Potter Marsh

If you are driving down from Anchorage to Seward, you will find Potter Marsh off the highway. It is free for the public to stop and view wildlife (birds in particular) on the observation deck. There is plenty of parking made available and also public restrooms (porta potties).

From one of the boards, I read, if you come during late April through September, you may be able to see Canada geese, northern pintails, canvasback ducks, red-necked phalaropes, horned and red-necked grebes, and northern harriers (in which they use these wetlands).

If you have binoculars, make sure to bring them with you to view some of the birds that you will definitely see.

Please note that dogs are not allowed on the observation deck. But since my husband and I travel with our special dog fitted backpack, we were able to have our little girl dog in our backpack as we walked and explored.

We spent a little over 30 minutes walking the entire observation deck and enjoyed the sights. But please note that it was pretty windy at times (we visited towards the end of August, which happens to be a somewhat rainy month). Also there is no shade covering so if the direct sunshine would bother you, bring a hat to shield your face like I did.

Nice pit stop off the Seward Highway for wildlife viewing (mostly birds). The 1,550 ft observation deck is well maintained and equipped with binoculars.

According to the website, from late April through September, you may spot Canadian geese, northern pintails, canvasback ducks, red-necked phalaropes, horned, red-necked grebes, northern harriers, and eagles.

From May to August, you may see gulls, Arctic terns, shorebirds and trumpeter swans during spring and fall migration.

Separate from birds, you may spot muskrats and moose.

Parking and bathrooms on site.

If you are a bird lover or nature lover, Potter Marsh is a must see when visiting Anchorage. This area is chock full of birds to be observed and admired. There is much evidence of moose everywhere, although we didn't see any. The only bad part is the noise from Seward Highway.

It's a bird sanctuary on the outskirts of Anchorage.

It looks like a place that Moose should be, but all I've really seen is birds..."doin' it".

Look for folks with ginormous lenses and binoculars and you'll know you're in the right place.

Boardwalk is very nice and shockingly well maintained.

Worth a stop if you're a tourist, or a local on a lunchbreak.

Definitely take time to stop here if you're nearby. It's a nicely done and maintained area, with a beautiful boardwalk viewing platform over the marsh. You'll see mountain and Turnagain Arm water views, as well as wildlife here.

I visited in the late fall and luckily the colors were still vibrant in the area. (I posted a pic) I really wanted to see a lot of wildlife, as I'm a pro photographer, but sadly kind of "just missed" the waterfowl as they've already split on their migratory journeys southward. I did see a few swans along the roadside in the marsh...LOL. Evidently though, if you're visiting in high season, the place should be filled with waterfowl of all kinds fueling up in the marsh for their trip.

The boardwalk is wide and easy to navigate on foot or with a wheelchair or stroller. There are viewing stops with binoculars you can use as well. Very well done! A definite stop on any trip down the Turnagain Arm!

I came down here for a little while to get some fresh air and to clear my head after studying several hours at the coffee shop. Potter Marsh is one of the most scenic parks you will ever see in the Anchorage area just at the edge of the city limits going towards Girdwood on the Seward Highway. The entrance to the park will be on the last left just as the highway narrows going southbound. The view of the marsh is phenomenal and provides a panoramic view of the wildlife and the wooded residential areas on the Chugach Mountains in the background.
The boardwalk that goes through the marsh is a long expansive bridge that has been recently remodeled and branches off into two directions. The left branch of the boardwalk is a great way to get an up-close view of the animals that can be found here while you're traveling along the edge of the woods. When I came by on a recent sunny afternoon, I had a clear view of a moose foraging in the grass no more than a couple hundred feet away. Mallards and birds of all species are everywhere here like something out of a National Geographic magazine. If wildlife photography is you're thing or if you're visiting from out of town, this is definitely a recommended stop for a couple of hours. The right branch of the boardwalk goes along the Seward Highway and provides a massive landscape view of the mountains.
Benches are laid out along this side of the bridge to take in the scenery or relax with a book. There are also two outlets of water from the inlet that empty out into the marsh. The overhead boardwalk provides a great view of the salmon swimming in the water and if there happens to be a light drizzle, these fish will jump out of the water! I have seen this a couple of times last summer and I wish I could capture this on camera! When the weather is too nice to stay inside, this is without a doubt, one of the best places for me to study on one of the benches for a little while with the surrounding wildlife and the cool breeze coming in from the inlet. This is a five-star experience for me every time I come down here and I encourage everyone reading this to visit the park when they get a chance.

Potter Marsh is about 10 miles south of Downtown Anchorage off the Seward Highway. It's right off the highway and you can't miss the boardwalks that meander around the edge. You'll probably stop because it is simply so beautiful. Migratory birds, salmon, beaver, and moose live in this marsh and you can view it from the boardwalk. There are informational signs too and you can read them while walking along and looking at how the marsh grass ripples in the wind. Lovely.

Driving along Seward Highway on our way back from Whittier, there is a inconspicuous stop called Potter Marsh. Potter Marsh is a wetland setup with a series of boardwalks for travelers to walk over the marsh without disturbing the environment. Along the board walks are placards full of facts about the plants and animals native to the marsh.

Looking along Potter Marsh, you'll see a large field of long grass and reeds bristling in the breeze. A small creek winds its way around the marsh. If you're lucky like we were, you will see fish swimming around in the clear water.

Potter Marsh is quite peaceful and a beautiful place to see.

review 2/2/08
I.M.Y.

Pull over! PULL OVER!!

You won't want to miss Potter Marsh as you drive out of Anchorage, towards Girdwood, Homer, and Seward. The birding is amazing...AMAZING! The newly redone boardwalk is great, too. Last time I was there, I was able to watch a few moose for about 30 minutes...the boardwalk helped them retain some privacy and we got a rockin' view!

There are porta-potties...well, pit toilets. They're perfectly fine and maintained.

Definitely stop! Bring a small picnic or have a snack, too.