The walk will begin at the parking lot by the Forest Service building on Back Loop Rd. This is an out-and-back hike on a graveled, relatively flat trail with a few small ups and downs. Distance is roughly one and a half miles depending on the various side trails explored. The deciduous vegetation (alder, willow, and cottonwood) offers songbirds and ideal habitat for nesting and foraging. Warblers such as American redstarts, Wilson’s, yellow, Townsend’s, and water thrush sing and dart through the leaves. Vireos, flycatchers, and three-toed woodpeckers are also in the area.

Location: Dredge Lakes Area: Forest Ranger District Office on Mendenhall Loop Road
https://www.google.com/maps/place/US+Forest+Service+Ranger+Station/@58.399258,-134.7148822,12z/data=!4m10!1m2!2m1!1sUS+Forest+Service+Building+Back+Loop+Road+,+junea!3m6!1s0x5400e220ad4c4b15:0x501a8a7a0a96ab32!8m2!3d58.399258!4d-134.5706866!15sCjJVUyBGb3Jlc3QgU2VydmljZSBCdWlsZGluZyBCYWNrIExvb3AgUm9hZCAsIGp1bmVhdSIDiAEBkgEPbmF0aW9uYWxfZm9yZXN04AEA!16s%2Fg%2F1tptq925?entry=ttu

JAS contact: field-trips@juneau-audubon-society.org

Leaders: Deb Rudis and Kari Monagle