Spending Time at Bird Point Park

Need a scenic stop to break up your drive from Anchorage? Bird Point Park offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, with trails to explore, scopes for wildlife watching, and even beluga whale statues to keep the kids smiling.

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Along the Turnagain Arm, the way anyone traveling by road or train must go between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, there is an area known as Bird Point. 

There’s a lovely State Park area that provides wonderful views and a great spot for a break in the drive. 

You’ll also find restroom facilities (they are fancy outhouses — but when you need to go they work just fine!)

There are times when we’ve traveled in less than optimal conditions on that stretch of road. Those times have you white knuckle driving as the way the wind comes down the arm can cause for involuntary weaving of your vehicle. 

But, when the sun is shining and the wind is minimal, the drive is nothing short of spectacular.  On those days, I love to find a spot like this one to stop and better enjoy God’s handiwork.

For the boys, it was definitely a great time to stretch their legs after being in the RV for a while.

The paved walkway (trail) brings you to a viewing deck.

Our boys enjoyed looking through the spotting scopes at the observation deck.

I enjoyed looking at some of the natural beauty along the path we walked. 

Rock formations are always a neat thing to observe as our flowers.

One of the animals you might see when visiting Bird Point is the beluga whale. 

We didn’t spot any in the water, but J had a fun time playing around the beluga statues near the parking lot.

Bird Point Park offers the chance to view the famous Alaska bore tide, where dramatic tidal waves rush into Turnagain Arm. The waters experience a 27-foot tidal differential (between high and low tide).

If you’re hoping to catch one of those impressive bore tides, your best bet is to plan your stop within about five days on either side of the new or full moon. That’s when you’re most likely to see the water really put on a show.

As tempting as it may be to walk out when the tide is low, don’t be that kind of tourist! Never walk out onto the mud flats — the glacial silt acts almost like quicksand. People have died after getting stuck and being caught by the incoming tide.

The waters around Alaska are no joke, and we’ve witnessed people get trapped when the tide came in. It’s just not worth the risk, so enjoy the views from solid ground!

Our favorite thing at this stop was taking time to soak in the mountains flanking Turnagain Arm. 

Now that they’ve opened up an RV camp area as part of the State Park, we’re seriously considering an overnight there with the bikes. 

There’s a nice bike trail you can ride without fear of the motor vehicles on the road.

Do you enjoy finding places to stop, stretch your legs, and enjoy the scenery when you travel?
What are some of your favorite stops you’ve made along the way ?

This post was originally published on August 6, 2014, and has since been updated.