anchorage's new birding trail

There's a new trail stretching from Whittier all the way into the Chugach.

Audubon Alaska just launched the Anchorage Birding Trail, and it links up 35 spots to watch birds. It runs from Whittier to Westchester Lagoon and up into the mountains. A lot of these are places you already drive past without knowing what lands there.

Think Arctic Terns diving over the lagoon, Sandhill Cranes out in the flats, and our state bird the ptarmigan up in the hills. Each stop comes with parking info, restrooms, and the old Native place names for the area.

The whole map lives online and it's free to pull up on your phone. They're cutting the ribbon at Westchester Lagoon on May 27th with a free bird walk anyone can join.

For families hunting cheap summer plans, this is an easy win. You grab the map, pick a stop close to home, and go. It turns a normal walk into a little treasure hunt for the kids.

Just search Anchorage Birding Trail to pull up the free map.