Rodak Loop: One of the shortest, easiest, and prettiest loop trails in Southcentral Alaska
Rodak Loop (pronounced “Roe-dack”) really is one of the best little loop trails in Southcentral Alaska — in fact, it’s one of several excellent loop hikes that start from the Eagle River Nature Center. (The trails are open even when the nature center building is closed.)
Even though the Rodak Loop trail is just 0.8-mile long, it passes a series of beautiful viewing decks over ponds that are filled by Eagle River. And, excepting one fairly short, steep hill at its very start, this loop is almost entirely flat and easy to walk. That makes it a great trip for families with strollers or those with limited mobility, although I believe the grade of that first hill is too steep for wheelchairs.
This is hike 34 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska, and hike 38 in 50 Hikes Around Anchorage.
| Loop Distance: 0.8 miles | Nearest community: Eagle River |
| Elevation gain: 130 feet | Typical season: Year-round |
| Parking fee: $5 or Eagle River Nature Center membership | Nearby trails: Albert Loop, Dew Mound, The Perch and Icicle Creek, North Fork Eagle River |
Rodak Loop Trailhead Directions
The beautiful Eagle River Nature Center serves as the trailhead for this hike. From Anchorage, take the Glenn Highway northeast for about 11 miles. Take the marked exit for Eagle River Loop Road/Hiland Road, and turn right onto Eagle River Loop Road. After about 4 miles, turn right onto Eagle River Road. Follow this road until it ends at the nature center (about 11 miles).
Hiking Rodak Loop
This trail is so straightforward, there’s honestly not much to say about it — except that it starts on the obvious trail visible from the back deck of the nature center, and to keep an eye on the relatively short, steep downhill at the very beginning. You’re going to have to come back up that hill at the end but, as long as that looks doable, the rest of the hike is very easy.
Once you’re down that hill, you can either turn immediately right (look for the sign) to follow Rodak Loop counterclockwise, or continue a bit further and turn right at the next sign for Rodak Loop, taking it clockwise. I prefer going clockwise, because that leads you straight to the gorgeous viewing decks at the beginning of the hike.
The featured image on this post is just one of the stunning views from said viewing deck. You’d be able to see the deck itself if I’d had the presence of mind to take a horizontal photo, but I was so busy enjoying the views that I only took a not-readily-croppable vertical photo. Sorry about that!
About Parking Fees at ERNC
It’s worth noting that Alaska State Parks parking passes are not valid here. Instead, you need to either purchase a membership to the Eagle River Nature Center, or pay $5 for a day-use parking pass. You can pay by credit card inside when the nature center is open, or by check or cash (exact change only) when the center is closed.
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Lisa Maloney
A long-time Alaskan, Lisa has written three award-winning guidebooks including "Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska" and "50 Hikes Around Anchorage." She also served as senior editor of Alaska magazine and has written hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles about her adventures around the state. Learn more about her at http://maloneywrites.com.
