Drive Glenn Highway for some exceptional bird watching in Alaska, the land of adventure. The byway is filled with places for you to pull out your binoculars and scope out the birds. About 20 miles east of the byway, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park holds over 20,000 square miles of habitat perfect for various types of birds. Summer in the park will treat you to the delicious sight of Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese, warblers, thrushes and much more. Willow and Rock Ptarmigan, American Robin, White Crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-billed Magpie, woodpeckers, and owls can also be spotted in the park; making the park a perfect stop for you to do some bird watching on your own or with other birdwatchers.
After stopping by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, don't forget to pause at Milepost 118. Between Mileposts 116 and 118 a there is a wildlife viewing station. The most prominent flyway viewing spot in Alaska, Milepost 118 features Peregrine Falcons and Golden Eagles. During March, April and early May these raptors show off for travelers and birdwatchers. If the raptors don't put on enough of a show for you at Milepost 118, Eklutna Flats and Palmer Hay Flats are teeming with migratory birds and waterfowl during the spring and fall. The flats provide the broadest view of the Matanuska Valley, putting you in a perfect place for scenic and wildlife viewing.
One-third of Chugach National Forest is composed of rocks and moving ice. The other two-thirds of the forest are a collection of land and wildlife. Find excellent places for birding in this mix of mountains, lakes, rivers, and the wetlands of the Copper River. The forest offers up birding adventures at every turn. Drop by Sheep Mountain Lodge and catch a glimpse of Hawk Owls, Orange-crowned Warblers, Boreal Chickadee, Slate-colored Juncos, Fox and Tree Sparrows and Yellow and Wilson's Warblers. Sheep Mountain Lodge not only offers great birding, but it is an original roadhouse that caters to winter and summer travelers.
Go birding along Glenn Highway where winged adventures await you. Don't miss an opportunity to see Hawk Owls in Chugach National Forest or migratory waterfowl in the Ekklutna Flats and Palmer Hay Flats. Whether you drop in at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to see woodpeckers and owls, or pause to view raptors at Milepost 118, the birdwatcher in you will not be disappointed with a drive along Glenn Highway.
