This 2.6-mile-long trail opened in August 2008. It cost $12 million to build. It has a number of bridges over the creek and a corkscrew bridge over the railroad tracks. During summer, when salmon swim upstream, many cyclists pause to watch anglers catch fish.
Just before the trail's end is the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. This 145 thousand square foot building was constructed in 2011 at a cost $93 million. It has a super long viewing corridor with windows above the dozens of giant fish tanks where the baby fry grow. It is free to visit and the hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
To get to the trail from DBR, take a RIGHT on E and a RIGHT on 2nd. The Ship Creek Trail begins behind the Ulu Factory.
To visit the hatchery, exit trail to right after U-curve underneath Reeve Blvd. Cross over the trail and the creek and hatchery is on your right.
In Alaska, 1% of the cost of state-paid for buildings must be spent on art. Since the hatchery cost $93 million that means there is $930k of art to be seen here. There's a two-story tall stainless steel sculpture of a salmon in the parking lot and a giant mosaic tile mural where the staircase meets the viewing corridor. In between the glass panels looking down on the tanks are flat screen tvs and placards that tell you everything you ever wanted to know about fish.
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23,000 gallon tank holds 240,000 salmon
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William J Hernandez Fish Hatchery. Open Daily 8am -4pm. Free. |
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Viewing Corridor. |
When trail ends, decide whether to retrace and return downtown, or make a circuit through Merrill Field and connect to the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail.