Eagle River (Favorite Channel) Explained

Eagle River
Map Size:300
Pushpin Map:USA Alaska
Pushpin Map Size:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of the Eagle River in Alaska
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Alaska
Subdivision Type4:Municipality
Subdivision Name4:Juneau
Length:5miles
Source1:Eagle Glacier
Source1 Location:Coast Mountains, Tongass National Forest
Source1 Coordinates:58.5878°N -134.7239°W
Source1 Elevation:994feet[1]
Mouth:Favorite Channel
Mouth Location:20miles northwest of downtown Juneau
Mouth Coordinates:58.5269°N -134.8217°W[2]
Mouth Elevation:0feet

The Eagle River is a stream, 5miles long, in the borough of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska.[2] Heading at Eagle Glacier in the Coast Mountains, it flows southwest into Favorite Channel, 20miles northeast of the city of Juneau.[2] Alaska Route 7 (Glacier Highway) links the city to the river, a state recreation area, a church camp, and a boy scout camp near the river mouth.

Hiking trails parallel the river for its entire course. One, the Amalga Trail, leads to a public-use cabin on a lake near the foot of Eagle Glacier in the Tongass National Forest. Remnants of the forming mining town of Amalga and the Eagle Creek Mine are slightly north of the river along an unnamed tributary.

Course

Beginning at Eagle Glacier in the Coast Mountains of Southeast Alaska, Eagle River flows generally southwest for about 5miles through parts of the Tongass National Forest.[2] Its headwaters include a small unnamed lake,[2] along the right bank of which runs a hiking trail, the Amalga Trail. Also on the right near the downstream end of the lake is Eagle Glacier Cabin, a public-use structure managed by the United States Forest Service.[3]

On the upper and middle reaches of the river, small unnamed tributaries enter from the left and right. One of them, entering from the right downstream of Eagle Glacier Cabin, drains the Amalga Site, remnants of the Eagle River Mine and the former mining town of Amalga.[4]

Along its lower reaches, the river borders Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, which is on the right. The Amalga Trail, which here is part of the recreation area, is also on the right. Also to the right, surrounded by recreation area land, is a United Methodist Church camp. Loop Trail runs around the camp, intersecting Amalga Trail along the river. Slightly downstream of the trail junction, the river passes under Alaska Route 7 (Glacier Highway) and receives the Herbert River from the left.[5]

Beyond the confluence with the Herbert, Eagle River flows by tidal flats on the left and right. Here, Loop Trail runs along the right bank until it meets Beach Access Trail, which leads to a beach picnic area. Boy Scout Beach Trail, associated with the scout camp, across the river from the church camp, follows the left bank. Saturday Creek, which flows through Methodist Camp, enters from the right, before Eagle River empties into Favorite Channel.[5]

Eagle Beach is 2miles north of Dotsons Landing and about 20miles northwest of Juneau.[2] The river mouth is opposite Shelter and Lincoln islands, which separate Favorite Channel from Saginaw Channel, to the west.[6] The Alaska Marine Highway runs along Favorite Channel between the islands and Eagle Beach.[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  2. Web site: Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey . January 1, 2000. [{{gnis3|1421602}} Eagle River ]. December 8, 2013.
  3. Web site: Eagle Glacier Cabin. United States Forest Service. December 9, 2013.
  4. King. Mary Lou. Amalga Trail Leads to Eagle Glacier. Juneau Empire. June 30, 2002. December 9, 2013.
  5. Web site: Welcome to Eagle Beach State Recreation Area. Alaska Department of Natural Resources. PDF. December 9, 2013.
  6. Book: Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer. DeLorme. Yarmouth, Maine. 32 - 33. 7th. 2010. 978-0-89933-289-5.