Located on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, the Thunder Bird Falls Trail is an easy and beautiful way to squeeze a little adventure into your day trip.
Last updated: June 8, 2026
Thunder Bird Falls Trail in April
The Thunder Bird Falls Trail is a short hike. It spans only one mile. The trail is relatively wide, well-trodden and runs through a boreal forest in Chugach State Park. Along it, in a deep canyon, flows the Eklutna River.
Guardrails set up a barricade between hikers and the deep ravine below from time to time. These wooden “structures” become your essential assistants that let you elevate your feet by placing them on the lower bar and awkwardly proceed forward. The alternative is to tramp straight through large muddy puddles that occasionally pop up on the trail during the shoulder seasons in Alaska.
This is precisely what the Thunder Bird Falls Trail looked like when we hiked it at the end of April.
Wildlife along the Thunder Bird Falls Trail
Apart from frequent puddles and some slippery sections where the snow, half melted, freezes over the night, the Thunder Bird Falls is sporadically dotted with scat (wildlife droppings). You can take it as definite proof of the existence of wildlife in this part of Alaska.
Indeed, as the trail winds through the forest, it cuts directly through the home of bears, moose, foxes, porcupines, and a variety of birds.
READ MORE: Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Yes, It’s Worth It
Trail Stats
The Thunder Bird Falls Trail is not entirely flat, although the change in elevation is rather insignificant. Bringing along hiking sticks may be useful for some. Overall, however, it’s an easy hike with beautiful views.
TIP: While using hiking sticks is optional, having bear spray within easy reach is essential while hiking in Alaska. You may or may not encounter a wild bear. Yet if you do, make sure you are prepared for it.
The Thunder Bird Falls is a 200-foot, two-tier giant in the Eklutna River canyon. The trail terminates at a wooden observation deck where the waterfall is in plain sight.
- Distance: 1 mile, one way (2 miles, round trip)
- Elevation Gain: 175 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 40-60 minutes
Things to Know before (and while) Hiking the Thunder Bird Falls Trail
Side Trail: Approximately halfway through the hike, a side trail dives to the right and takes you to the Creek Observation at the base of the waterfall. In April, the steep incline was slippery and inconvenient to hike, to say the least. Aways for an adventure within safe limits, we decided to skip this side hike.
Location: Thunder Bird Falls is located about 27 miles (30 minutes) northeast of Anchorage, making it a favorite spot for visitors and locals. Take AK-1 N for 25 miles. Then veer to the right onto the Old Glenn Highway. Your destination is less than a minute away from here.
Parking: The Thunder Bird Falls parking lot is nestled off the Glenn Highway. $5 parking fee per vehicle (that’s what we paid in April 2026) is required.
