Guidebook for Eagle River and Surrounding Area

Sara
Guidebook for Eagle River and Surrounding Area

Parks & Nature

Here are just a smattering of beautiful areas near our house. Looking for a specific type of hike? Just let us know!
Just down the road from us! A wonderful place to spend an afternoon or more. https://www.ernc.org/
90 locals recommend
Eagle River Nature Center
32750 Eagle River Rd
90 locals recommend
Just down the road from us! A wonderful place to spend an afternoon or more. https://www.ernc.org/
Mt. Baldy is one of our favorites. A short, steep climb leads you up to a ridgeline with amazing views. Hike back as little or as much as you want. On clear days you'll have great views of Eagle River, Anchorage, the Turnagain and Knik arms, the ocean, and Denali! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/mount-baldy-trail
39 locals recommend
Mt. Baldy Trailhead
12900 Golden Eagle Dr
39 locals recommend
Mt. Baldy is one of our favorites. A short, steep climb leads you up to a ridgeline with amazing views. Hike back as little or as much as you want. On clear days you'll have great views of Eagle River, Anchorage, the Turnagain and Knik arms, the ocean, and Denali! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/mount-baldy-trail
A fun lake to explore. Great hiking, ATV riding on certain days, and kayaking. Be careful as the waves can be strong on this glacier-fed lake. https://www.anchorage.net/discover/the-chugach/eklutna-lake/
75 locals recommend
Eklutna Lake
75 locals recommend
A fun lake to explore. Great hiking, ATV riding on certain days, and kayaking. Be careful as the waves can be strong on this glacier-fed lake. https://www.anchorage.net/discover/the-chugach/eklutna-lake/
Drive up Mile Hi and park here for the trailhead that leads up the hill (Blueberry) and/or mountain (Mt Magnificent) above our house. Gorgeous views of the Eagle River Valley from the pass and summit. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/blueberry-hill https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/mount-magnificent
Brownie Drive
Brownie Drive
Drive up Mile Hi and park here for the trailhead that leads up the hill (Blueberry) and/or mountain (Mt Magnificent) above our house. Gorgeous views of the Eagle River Valley from the pass and summit. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/blueberry-hill https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/mount-magnificent
A fun, short hike out to a hand-tram to cross the gorge! You can even make a loop of it by continuing into Alyeska and getting a shuttle back to your car. If you have to choose only one side to do, I recommend this one: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/winner-creek-trail-via-crow-creek-road
28 locals recommend
Winner Creek Gorge Trail Head (Lower Winner Creek Trail)
601 Crow Creek Rd
28 locals recommend
A fun, short hike out to a hand-tram to cross the gorge! You can even make a loop of it by continuing into Alyeska and getting a shuttle back to your car. If you have to choose only one side to do, I recommend this one: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/winner-creek-trail-via-crow-creek-road
You can hike this trail from Girdwood to the Eagle River Nature Center (best for a short overnight backpack trip, as it is 21 miles). If you just want to do a day-hike, hike the Girdwood side up to Raven Glacier: http://www.alaska.org/detail/crow-pass-trail
15 locals recommend
Crow pass trail
15 locals recommend
You can hike this trail from Girdwood to the Eagle River Nature Center (best for a short overnight backpack trip, as it is 21 miles). If you just want to do a day-hike, hike the Girdwood side up to Raven Glacier: http://www.alaska.org/detail/crow-pass-trail
Short, beautiful, easy hike back to a waterfall.
80 locals recommend
Thunderbird Falls
25321 Old Glenn Highway
80 locals recommend
Short, beautiful, easy hike back to a waterfall.
If you've never been to a glacier, check out this one. It's about a 2-hour drive from the house, and the access road is privately owned, so it does cost. I do think it's worth it if you want to walk on a glacier. If you just want to only see the glacier (for free), still drive back and you can see it from the Glenn Highway above the glacier. Beautiful drive and awesome views. You can also hike Lionshead above the glacier (free trailhead) for absolutely stunning views. It's a rather short hike, but steep climb.
105 locals recommend
Matanuska Glacier
30820 West Glenn Highway
105 locals recommend
If you've never been to a glacier, check out this one. It's about a 2-hour drive from the house, and the access road is privately owned, so it does cost. I do think it's worth it if you want to walk on a glacier. If you just want to only see the glacier (for free), still drive back and you can see it from the Glenn Highway above the glacier. Beautiful drive and awesome views. You can also hike Lionshead above the glacier (free trailhead) for absolutely stunning views. It's a rather short hike, but steep climb.
Here you can access Flattop, Blueberry Hill, Powerline Pass, Little O'Malley, and more... Something for everyone up here!
23 locals recommend
Glen Alps Trailhead Rest Area
Glen Alps Road
23 locals recommend
Here you can access Flattop, Blueberry Hill, Powerline Pass, Little O'Malley, and more... Something for everyone up here!
Easy hike that allows you to feel on top of the world! Beautiful views.
Rendezvous Peak
Easy hike that allows you to feel on top of the world! Beautiful views.
Beautiful drive and gorgeous hiking. Excellent sledding, back-country skiing, and snowshoeing, in the winter, and an old mine to tour in the summer. Please be aware of avalanche danger in the winter.
146 locals recommend
Hatcher Pass
146 locals recommend
Beautiful drive and gorgeous hiking. Excellent sledding, back-country skiing, and snowshoeing, in the winter, and an old mine to tour in the summer. Please be aware of avalanche danger in the winter.
Worth a visit to learn the impacts of the '64 quake.
82 locals recommend
Earthquake Park
5101 Point Woronzof Rd
82 locals recommend
Worth a visit to learn the impacts of the '64 quake.
Gorgeous sunsets - paved path so you can bike from Kincaid into downtown Anchorage.
60 locals recommend
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Raspberry Road
60 locals recommend
Gorgeous sunsets - paved path so you can bike from Kincaid into downtown Anchorage.
Let us know if you want to find the sand dune and we'll point you in the right direction. :)
197 locals recommend
Kincaid Park
9401 Raspberry Road
197 locals recommend
Let us know if you want to find the sand dune and we'll point you in the right direction. :)
Gorgeous hike out to ice caves. If you haven't hiked in ice caves before, please do your research and consider going with someone who knows what they're doing...or just walk out to them without going in them.
21 locals recommend
Byron Glacier Trail Head
1500 Byron Glacier Rd
21 locals recommend
Gorgeous hike out to ice caves. If you haven't hiked in ice caves before, please do your research and consider going with someone who knows what they're doing...or just walk out to them without going in them.
Beautiful kayaking across the lake....or go through the one-way tunnel into Whittier to access the trailhead (easy hike) to the glacier.
53 locals recommend
Portage Glacier
53 locals recommend
Beautiful kayaking across the lake....or go through the one-way tunnel into Whittier to access the trailhead (easy hike) to the glacier.

