'll see other footprints over it, but you are NOT supposed to walk on it, especially on the parts above the river! The water is eroding it from the inside out and one wrong footstep could send you falling 20ft into an ice cavern :( You can have just as much fun here without risking your life!! I always wear bug spray here, but I've seen only a few bugs. Don't drink the water unless you have a filter with you. If you're driving in from Anchorage, the Alaska Wildfire Conservation Center is directly on the route and definitely worth stopping at!

    Covenant House Alaska - Covenant House Alaska

    Covenant House Alaska

    (1 review)

    This is a great place to work or Volunteer…read more Since first opening our doors in 1988, Covenant House Alaska has served as a safe refuge for thousands of youth escaping the often unforgiving streets of Alaska. Over the years, our services have grown and our programs have expanded, but we've never lost sight of our primary mission: to provide loving care and vital services to homeless, abandoned, abused and exploited young people in Alaska. At Covenant House Alaska, our commitment to youth in crisis is in effect 24/7/365. Our wide array of programs and services not only meets the basic living needs of kids at this critical time in their lives, but also provides them with support; genuine help that facilitates their journey to becoming healthy, self-sufficient, contributing members of our community. Check them out to see more at https://ak.covenanthouse.org/ The 5 basic principles at Covenant House are Immediacy :Homeless kids come to Covenant House in crisis. Immediately and without question, we meet their basic human needs - a nourishing meal, a shower, clean clothes, medical attention, and a safe place away from the dangers of the street. Sanctuary: Homeless kids arriving at our door are often frightened and mistrustful. Young men and women can grow only when they feel safe and secure - Covenant House protects them from the perils of the street and offers that important sense of security. Value Communication: Lying, cheating, and stealing are common survival tools on the street. Covenant House teaches by example that caring relationships are based on trust, respect, and honesty. Structure: Homeless kids never know how they will get their next meal or where they will sleep. Covenant House provides the stability and structure necessary to build a positive future. Choice: Young people often feel powerless to control their lives and fall into a self-defeating cycle of failure. Covenant House fosters confidence, encouraging young people to believe in themselves and make smart choices for their lives. This place is great you should go by and get a tour.

    From the owner: Covenant House is a privately funded, nonprofit agency that provides shelter, food, clothing and…read moreimmediate crisis care services to homeless and runaway youths. It operates various facilities in more than 20 cities throughout the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. The organization provides a variety of services, including medical care, advocacy, substance and drug abuse treatment, and educational and vocational programs. It also provides prevention and recreational programs, legal aid services, mother and child care, transitional living, life skills training and street outreach education. Covenant House offers a range of health services, including medical, psychological, psychiatric, optometric and dental care. It has one of its locations in Anchorage, Alaska.

    Eagle River Nature Center - hiking - Updated May 2026

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