Chugach

Guide to Eagle River Nature Center in Chugach State Park Trail System Trail Descriptions: Crow Pass Trail: Access: Eagle River Nature Center Allowable Uses: Hiking, Skiing Length: 3 miles one way to Dew Mound Trail intersection Difficulty: Easy Elevation Gain: 200 feet Description: Section of the Historic Iditarod Trail. Part of a 21 mile traverse that continues over Crow Pass (see Crow Pass guide for a detailed description and map). Rodak Nature Loop: Access: Eagle River Nature Center Allowable Uses: Hiking, Skiing Length: 0.7 mile loop Difficulty: Easy Elevation Gain: 100 feet Description: Interpretive loop trail with salmon and beaver viewing decks. Gravel trail with benches. Wheelchair accessible. Albert Loop Trail: Access: Eagle River Nature Center Allowable Uses: Hiking, Skiing Length: 2.8 mile loop Difficulty: Easy Elevation Gain: 100 feet Description: Reaches banks of Eagle River. Eagle River Nature Center publishes a geology guide for this trail. Dew Mound Trail: Access: Crow Pass Trail or Rodak Nature Loop Allowable Uses: Hiking Length: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Elevation Gain: 300 feet Description: Access to Dew Mound (a large glacial erratic) and Dew Lake. Views of Eagle River Valley. Safety and Considerations: Know proper techniques to avoid dangerous wildlife encounters, as bears and moose are commonly sighted. The Albert Loop trail is typically closed due to bear activity between August and November Special Features: Four Corners Loop, Mountain Meadow Trail, and Rapids Camp Loop connect the Crow Pass trail to the Dew Mound Trail for loop trips of varying lengths. Access to Rapids Camp Yurt and public use cabin via Crow Pass Trail; access to River Yurt via Albert Loop (see ernc.org for rental and pricing information). Two Backcountry Campgrounds exist on Crow Pass Trail: Rapids Camp (1.7 miles from Nature Center) and Echo Bend (3 miles from Nature Center). Rodak Nature Loop and Albert Loop groomed for skiing in winter. Park Rules: Dogs must be on a leash on Rodak and Albert Loops, as well as in the parking lot. Dogs must be under control on other trails. Fires are allowed in portable camp stoves, metal fire rings provided by the park, and on Eagle River gravel bars only. Camping is only allowed over ½ mile from the trailhead. No bikes allowed on any of these trails. Visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/ parks/units/chugach for a complete set of park rules. Chugach State Park Headquarters Mile 115, Seward Highway (907) 345 - 5014 Eagle River Nature Center - Mile 12 Eagle River Road (907) 694 - 2108 www.ernc.org csp@alaska.gov