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    Eagle River Nature Center

    4.9 (46 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Eagle River Nature Center

    Community Service/Non-Profit

    Eagle River Nature Center Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Eagle River Nature Center

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    Staci L.

    I absolutely love the views from the salmon viewing decks. This hike is short and easy, perfect for toddlers. The views here are some of my favorites and we have brought several visitors here. In the summer we saw salmon.. and in the winter the trail was groomed so that we could still walk. I know there are bears here sometimes, however we have not seen them, yet.

    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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    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.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    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.

    Bean's Cafe - Beans driver was out there waving down traffic to turn while blocking tf out of their field of view.

    Bean's Cafe

    (2 reviews)

    If you're reading this review chances are you don't need to eat here or the services that Bean's…read moreCafé provides. I have had the privilege to volunteer serving food during lunch and one thing that's always struck me is the gratitude the patrons feel for receiving a warm meal. The camaraderie in the room is fun and lively. The meals consist of a salad, a warm entrée, a side vegetable, and a dessert. Sometimes there is bread or bagel. The lunch room is well managed by the workers who don't eat until everyone else has, and the handicapped and infirm have their meals transported to them first. The cafeteria walls are now decorated with paintings of some of the patrons and are really well done. I really like the picture of the lady smiling in a blue coat. It's really heartwarming. Although I'm fortunate to have the capacity to care and feed myself I'm grateful that there is a place serving warm meals in a safe environment for those who cannot support themselves. If you have the opportunity to support or volunteer here at Bean's I highly recommend it. Just show up around 11:15-11:30AM and enter through the side door that is on the left, which is the entrance to the back of the kitchen. Someone will point you to a hairnet, hand washing station, apron, and plastic gloves and tell you where to stand on the food line. If you're not feeling the hairnet bring a baseball cap. Don't wear rings or watches. There is a place for people to hang their belongings near the door, though it's not secure so no valuables. If you're nervous for your first time hit me up and I'll join you on the serving line.

    I have been subjected to sleep on a cot that was urinated on by one of the former clients who used…read moreit without any bedding to provide a barrier between my bareskin and this unsanitary cot. For the past three days since I have been here the staff have refused to provide bedding me, not even a sheet. So, not only am I putting my health at risk sleeping bare skin on an unsanitary cot I am also freezing at night as my cot is near the door/entrance. I have been told they have bedding but no one is washing it so I am left DURING A PANDEMIC in an unsanitary situation that could be prevented by someone washinga load of bedding. This is undignified and a reckless display of disregard for my health at that during a pandemic. This is unacceptable and foul. Why can't your staff wash one load of bedding so new guest can have a blanket and some type or barrier between their bare skin and the reused dirty cots? My cot reeks of urine and you think it is okay for me to sleep bareskin on a urine stained cot. It isn't my urine on the cot. Do your donors and the public know you run this place like this?

    Hope Community Resources

    Hope Community Resources

    (2 reviews)

    If I could, I would give this place an 0 Rating. The staff dip out on the clients, business takes…read moreadvantage of most the clients when their in certain programs like the Hope ARt Studio where you make the art and they sell it and pocket the the for the company, the clients don't get a penny, and in extreme situations clients have been put in danger and threaten with bodily harm. Don't bother sending your loved one who experience medical disabilities or mental disabilities. One or two things will happen 1) They will get better, it well most likely take the rest of their life to do so. That is not an exaggeration. I would know because I used to work there and at one point been a client of theirs due to a serious injury. 2) They will get a staff member that treats them like dog shit, nothing needs to be said more. Please don't go here, if so please know the pros and cons of this place. Don't tell me I didn't worn you.

    horrible care for the disabled... This company is dishonest... hope community is extremely…read moredishonest taking advantage of persons with disabilities and their personal finances. They keep individuals from accessing their own money! Guardians are lied to about The care there family members are actually Receiving. They commit fraud by billing the state for services that were never performed. Some homes have A monthly turnover of staff! It's heartbreaking to see how this company harms the lives of disabled individuals and are allowed to get away with it. The state of Alaska has had many complaints... And nothing is ever done. I really wish somebody would " step up" And do the right thing!

    Alaska SPCA - Every day, all day. This is where spay and neuter happens.

    Alaska SPCA

    (34 reviews)

    They provide vaccinations at a reduced rate & have a great selection of used animal supplies. I was…read moreable to pick up dog kennel and bed for my new puppy as well as collars and various leashes and supplies and a greatly discounted rate

    My husband and I decided to give our little cat to the SPCA. It was a sad decision for us and we…read morefelt very bad about doing it. I exchanged emails with a person named Jillian. The emails were friendly so I felt positive.. I arrived at the shelter and Jillian said she had not been emailing me, and some other woman had. So she lied about exchanging emails. Our cat was really upset in her carrier and I almost changed my mind. She took our cat and she refused to let me see where our cat would be placed . She said something about a quarantine which was totally ridiculous. Our cat's shots were very up to date. Then Jillian had me fill out a very lengthy registration for our cat's history on a super tiny laptop which was incredibly difficult to use. I finally was done filling out the forms. I decided to just look through the window to try to see my cat. Jillian came over to me and said in a very rude tone, nothing is needed from you, so you can leave! I was very upset that Jillian would speak to me in such a horribly rude manner. I had donated a lot of towels, to the shelter and they were still sitting on a chair when I left. Not one word of thanks! I looked at my cat on the SPCA website and I felt sick! Our cat was sitting on a stained pet bed and half of the bed was hanging off a shelf. It did not look like a big space and there were no windows. I regret very much giving our cat to SPCA. Jillian should not be working there at all. She's a terrible example of customer service. I will never recommend SPCA to anyone in the community. I would go pay to get out cat back if I could. I am very worried about her. They have a weird rule about that though!

    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!

    Eagle River Nature Center - hiking - Updated June 2026

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