Alaska – Canada Travels 2014, Anchorage, July 12th to 16th.

We’re back on the road again after a week in Denali. Along the George Parks Highway there is a scenic view of Denali from the south. We join a crowd of people there for one last look at Mt. McKinley. As we look the clouds dissipate, revealing the peak, and everyone takes their prize photo.

Mt. McKinley makes an appearance as the clouds blow away.

In Anchorage we stay at the Eagle River State Recreation Site about 10 miles east of the city and it turns out to be the best choice. Our camp site was right along the Eagle River.


Anchorage has a wonderful network of paved bike paths.

A paved bike path goes from the community of Eagle River all the way to Anchorage to connect with the cities multi-use trail system. We did a 54-mile ride from Eagle River and around Anchorage.

We finally get our moose photo. We saw this handsome fellow along the bike path in Anchorage.

The path goes through the open space along the bluffs of Cooks Inlet and along Campbell Creek, through the middle of the city. It’s a very popular path with the locals for walking, running, biking and cross country skiing in winter, and for moose.

A hike up Eagle River.

The beautiful Eagle River.

A really big cotton wood or a small Jim?

On the 2^nd day we take a hike up Eagle River from the nature center at the end of the road. This wide, well-maintained trail is used for cross-country skiing and dog sledding in winter. The forest service has cabins and yurts that can be rented and packed or skied into.

Our camp at Bird Creek.

On the way to Whittier we stay overnight at Bird Creek Campground on the Turnagain Arm of Cooks Inlet.

Great views on the Bird to Gird bike path along the Turnagain Arm.

Biking of the Bird to Gird bike path.

We ride the beautiful paved multi-use path from Bird to Girdwood. The path is 14 miles one way and curves through dense forest following the old road bed. It’s a wonderful trail, fairly flat with a few short climbs. 

One of the info panels along the bike path tells about the amazing Beluga Whale that swim in the Turnagain Arm.

A Beluga Whale sculpture breaches from the gravel along the bike path.

Who can not love whales. The Beluga is a gentle and graceful creature. Here's a tribute to them on one of the roadside info panels.

Along the way are the same information panels that can be found at points of interest along the highway as well as picnic tables and toilets.

Picnic tables and toilets are all along the Bird to Gird bike path.

Monks Hoods along the Eagle River Trail.

Mountain Ash along the bike path.

Our next stop is Whittier and an amazing glacier cruise.

Keep in touch.

Jackie