Chugach State Park

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Eklutna Lake and Bold Peak in Chugach State Park

Chugach State Park is a 495,204-acre (2,004 km²) state park in the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in the Chugach Mountains just east of the Anchorage Bowl, it is a very popular recreation destination. It is the third-largest state park in the United States. Chugach State Park is accessible through numerous trailheads all located along the east side of Anchorage, or the southern side of Eagle River. The Chugach State Park website lists 28 recognized trailheads. The Park has three public campgrounds, located at Eklutna Lake, Eagle River, and Bird Creek. The campgrounds are manned with a host to pay the small fee, and have amenities of fire rings, picnic tables, water, and latrines. The Park also has available, for interpretive and Alaskan information, the Eagle River Nature Center which is operated by a non-profit organization in cooperation with the State Park.

The Seward Highway, from Anchorage to Seward, follows part of the southern edge of the Park along the Turnagain Arm. This stretch of highway is listed as a National Scenic Byway and is designated as an All-American Road [1].

There are several viewpoints along the Seward Highway. One of the most visited is Beluga Point, Mile 110.5, named for the Beluga whales that frequent the Arm. Another popular viewpoint along the Seward Highway is Windy Corner at Mile 106. It has no facilities except parking, but Dall sheep just up the hill are worth the stop.