Chugach National Forest Points of Interest

Bull kelp has made amazing adaptations to survive in the harsh Gulf of Alaska environment. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, and can grow to 100 feet in length. It is found around deeper water shorelines and often washed up on beaches after storms. The area close to Orca Cannery is an excellent place to tide pool and look for seaweeds, including bull kelp.

Cordova is known in to the locals as Alaska’s hidden treasure. It's a small, hard-working fishing community with a population of about 2,270.  Located near the mount of the Copper River, it nestles peacefully at the head of Orca Inlet in Prince William sound and has a mystique all its own.  In the area are glacier-carved mountains, wildlife-rich wetlands, lush forests,  More...

The amazing iceworm can be found living on the surface of icebergs under very harsh conditions.  These worms live in such harsh environments that NASA is studying them to try to understand how life on other worlds might adapt to seemingly uninhabitable conditions. The best place to find these tiny animals is on the surface of ice and icebergs near Sheridan and Childs Glaciers on  More...

Those fragile crusty gray lichens, favorite food of Caribou and often found growing on rocks in the dryer and higher areas around Cordova and the Copper River Delta, are fascinating creatures, actually symbiotic fungi-algae. The area around the top of the rocky outcrops at the end of the trail on Heney Ridge is an excellent location to study these interesting organisms.

Katalla supplied the the now-abandoned Katalla oil field, which was the first discovery of commercial quantities of oil in Alaska (1902). The town reportedly had a population of 5,000 in 1907-1908.  Read more here.

It's free to go this far by car, and you'll get a picture-perfect shot of Portage Glacier.

Porcupines, often misunderstood creatures, can be seen most anywhere in the forests around Alaska including Cordova and the Copper River Delta. In this segment you will learn about the history, habits and lifestyle of these interesting animals. A good place to look for porcupines is along the edge of side roads out on the Copper River Highway such as the Sheridan Glacier Road.

Grab your optics and let’s take in the 360-degree view here at the start of the Kenai River, Alaska’s world-renowned salmon fishing hot spot. See wildlife up on the hillsides, songbirds, waterfowl, and the brilliant ice-blue Kenai Lake and River. Breathtaking.

The European Black Slug is a recent invader into Alaska and Cordova. Find out how to deal with the black slimy pest and why it’s bad for native species and the residents in the area. They seem to be prolific around hiking trails and on roads like Power Creek Road.

Watch for wildlife in this aquatic area, look for the beaver lodge. Beavers are common on most lakes and marshes all over Alaska. If you look closely enough, you'll see lodges, dams and canals on many of the waterways along the highway. If you're lucky, a beaver may even be swimming nearby.

Technically, Portage is no longer a roadside glacier, as it recedes an average of one foot a day and is now no longer visible from the road, but its big blue icebergs are often found along the shore of the lake, right in front of the parking area. On Byron, ice worms are common, if you get down and look. There are also beautiful ice caves and rivulets to see, but be careful not to walk  More...

One of the most spectacular and accessible glaciers along the rail line, Spencer Glacier also has an interesting history. Listen to find out how it got it’s name and hear tales of what life was like for those who worked in the wilderness building the rail line.

There's a covered pavilion here with interpretive plaques about the Chugach National Forest area and the Copper River Delta. The Copper River Delta is the largest continuous wetland on the west coast of North America.

Construction of this early-1900s bridge cost a whopping (at the time) $1.4 million, which earned it the nickname Million Dollar Bridge. But the bridge quickly earned its keep, allowing the railroad to haul copper from Kennicott to the port of Cordova. At 1550 feet, it was the longest steel bridge on the 196-mile Copper River and Northwestern Railway. Its railroad days ended in 1938,  More...

As the Seward Highway approaches Girdwood, travelers can see the remains of trees whose roots were swamped with salt water and killed during the 1964 Earthquake. Portage was devastated when much of the ground along Turnagain Arm sank five to nine feet. At high tide, the town that once lay at sea level was now under water. The ruins of buildings in the water are testament to that  More...

