Thunderbird Falls — Attraction in Alaska

This seems to be a very popular site. There is a parking lot with plenty of spaces at the trail head. Parking is $5 per vehicle and there is a machine that takes card on site. Also at the entrance are 2 public restrooms with out-house style toilets. There are no sinks in the bathroom, no guarantee that there will be toilet paper (it was out when I stopped in).

The trail is fairly level, if occasionally muddy, wide, well-maintained, and well-marked. There is a single trail that splits just before the falls into an upper and lower trail. The upper trail ends in a long wooden walkway and viewing deck, and the entire length should be traversible by strollers or wheel chairs, though the grade/incline may make the trail little challenging in parts.

The lower path was muddier, narrower, steeper, and generally more challenging, but is still relatively easy for anyone used to hiking. I do not recommend attempting to take strollers or wheelchairs down the lower path. The path ends near to the bottom of the falls and runs close to the stream/river for the last leg. There was a downed tree across the lower path when I went, but it is small enough to step over. Between the two falls viewing sites I personally recommend the lower path but both...

Definitely worth the hike up and back. I am a 70+ senior with terrible hunchback, scolliosis and sciatica. My legs still work and the trail is in reasonable condition for my walker. Many wild berries, native floral plants and the like along the way. There is an overhang bridge about 2/3 of the way up. Trail is up and down hill; levelling out in a couple of spots, from start to finish. The end of the trail comes with a spectacular view of the falls, a s bench to sit and admire the view and to hear the roar of the falls. It's easy to hear why Thunderfalls aquired this name. You can faintly hear her at the trail start and her roar gets louder the closer you get. I just want to thank any Google users who saw this "walker" old lady on the trail for your pleasant words of encouragement while I was visiting and a special thankyou to the 3 hikers who helped fix me up on my way doen. God bless you again! I am proud of myself and so happy to have seen this...

Very easy. I walked both options (to the viewing platform and down to the waterside) in regular sandals with a back strap; no special hiking gear from an outfitter. People of a wide range of shapes, sizes and footwear (minus heels) were on the trail. I didn’t have any issues with mosquitoes because I sprayed with repellent first, but other visitors were fighting them off. I recommend stopping at a bathroom nearby before going to the trailhead because the restrooms are clearly not maintained. Too gross to upload a photo but to give you some idea, I used a restroom at a gas station instead of the restrooms at the trailhead parking lot. The parking lot is not large and there were many vehicles, so some people parked roadside. The trail itself is decently maintained. There are no rails at some of the steep edges so it would not be a good idea to let children or dogs run...