Quick Facts
Accessibility: 7/10 (easy/moderate, to full viewpoint)
Height: 70′ / 21 m
Length of Hike: 2 miles / 3.2 km round-trip
The Record
The first thing I’ll say is that Thunderbird Falls is one cool name for a waterfall. And honestly, it is one cool waterfall! From my first visit to the Anchorage area, which covered a few days, Thunderbird Falls was my favorite. I know there are many waterfalls in Alaska, more than are advertised, even in this age of information. So much of Alaska is remote, though!
There’s something about the falls that is just right. It’s in a perfect forest setting. Coming in at a two-mile round-trip hike, it doesn’t take a terribly long time to get to the falls, but you also get to explore the Alaskan scenery around you. When you get to the falls, there are two options. The first option is to head to the viewing platform near the crest of the falls. This is where the photograph shown was taken. It really reveals both segments of the falls and their height. There’s one portion that’s hidden from view.
Now, if you don’t feel like you’re close enough to the falls, the second option is to descend to the base. The hike down isn’t difficult until you get nearer the base. At that point, it’s actually flat ground, but in early June, there was still a significant amount of ice near the river, and the falls were flowing pretty well, so I did have to be extremely careful to ensure I didn’t slip on the ice. Once you get near the base, though, you’ll be impressed. It does require a little more work!
Directions
- Exit Highway 1 (Glenn Highway) at mile marker 25 (which is north of Anchorage).
- The signs clearly indicate the direction to the falls. There is a parking area and an entrance fee. (I feel that some people may have parked outside of the parking area to avoid that?)
- Follow the trail to the falls!
Waterfall Record 
Leave a comment