Chugach State Park Nature Walk
Description
This is the perfect tour if you are looking to go on an easy hike and learn about flora & fauna. You will experience the incredible diversity of vegetation in a mixed boreal and coastal rainforest. Species like giant spruce, paper birch, and aspens reign from above while alders, willows, and devil’s club dominate the understory. Lichens, fungi, berries, and mosses are waiting to be explored, and we will teach you all about them. • Take a nature walk through picturesque Chugach State Park. • An easy, brief, and compelling experience designed for all to enjoy. • Perfect for families with children! • Learn about boreal forests and glaciated valleys through the voice of a naturalist. • Opportunity for wildlife sightings, including moose, bear, and birds. This is a great way to spend a moment in the wild of Alaska. Truly, a must-do! Are you ready? Book today!
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is the perfect tour if you are looking to go on an easy hike, learn about Alaska’s vegetation and animal populations, and see one on the Chugach State Park’s most photogenic alpine valleys. We’ll start by meandering through hemlock forests scarred by thrashing leeward winds from the Turnagain Arm. Snowshoe Hares make their homes here attracting the rare lynx living in the area. Wild geraniums, bluebells, and forget-me-nots pop up In June and blissful blueberries, funky fungi, and changing colors tell us when summer is coming to a close. The flora and fauna of the Glen Alps tell us a story of an ecosystem living in harmony just outside of Anchorage. Moose and bear birth their young in spring and mate during the fall months. They travel through the mountains and valley in search of their favorite browse, providing ample opportunity for wildlife viewing and photography. Transportation included in total time of tour: (1 hour transportation & 2 hours walking)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Experience Suggestions: None, but you should be able to walk at least 3 miles on flat pavement, or 2 miles of uneven rolling terrain over the course of 2 hours. Some parts of trail are steep and hilly, placing additional stress on areas of the body not impacted by level terrain. Not recommended for those with severe cardiac or respiratory issues/illness. May be difficult for those with severe joint issues.
- Participation waiver signature required prior to departure.
- If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know and we will accommodate you with a different snack option
Reviews(57)
It’s a bit mundane and uneventful for the price of the ticket. You could basically walk the trail without a guide. Getting to the state park would be the main concern.
What an amazing treat to experience the beauty and grandeur of this place on earth. Everywhere you look you see the stunning views of nature! My grandchild and I were extremely lucky to have Nick as our private guide. One could not ask for a better experience. Nick was so knowledgeable about the flora, fauna and history of the Eagle River area. He was beyond accommodating as he provided me hiking poles and carried my water. Nick also went at my pace and we visited the whole time. I am a little person with a short stride, most people pass me when hiking, including my grandchild. I cannot stress enough how much I loved this experience. I would recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Anchorage.
We went on a Private Chugach State Park Nature Walk, specifically the Albert Loop at the Eagle River Nature Center. The hike was manageable (kids aged 5 and 10), beautiful, and interesting (saw birds, beaver activity, tracks, etc). My kids affectionately named our guide Nature Todd. He was great with them - patient, interested in their interests, and responsive to their questions. He showed us the animal tracks and habitat, taught us about edible plants, and importantly, kept us safe from a moose and her calf.
A great walk in the woods and then the waterfall at the end was amazing!
We had such a great time on this hike. Our guide was very knowledgeable and kind. We really enjoyed ourselves. We had some great photos opps and saw a moose twice!
Great day hike for those looking for a beautiful short day hike. Nick was a great guide and very knowledgeable about the plants and animals of the area. Would definitely book another tour with him when we return to the area.
It was a great hike, the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Saw two moose, which was awesome.
Stefan was our excellent guide on this casual but beautiful forest walk. He was very knowledgeable about the local nature and Alaskan history. On the return hike near the trailhead we came across a mama grizzly with three cubs, but Stefan kept us at a safe distance where we could still watch them. We then rerouted and saw a mama moose with her yearling near the marsh boardwalk where there are also a lot of birds. On the way back a quick stop at nearby Barbra Falls. Great day!
Wow! Your group really hit the wildlife jackpot this day. Stefan showed me a picture of the bears, how awesome. Thank you for joining us and taking the time to leave a review.
Beautiful location and great guide! Had a great hike with Eli and learned a lot about the native plants from him. We even got to eat some berries and learned which ones were safe. The walk was just the perfect length and we saw awesome views.
Hello hello Cindy! Thanks for taking the time to write about your experience on our nature walk. I'm excited to hear about your comments regarding Eli, the plants, edibles, and pacing. Thanks again for coming out!
This is an easy hike. Eli was great. We started about 9 am and finished around 12:30. We hiked down to the water. We saw a cow and a calf moose. The nature center is well done.
