Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
Anchorage Eco-Tour►
On our last day in Alaska, we took the Anchorage Eco Tour with Salmon Berry Tours. Our guide picked us up at our hotel and whisked us away to the William Jack Hernandez Hatchery, the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Campbell Creek Estuary.
Campbell Creek Estuary►
The Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area protects thousands of migratory snow geese and hundreds of sandhill cranes that flock to the estuary and the adjoining wildlife refuge every spring. Some pairs of cranes stay all summer, nesting and raising their young in the estuary’s wetlands. Human activity disturbs snow geese and sandhill cranes. They require habitats kept in their natural state.
The Campbell Creek Estuary project began in 2010 when Great Land Trust purchased an old homestead and transferred it to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Natural Area Park. The 60-acre park includes a meadow, wooded areas, wetlands, and a walking loop trail. Spur trails lead to three viewing platforms that offer views of the estuary, coastline, and Turnagain Arm.
At the beginning of the loop trail, we encountered a moose. We kept a safe distance and waited until he’d moved off to continue down the trail. At the first viewing platform, our guide spotted some sandhill cranes in the distance through binoculars. But the best view of the birds we had was the sign at the entrance.
Anchorage Posts►
- Alaska Botanical Garden
- William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery
- Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area
Location: 9520 Selkirk Dr, Anchorage, AK
Designation: City Park
Date designated/established: October 11, 2013
Date of my visit: June 7, 2022
