A stroll beside Seward's lagoon
Is worth the idle wanderer's time
You likely will even spot the things
Pointed out on the walk-side signs.
We discovered this by accessing the geocaches at both ends -- but, wouldn't you know, right above the sign discussing the local birdlife, there was a bald eagle. And ravens right over there. And, yes, yes, THAT is cow parsley.
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The Dale B. Clemens Memorial boardwalk was constructed through the partnership of many, including the US Navy and provides access to view eagles, otters, kingfishers, an occasional moose and other wildlife. Feed the ducks near the north end of the boardwalk. Note the interpretive signs along the way.
The Seward Rotary Club volunteers constructed the boardwalk spur and the pavilion on the south side of the freshwater lagoon. The pavilion burned in August, 2000 and was rebuilt to some extent by the Rotary Club.... By the way, the lagoon of water was created by the tsunamis of the 1964 earthquake. To learn more, catch the '64 Earthquake film at Seward's Library during summer months.
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"Take a short walk along the lagoon boardwalk to watch bald eagles, gulls, ducks, dippers, and pacific salmon."
NOTABLE SPECIES
River otter
Mallard
Double-crested
cormorant
Great blue heron
Glaucous-winged gull
Bald eagle
Belted kingfisher
Northwestern crow
Common raven
Tree swallow
Violet-green swallow
American dipper
Yellow warbler
Fox sparrow
Song sparrow
FIELD NOTES
Nestled at the north end of the Seward lagoon, the Benny Benson Memorial Park features a quarter-mile-long boardwalk along the lagoon. Look for kingfishers and swallows on the powerlines, and eagles in the spruce trees. Watch and listen for warblers and sparrows in the dense alder and willow thickets (this is a great place to view these tiny, fast-moving birds up close). American dippers forage along the edges. Watch for returning adult salmon from mid-summer to late fall. If you’re lucky, you may spot the V-shaped wake of a swimming river otter.
HABITAT
Coastal temperate rainforest dominated by Sitka spruce rims this shallow lagoon. At the water’s edge is a fringe of cottonwood, alder and willow. Spring-fed and mountain streams flow through a privatelyowned wetland to the north, providing a rich salmon spawning area, food, and nesting habitat for many species of birds. The close presence of people, vehicle traffic and smalltown noise impact the site too.
HISTORIC CONNECTION
The memorial remembers Benny Benson, who designed Alaska’s flag in 1927 while living at Seward’s Jesse Lee Home for Children. He was 13 at the time.
VIEWING TIP
The park and boardwalk are worthy stops while walking to other locations in Seward. The south end of the boardwalk links up with the bike/walk path along the beach.
HELPFUL HINTS
Try visiting very early, before vehicle noise picks up on the highway.
GETTING THERE
The park is across from the Seward small boat harbor, and is visible from the Seward Highway milepost 1.6. Turn west on Dairy Hill lane. The boardwalk runs north-south between the highway and the lagoon.