Learning Alaska

Beluga Wetlands is one of those places that makes you slow down and watch your step. If you keep moving forward eventually you will make it here!

This overlook is accessed by the Calvin & Coyle Trail, one of several trails that lead to a viewing platforms overlooking the wetlands.

Near this viewing deck down the trail, I started noticing fresh moose tracks weaving through the woods.

They weren’t heading closer to the wetlands.

They were headed toward town.

I never spotted a moose from this overlook in this picture. The brush has grown in enough that visibility across much of the wetlands from there was pretty limited with a camera, and I knew if I wanted to find the track owners, I’d turn around and keep moving.

Sometimes wildlife photography isn’t about waiting in one place, it’s about reading the signs and trusting they’ll lead you somewhere incredible.

Fortunately… these tracks did.

Viewing Deck at Calvin & Coyle Trail
Homer, Alaska 🇺🇸

These photos were taken along the Poopdeck Platt Community Park Trail in Homer, proof that you don’t always have to leave town to experience Alaska’s incredible wildlife.

Tucked right in the heart of downtown, this peaceful wooded trail feels surprisingly secluded despite being surrounded by the city. The trail is ADA accessible, making it a great place for visitors and locals of all ages and abilities to enjoy nature. Along the way you’ll find boardwalks, interpretive signs, benches, a viewing platform, and convenient access between downtown, the Homer Public Library, and the Homer Bypass. It’s a wonderful reminder that some of Alaska’s best wildlife encounters can happen just minutes from restaurants, shops, and everyday life.

Poopdeck Platt Community Park Trail
Homer, Alaska 🇺🇸

Land preserved by: Kachemak Heritage Land Trust

Happy Father’s Day.

Spending time watching wildlife reminds me that being a good father isn’t unique to people. Across Alaska, you’ll find dads that spend their days protecting, guiding, and raising the next generation.

This sandhill crane family was a good reminder of that.

Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible dads out there.

Sandhill Cranes
Homer, Alaska 🇺🇸

The opportunity to photograph a baby Sandhill Crane had me running down the side of the road, hoping to capture a few shots before an airplane taking off nearby sent them back into the tall grass for the night.

Every second felt like a race against time, but moments like these are exactly why I always keep my camera ready.

Baby Sandhill Cranes, called colts, are able to leave the nest within hours of hatching, but they stay close to their parents for protection. Both the mother and father share the responsibility of raising them and guarding them from predators, leading them to food, and teaching them how to survive. The colts remain with their parents through their first summer and even migrate together in the fall before eventually becoming independent.

Maybe they are another one of nature’s greatest lessons. None of us are born knowing where we’re going. We all begin by following someone else’s footsteps until one day we have the confidence to make our own. It’s a little scary, but it’s also how every great journey begins.

Sandhill Cranes
Homer, Alaska 🇺🇸

Above the bald eagles of Deep Creek sits one of Alaska’s most recognizable lighthouses.

As you drive through Ninilchik, you’ll only catch a glimpse of it from the highway before it’s gone. It’s one of those views that makes you wish you had just a little more time.

For those of us who grew up farther inland, seeing a lighthouse perched high above the Cook Inlet shoreline never gets old. Add in the snow covered mountains across the water, and it’s the kind of scene that quietly takes your breath away.

What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t a working navigational lighthouse. The Ninilchik Lighthouse was built in 1989 as a community landmark, inspired by Alaska’s historic coastal lighthouses. While ships don’t rely on it to guide them, it has become one of the Kenai Peninsula’s most photographed landmarks and a symbol of the town itself.

Some of Alaska’s most memorable views aren’t marked by giant signs. They’re found in the few seconds between one bend in the road and the next.

Learn more: Alaska Wild Hearts Events

The Deep Creek Lighthouse
Ninilchik, Alaska 🇺🇸

Normally in Alaska, bald eagles are seen flying and nesting in pairs. But when food is abundant, certain locations give you the rare opportunity to witness dozens or even hundreds gathered together in one place.

Deep Creek on the Kenai Peninsula is one of those places.

Spend enough time watching them, and you’ll notice they all have different personalities. Some demand to be seen. Others demand to be heard.

This one demanded both.

Deep Creek
Ninilchik, Alaska 🇺🇸

Most people pull into the Glacier View turnout around Mile 108 on the Glenn Highway and immediately look straight ahead.

And honestly, who can blame them?

The views of the valley and surrounding mountains are incredible.

What many visitors don’t realize is that one of Alaska’s most iconic animals is often sitting directly behind them.

Dall sheep are regulars on these rocky cliffs. In fact, I can’t remember a single time of year that I’ve passed through this area without spotting at least one white dot perched high on the mountainside. Whether that’s perfect timing or proof they’re almost always here, I’m still not sure.

I spent three days recently photographing this location and noticed something interesting. The sheep seemed most active lower on the slopes during the early morning hours before gradually moving higher as the day went on. Cooler temperatures, fresh vegetation, or simply their daily routine may all play a role.

If you’re hoping to see them, bring binoculars.

I watched plenty of travelers pull over, zoom in with their phones, snap a quick picture, and leave. While you’ll definitely be able to spot the sheep, photos like the ones here require much more reach than a cell phone can provide. Aside from the drone image showing the landscape, every sheep photograph was taken with a super telephoto wildlife lens.

The good news?

You don’t need expensive camera gear to enjoy them.

Sometimes the best part is simply watching a wild Dall sheep stand effortlessly on cliffs that most of us wouldn’t dare climb.

So the next time you stop at around Mile 108, don’t just look at the glacier.

Turn around.

You might discover the real locals have been watching you the entire time.

- Glenn Highway around Mile 108, Glacier View, Alaska

Last weekend my wife and I decided to take a break at Sheep Mountain Lodge while exploring Glacier View, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

After spending hours on our feet taking pictures of Dall sheep, it was the perfect place to rest & refuel. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the views of the surrounding mountains were hard to beat.

One of the most unique features was this private dining setup inside a greenhouse surrounded by flowers and anchored by an incredible moose display. It’s not every day you get to enjoy a meal sitting face to face with one of Alaska’s most iconic animals.

Back inside as we waited for our food, my wife and I looked through the photos we’d been capturing throughout the day, sharing our favorites and reliving the adventure.

For more than 80 years, travelers have been stopping here for good food, mountain views, and classic Alaskan hospitality. From helicopters tours to atv tours and more, this Lodge is more than a place to get food along the way, it is also an incredible destination.

Learn more: Sheep Mountain Lodge

Sheep Mountain Lodge - Glacier View, Alaska