The Moose Lake area is located south of Mendenhall Glacier Lake and is part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area managed by the Tongass National Forest. Numerous trails in this area provide an opportunity for hiking and birdwatching in early successional habitats adjacent to glacial river water and ponded freshwater habitats. The gradient of the access trails is mostly level and the tread is firm glacial gravel.

Vegetation is typical of early successional post-glaciation, including willow, alder, and cottonwood with scattered spruce and hemlock. A tremendous diversity of waterfowl is found in this area including Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded, and Common Merganser, among many other waterfowl species, and a variety of passerines. Northern Goshawks are also often observed in this area due to the high availability of prey.

Trails offer good opportunities to see beavers at work, and the dead trees created by their flooding provide nesting habitat for woodpeckers and swallows. Less common local species such as Rusty Blackbird sometimes reside in the marshes.

Directions:

Several trailheads can be used to access the Moose Lake area including Back Loop Bridge Trailhead, Dredge Road Trailhead, and Weather Station Trailhead (behind the Juneau Ranger District U.S. Forest Service office). To access the Back Loop Road Trailhead from downtown Juneau, head northwest on Egan Drive for 8 miles to Mendenhall Loop Road. Turn right and travel 2.2 miles to Back Loop Road. Make a left and drive 1 mile to the Back Loop Road Trailhead which is located on the north side of the road at the Mendenhall River Bridge.

Trail Information:

• From the Back Loop Road Trailhead, the Moose Lake Area is a 1.5-mile loop trail from the trailhead, around the lake, and back to the trailhead. There are numerous connecting trails in the Dredge Lakes Area. These trails are managed by the Tongass National Forest and are part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area
• US Forest Service: Moose Lake Trail 

Birding Resources:

• eBird Hotspot: Mendenhall Forelands-Moose Lake area

Bird Species Checklist:

• Juneau checklist