Tern Lake has lots to offer but few people use the old Sterling highway to access the boreal forest near this lake. Drive into the recreational area and as you turn left toward the restrooms you will see an old road to your right. You can walk for miles down this road and enjoy the smell of the woods and the sound of the birds.

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Turn here for a scenic drive to an off-the-beaten-path town that sits on the edge of Turnagain Arm.  Established in the 1890's, it was one of the first gold mining towns in Alaska. Many of the town's original buildings are still standing, including the Seaview Cafe and Bar. There's still a hitching post in front of the mercantile, just in case you decide to bring  More...

Trees that are stressed due to weather, disease or insects are more likely to produce large growths called burls, or galls. Some artists will take these burls and make beautiful decorative bowls out of them. If you want to see some great examples of burls, hike along the Heney Ridge Trail. Approximately 2 miles from the trail head and a few hundred yards after crossing the large log  More...

Drive a steep dirt road right up into alpine tundra terrain, rising from pristine white spruce forest onto tundra-covered hillsides surrounded by mountain ridges and rocky peaks. Camping is optional.

Here is a great view of Copper River. Take the short walk to a monument dedicated to the men who built the bridges to the islands that you see here. This monument especially dedicated to the crane crew who lost their lives on July 21, 1971.

In part 2, we will look at the proposed changes and restoration to various locations around Eyak Lake. The project includes replacing many inefficient culverts with fish friendly access culverts for spawning salmon and a short bridge segment near Mavis Island to improve sediment and turbidity formation along the shore where salmon spawn. Signs of lake erosion and habitat destruction  More...

This is a must stop for photos of beautiful Kenai Lake. The lake was formed from glacier water is a majestic blue and green tone. You'll find several parking areas along the lake and signs that give you a little history about it.

There are many types of fungus and mushrooms that can be found in the fall around Cordova and the Copper River Delta, including one that actually hunts it’s prey! Hiking in the fall along any trail around Cordova or on the Copper River Delta will produce many species of fungus and mushrooms. Driving to the end of Sheridan Road to the picnic area on the left side of the road is a  More...

Learn about a unique invertebrate organism that lives in all oceans of the world including areas around Cordova and the Copper River Delta, the Tunicate! An excellent place to look for tunicates, or “sea squirts” as they are commonly known, is on the edge of the docks just below waterline. The docks in the Cordova boat harbor have many species of these sometimes colorful  More...

Heading south, a pullout on right-hand side offers views of Sixmile Creek. This is a popular spot for whitewater rafting tours, with most rapids being class IV. Tours are offered by Nova River Runners.

While most people have probably heard of brown and black bears, not everyone knows that in Alaska we also have white and blue bears! Black and brown bears can be found most anywhere on the Copper River Delta with black bears passing through Cordova on a regular basis. One of the best places to see black and brown bears is during the salmon spawning season on Power Creek near the  More...

Fall time is beautiful anywhere in Alaska, but the changes in the area around Cordova and the Copper River Delta are truly breathtaking.  Learn about the insect activity that takes place in this season with a detailed look at insect mimicry and a harmless bee look-alike called the flower fly. These insects are usually found in the autumn in areas with flowering plants including  More...

Take a stroll down the boardwalk as it winds along the river. There are several interpretive signs with information about fishing, dall sheep, rafting and boat safety. You'll also find access to Pioneer Village where you can pan for gold at Prospector John's Authentic Gold Panning.

Built during WWII as a top-secret military project, today Whittier is a great jumping-off place to explore Prince William Sound. To connect Whittier with the rest of the Alaska Railroad, during the war the military constructed a massive tunnel. Today the expanded tunnel is the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America.

The pass is an ideal location to witness the tremendous power that glaciers have had on the landscape. On the west side of the road at the pullout, travelers can see evidence of the millennial processes of past ice ages. Low, near-horizontal ridges mark the locations of glacial moraines near the tops of the mountains. These ridges, like bathtub rings, indicate changing ice depths as  More...

