Page 125 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

PRINCE WILLIA M SOUND  123

7 Copper River
Highway
Transport map E4.  Childs Glacier.
Forest Service: 612 2nd St, Cordova;
424-7661. ∑ fs.usda.gov/chugach
There is little to prepare visitors
for the arresting beauty of the
48-mile (77-km) drive along the
Copper River Highway between
Cordova and the end of the road
at the Million Dollar Bridge.
Along the way, a number of
short hiking trails and roadside Million Dollar Bridge across the Copper River near Cordova
views, as well as abundant
wildlife and a few obligatory wetland. Vast watery views are and Miles Glaciers. The
sights, will easily fill up a full day. on offer, replete with colorful northern most span collapsed in
The gravel road, which is wildflowers such as irises. the 1964 earthquake and it took
always open for visitors, and Every summer, thou sands of nearly 40 years of make shift
usually free of snow by late waterfowl, including 7 percent repairs to reopen it to traffic.
April, follows the roadbed of the world’s trum peter swans, The road, however, ends barely a
of the historic Copper River and descend on this spot to nest, mile or so farther on. Views from
Northwestern Railway. At Mile 4, and countless shorebirds the bridge take in both Childs
a marker provides informa tion screech overhead. Glacier and the expan sive Miles
on its construction and history. Beginning around Mile 25 Glaciers, which has receded over
At Mile 5.7, the road passes the for 10 miles (16 km), the a mile (2 km) since the
Forest Service’s Eyak River Trail, view from the road bridge was built.
a 2-mile (3-km) hike, which takes in more water There is a small five-
includes a long boardwalk over than land as the site camp ground
muskeg. The variety of birdlife route crosses the at Childs Glacier,
found here makes it a favorite Copper River Delta offering excellent
walk ing trail of birders. over a series of bridges views of the glacier face
About 7 miles (11 km) north and causeways. across the roiling gray
along a side road from Mile 13.7, Once across the Copper River. Campers
a short walk leads onto the river, the road passes Wild iris at Alaganik here are treated to an
terminal moraine of Sheridan through birch and Slough all-night symphony
Glacier, with fine views of its cottonwood forests to of thunder-like booms
blue ice. The steep 3-mile (5-km) its end at the Million Dollar and cracks as the glacier calves.
Sheridan Ridge Trail climbs to a Bridge. This impressive structure, Signs dotted around the area
good view. After another 4 miles a part of the Copper River and warn visitors that about once a
(6 km) along the highway, a Northwestern Railway, actually year, the calving of large chunks
rugged side route leads south cost a mil lion dollars to build in into the water generates waves
to Alaganik Slough, which has 1910. It had to be constructed in of up to 40 ft (12 m) that have
a picnic site and a 990-ft (300-m) the winter to avoid the summer been known to wash across
elevated boardwalk over a advance of the adjacent Childs the campground.

Childs Glacier near Million Dollar Bridge along the Copper River Highway

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