Anchorage is home to an abundance of Alaska wildlife. Approximately 1,500 moose wander the municipality between the Knik River to the north and Portage to the south. Pods of beluga whales swim along the city’s Cook Inlet coast. Wild salmon pack local streams, bald eagles nest in neighborhoods, migratory birds flock to scenic shorelines, and you might spot a bear or a lynx ambling along a secluded trail or roadside. 

Alaska animals are so prolific, in fact, chances are good you can spot some of them while exploring on foot from downtown Anchorage. Enjoy a self-guided walking (or biking) tour, and make plans to safely encounter some of Alaska’s most memorable wildlife.

 

1) Ship Creek

Head to the Ship Creek Overlook to see king salmon making their way upstream in the summer, and anglers casting lines in hopes of bringing one home for dinner. They’re not the only ones; watch for bald eagles soaring overhead, or perched in the trees over the water. For a chance to see occasional beluga whales, head toward the pedestrian-accessible N. C Street bridge and the mouth of the creek when the Cook Inlet tide is high.

2) Westchester Lagoon

From Ship Creek, head back toward downtown, following W. 2nd Avenue as it curves up past the Alaska Railroad Depot and past the Eisenhower Alaska Statehood Monument. Follow the sidewalk to the beginning of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, located near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and H Street. Follow the paved path approximately 1.6 miles to Westchester Lagoon, where sharp-eyed wildlife watchers might spot everything from migratory birds to beavers, moose, and other animals.

3) Fish Creek Estuary

For another scenic overlook and opportunity to see migratory birds like sandhill cranes, moose, or the occasional meandering bruin, continue half a mile down the Coastal Trail to the Fish Creek Estuary.