Arts & Culture

Excellent heritage center! http://www.alaskanative.net/
176 locals recommend
Alaska Native Heritage Center
8800 Heritage Center Dr
176 locals recommend
Excellent heritage center! http://www.alaskanative.net/
https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/
313 locals recommend
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
625 C St
313 locals recommend
https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/

Brews! (Coffee and Beer)

We have lots of excellent coffee shops and microbreweries in town if that's your scene. Check them out! Most microbreweries close at 8pm per Alaska State Law.
46 locals recommend
King Street Brewing Company
9050 King St
46 locals recommend
James brews here! Creative beers and good food!
79 locals recommend
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
8111 Dimond Hook Dr
79 locals recommend
James brews here! Creative beers and good food!
37 locals recommend
Anchorage Brewing Company
148 W 91st Ave
37 locals recommend
10 locals recommend
Cynosure Brewing
144 E Potter Dr
10 locals recommend
49th State Brewing Co - Anchorage
717 W 3rd Ave
191 locals recommend
10 locals recommend
Odd Man Rush Brewing
10930 Mausel St
10 locals recommend
Jitters Where Coffee Is An Art
11401 Old Glenn Hwy
29 locals recommend
6 locals recommend
Sleepy Dog Coffee Co
11517 Old Glenn Hwy
6 locals recommend
29 locals recommend
Double Shovel Cider Company
502 W 58th Ave
29 locals recommend

Entertainment & Activities

Great for a low-key afternoon or evening. Amazing pizza (roasted garlic is to-die-for) and other food to eat while you watch a film! They get blockbusters as well as documentaries and local films. Try to reserve a booth! Here's what's playing this week: http://beartooththeatre.net/now-playing-movies/
315 locals recommend
Bear Tooth Theatrepub
1230 W 27th Ave
315 locals recommend
Great for a low-key afternoon or evening. Amazing pizza (roasted garlic is to-die-for) and other food to eat while you watch a film! They get blockbusters as well as documentaries and local films. Try to reserve a booth! Here's what's playing this week: http://beartooththeatre.net/now-playing-movies/
https://www.alaskawildlife.org/
185 locals recommend
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
43520 Seward Hwy
185 locals recommend
https://www.alaskawildlife.org/
This takes a drive to Seward, but it's a gorgeous drive and a beautiful aquarium.
90 locals recommend
Alaska SeaLife Center
301 Railway Ave
90 locals recommend
This takes a drive to Seward, but it's a gorgeous drive and a beautiful aquarium.
Head to Whittier for all sorts of water sports and adventures.
7 locals recommend
Prince William Sound
7 locals recommend
Head to Whittier for all sorts of water sports and adventures.