A forest isn’t just about the trees! The forest floor is home to countless tiny critters, many of which have made unique adaptations to survive in the forest around Cordova. Most any trail in and around Cordova and the Copper River Delta will have an abundance of these tiny inhabitants living in the forest litter and moss at your feet. The trail head starting at Skaters Cabin on  More...

Explore the Wild World of the Copper River Delta. In this Audio Guide, you'll get to learn about carniverous plants, mushrooms that hunt their prey, and find out why Cordova is one of the best places in the world to see migrating shorebirds.

Dragonflies, the official Alaska state insect, are often found around lakes and ponds hovering or perched on a long blade of grass at water’s edge. A great location to look for dragonflies is along the edge of the many ponds located along the Alaganik road on the way to the Alaganik River. Turn right at mile 17 on the Copper River Highway and travel for about 5 miles to the U.S.  More...

Ever wonder why mosquitoes choose the meals they do? Maybe they always seem to prefer you over your friend. Find out why, and learn how to avoid getting bitten. Hiking almost anywhere in Alaska in the spring, summer and fall can provide swarms of biting mosquitoes. Areas where there is less standing water and locations with a good breeze will deter them from biting.

Coghill Point is the terminus of the Coghill River, a world-famous red salmon fishery. During the sockeye salmon opener (mid-July to early-August), hundreds of commercial gill netters scatter across the area pulling in the bounty.

Driving from Anchorage to Whittier to play in Prince William Sound? You’ll go through Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest (2.5 miles) highway tunnel in North America, and the first designed for -40 Fahrenheit temperatures and 150 mph winds! 

The one-lane tunnel must be shared by cars and trains traveling in both directions, and it usually needs to be  More...

This program is part 1 of a 2 part program and looks at Eyak Lake, a prime salmon spawning area located within the Cordova city limits. During the many years of Cordova’s history, construction and other uses have affected the drainage patterns and erosion of the lake affecting salmon spawning habitat. Signs of lake erosion and habitat destruction can be seen when driving along  More...

Every year, autumn brings us beautiful fall colors, but have you ever wondered why the leaves turn yellow and red? Learn why as you soak up the scenery on the way out to Childs Glacier about 52 miles from Cordova by gravel road. Deciduous trees like cottonwoods, alders and willows will display the better colors of fall.

Stop at the turnout to photograph this beautiful hanging glacier high on the mountainside.

Lawing was once named Roosevelt. “Alaska Nellie” purchased a cabin there in 1923 and later married Billie Lawing of Seattle. Together they ran a lodge and trophy museum that became a featured stop for Alaska Railroad passengers. Nellie loved to tell stories and her guests enjoyed her tales of daring and adventure on the Last Frontier.

These two photographs show the significant changes that Schwan Glacier has undergone in recent years.

Sandhill Cranes migrate through the Copper River Delta with a brief stop-over and rest at Hartney Bay in the spring and fall. Anywhere along the paved road at Hartney Bay from the bridge to the end of the paved road is a great place to see these magnificent birds.

Glaciers aren’t just silent rivers of ice, slowly carving their way through the landscape. Glacial ice produces a sound called “bergy seltzer,” and a great place to hear it (and see a giant glacier) is Childs Glacier, located about 52 miles from Cordova.

In 1899, the Harriman Glacier extended all the way to here, leaving only a tight passage through which the ship could fit. Harriman made the gutsy decision to sail through it, allowing them to be the first explorers and probably the first humans to see this magnificent fjord. The glacial moraine still extends from the shore out to this point and you can see it just 6 feet below the  More...

Many species of birds migrate each year, but do we really know why? Do they migrate because of food scarcity or for breeding purposes? Learn about some of the possibilities. Hartney Bay in early May is dominated by large flocks of various shore birds as they head north to breed in Alaska.

Harbor seals and sea otters are common sights in the Whittier Small Boat Harbor. You might also see salmon enthusiastically leaping from the water, a sight that cues locals to run for their fishing poles. King salmon run from May through early-July. From late-July through early-September, a run of silver salmon brings anglers from throughout Southcentral Alaska.