Again, one of those places that for fuck-all reasons, nobody talks about. Am I blowing some kind of secret exposing all these cool out of the way places on the internet? I sure hope I don’t get lynched by a bunch of angry Alaskan for outing our hidden gems. Tucked away on the scenic windy-twisty Old Glen Highway, you get a 500 foot warning the entrance is near. Don’t miss it or you’ll have to drive a clip before you have the chance to turn around on this narrow road. If you’re driving from Anchorage, the entrance will be on your right. From the ample parking lot, you don’t get a sense of how lovely the secret Eklutna Tailrace is. This my friends, is a picturesque, family friendly haven for some honest to goodness Alaska combat salmon fishing. To quote
«The main fishing area – stocked with kings and silvers as well as pinks, chum, and dollies – is at the confluence of the tailrace with the Knik River. Because it’s an artificial fishery, this tends to be one of the least regulated fisheries in South Central Alaska. That means that king fishing usually remains open here even while most South Central king fisheries have been closed in recent years, due to poor king returns.» The Tailrace, a lovely glacial blue merges into the swift moving Knik River. In addition to being great for fishing, the vista from the north bank of the tailrace of this avalanche prone section of the Chugach mountains and the Knik River is really an Alaskan dream. There’s also a short trail that connects the Tailrace to the fishery less than a mile away. The trail is hard packed enough for strollers. There’s also another secret here that I missed the first several times I vistied. But if you like abandoned stuff, explore a little and bring your camera. You’re in for a treat!