Shopping

http://anchoragemarkets.com/anchorage-market-festival/
18 locals recommend
Anchorage Saturday Market
225 E St
18 locals recommend
http://anchoragemarkets.com/anchorage-market-festival/

Food Scene

Amazing bakery!
189 locals recommend
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop
718 K St
189 locals recommend
Amazing bakery!
Looking for a delicious, hole-in-the-wall, very reasonably priced sushi joint? Look no further! This place is a bit kooky (from the decor to the music selections) but the sushi is excellent. If you're looking for pure, traditional sushi, this isn't the place for you - this sushi is certainly Americanized with some interesting flavor combos. We love it. $9.99 special rolls!
Yama Sushi
351 Muldoon Rd
Looking for a delicious, hole-in-the-wall, very reasonably priced sushi joint? Look no further! This place is a bit kooky (from the decor to the music selections) but the sushi is excellent. If you're looking for pure, traditional sushi, this isn't the place for you - this sushi is certainly Americanized with some interesting flavor combos. We love it. $9.99 special rolls!
Amazing happy hour from 3-6 - great wine and food!
51 locals recommend
Orso
737 W 5th Ave
51 locals recommend
Amazing happy hour from 3-6 - great wine and food!
The best pizza in Anchorage
347 locals recommend
Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
3300 Old Seward Hwy
347 locals recommend
The best pizza in Anchorage
Small restaurant with great food near the university.
11 locals recommend
Turkish Delight
2210 E Northern Lights Blvd
11 locals recommend
Small restaurant with great food near the university.
Excellent food and good cocktails!
122 locals recommend
South Restaurant + Coffeehouse
11124 Old Seward Hwy
122 locals recommend
Excellent food and good cocktails!
Brunch is excellent here. Make a reservation if you're going on a weekend or in the summer.
231 locals recommend
Snow City Cafe
1034 W 4th Ave
231 locals recommend
Brunch is excellent here. Make a reservation if you're going on a weekend or in the summer.
Vegans or gluten free people in your party? This is the place to come. Very accommodating and delicious food at reasonable prices. Counter service.
111 locals recommend
Middle Way Cafe
1200 W Northern Lights Blvd
111 locals recommend
Vegans or gluten free people in your party? This is the place to come. Very accommodating and delicious food at reasonable prices. Counter service.
Good tacos and cocktails. Great Tuesday deals and happy hour specials!
22 locals recommend
Tequila 61
445 W 4th Ave
22 locals recommend
Good tacos and cocktails. Great Tuesday deals and happy hour specials!
All-you-can-eat brunch and good for lunch too. Homey, family place.
Bear Mountain Grill
All-you-can-eat brunch and good for lunch too. Homey, family place.
Best restaurant in Eagle River (in our opinion) if you want to stay close to the house and not dine in Anchorage.
11 locals recommend
Jimmy's Sushi
11401 Old Glenn Hwy
11 locals recommend
Best restaurant in Eagle River (in our opinion) if you want to stay close to the house and not dine in Anchorage.
If you want to order delivery to the house, this is the place.
19 locals recommend
Pizza Man
16410 Brooks Loop
19 locals recommend
If you want to order delivery to the house, this is the place.
My favorite restaurant in Anchorage! All of their dishes are incredible and they have a wonderful wine selection.
43 locals recommend
Kincaid Grill
6700 Jewel Lake Rd
43 locals recommend
My favorite restaurant in Anchorage! All of their dishes are incredible and they have a wonderful wine selection.
Great little downtown fusion place!
75 locals recommend
Ginger
425 W 5th Ave
75 locals recommend
Great little downtown fusion place!
Delicious food right in Eagle River!
Lime Leaf
17051 Mercy Drive
Delicious food right in Eagle River!
Da J3rk Spot
12110 Business Boulevard
El Pastor
12300 Old Glenn Highway