Above The Clouds On Mount Baldy

This was an incredible hike up Mount Baldy to watch the sunset while Eagle River and Anchorage were under a blanket of fog. This hike is even better after crews with Chugach State Park have been installing switchbacks. There's a lot less scrambling for the kids.

Homer and the Seward Highway

 Labor Day weekend on the Homer Spit! Everything shuts down the Tuesday after so it was an interesting experience. The campgrounds were empty but there were still a lot of tourists walking around the shops. We were served extremely generous portions by restaurants wanting to use all the food up LOL.

The drive was absolutely beautiful, with lots of fall color already started.

Reflections Lake

No filters, just nature at Reflections Lake.

Peters Creek Inlet Trail

 This is an easy hike that I can't find much information about online. It's in Chugiak off of Stoltze Dr. It's an easy hike through a birch forest opening into a grassy meadow. The mud can get really slick when wet so be aware! We've seen bear tracks in the silt and my hiking companion said they saw a beluga once so there's some opportunities to see wildlife. I

Eagle and Symphony Lakes

I didn't mark this one as kid-friendly because it's nearly 10 miles round-trip. It's not a very strenuous hike, just long for the little ones and this late in the year there's limited daylight. We ended up getting back to the car in the dark! The two lakes at the end of the trail are two different colors because they get their water from different sources which is neat. If there's any possibility of snow or ice on the trail, bring grippers. Poles could also be helpful for stability in the rock field.

For more information on the South Fork Eagle River Trail click here.

South Fork Eagle River Trail

Fall is my favorite time of year for the South Fork of the Eagle River trail. The sun low on the horizon all day makes for amazing light and sometimes it feels as though you've stepped into a painting. I've never seen a stroller on the trail but it's fairly wide and level and seems like you'd be fine with an appropriate stroller, at least until the bridge. The bridge is a great stopping point for hikes with small children. You can stop and rest while they explore the river before heading back. It also only makes it a 4-mile hike which is doable with snacks and water. On this trip we brought 8 kids, ages 20 months to 8 years old and they all had a lot of fun.

For more information on the South Fork Eagle River Trail click here.

Eagle River Nature Center Rodak Trail

The first snow came late this year and to celebrate we went to Eagle River Nature Center. Late fall and early spring are probably the most unattractive times of the year here and a fresh coat of snow makes everything so beautiful again. The trails at ERNC are so well-marked and well-maintained that it's an easy way to enjoy getting outdoors with the kids.

For more information on the Eagle River Nature Center click here.

Reflections Lake and Wetland Trail

Only the loop around the lake is stroller friendly but you could always park it if you wanted to go check out the wetland trail. The wetland trail is marked and will be to your right about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way around the lake. If the temperature is above freezing bring rain boots or other boots that can be hosed off or that you don't mind getting completely muddy (this is only for the wetland trail). The trail is fairly well marked and goes out to a few channels of the Knik River Arm. The whole trail is very easy.

For more information on Reflections Lake click here.