Our Trails

​Come see why explorer Walter Mendenhall called the Eagle River Valley “a miniature Yosemite” and hike the Eagle River Nature Center trails! We have trails for both the beginner and advanced hiker, offering pristine mountain views, glacier rivers and streams, and abundant Alaskan wildlife. 


All trails can be accessed from the Nature Center’s trailhead located behind the log cabin building and they are open year-round.


Fee: $5.00/vehicle parking fee for non-members of the Nature Center.  Sorry, Alaska State Park Passes are not valid at the Nature Center. Fee box located outside the front door, pay via credit card or exact cash (sorry, no change given). Come here often? Become a member and enjoy annual parking privileges!


Trails Overview

This is a short, ¾ mile nature loop with interpretive signage and benches which leads to our Beaver Viewing Deck and Salmon Viewing Deck. The trail has been recognized by Alaska State Parks as an educational trail which prohibits any disturbance of plant materials along its length. Please keep all pets on a leash on the Rodak Nature Trail.​

  • Access: Trailhead located behind Nature Center Main building. Trail is always open.
  • Travel means: Foot traffic only. Groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter.
  • When to hike: Year-round.
  • Difficulty: Easy, but can be considered moderate for some due to the walk up from the Viewing Decks.
  • Distance: ~0.75 miles, allow 45 minutes to hike
  • Elevation Change: 128 feet
  • Map: Rodak Nature Trail Close-up Map (Trail is DARK BLUE on the map)

Rodak Nature Trail

A wooden bridge over a river with mountains in the background

 A Few Trail Notes

  • ALASKA STATE PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS apply to the Eagle River Nature Center Trails and Grounds. 
  • Please note: dogs are welcome on all of our trails, but they must be on leash in the parking lot, on the Rodak Nature Trail and Albert Loop Trail.
  • When hiking and camping, please follow LEAVE NO TRACE protocols to protect the beautiful Eagle River Valley. Please be respectful of other trail users by limiting non-natural sounds (radios, iphone music, boom boxes, etc) while hiking and camping so that everyone may enjoy the natural soundscape. 
  • Please pick up dog waste (we supply free bags at the trailhead) and any trash you bring in or see if you can. 


Our trails are maintained by volunteers!

These trail volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours each year making sure that fallen trees, obstacles and trash are removed from the trails, flooded areas are attended to, boardwalks and bridges are built, trails groomed for winter skiing, and the public-use cabin and yurts maintained. We ask that you respect the work of our hard-working corps, plus respect one of our greatest resources – the Alaska wilderness.

​​Click below for more info on trail volunteering: