Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge Reviews

Take in a great walk and enjoy nature.
There are many sandhill cranes as well as other birds.
There are observation towers and boardwalks to get a really good view.

An interesting destination for bird watchers or twitchers as you are known. A small but helpful information centre, selling bits and pieces. A short walk to the footpath into the reserve. Cranes on view (depending on your timing) as well as geese and ducks.
Beware of the mosquitos and their viscous bite :(

Definitely bring a pair of binoculars! In Mid-May, I've spotted dowitchers, sandhill cranes, various waterfowl and passerines. It's so fun walking the trails and looking for hawks and owls. The trails travel through a beautiful stretch of the woods. There's even a lookout spot to oversee the field.

Wonderful caretakers make you feel right at home here—the home is a nice museum to the old dairy. The walks around the lake are really easy and very enjoyable. This was a great stop for 1-2 hours.

We just wanted to go for a walk & this place is perfect. We walked through the forest on the boardwalk and took about an hour. Beautiful, cool, with benches along the way to sit and just enjoy the peace and quiet.

We visited in March which in all fairness is not the best time to see waterfowl in this area. I hope to return during warmer weather. It is a good spot to catch some light shows.

Living near, I walk these fields often. The boardwalk is a wonderful place to go no matter what age. Wildlife viewing is outstanding and during the migration months, thousands of birds can be viewed. Make sure and stop by the farmhouse, where there are activities for children. I've seen, fox, owls, hawks, moose, swans, cranes, geese and a variety of ducks and birds. I'm so thankful to the Creamer family for their vision and generosity.

Very pleasant trail with easy access and walk ability. Quaint history museum and gift shop provides perspective on this unique place.

You have to give thanks to the people who had the foresight to allow these fields to be a bird sanctuary and those who bought them and dedicate these fields into a nature reserve. Fascinating to see all the migratory birds eating up so they can fly around the world away from the winter cold.

Migratory birds come and go from this field in April/May and then again in Sept. There are lovely hiking trails throughout the refuge. If there has been a lot of rain, sometimes the areas with boardwalks are flooded. Dogs MUST BE ON A LEASH and in control. No exceptions. Please pick up doggy waste and dispose of it properly. Some people are totally ignorant of the signage.

Excellent wildlife refuge, beautiful facility and trails. Guide in the visitors center was also very helpful and knowledgeable. The Sandhill Cranes were there when we visited and were amazing. Lovely morning!

We've been here during each season of the year and it's so peaceful and a wonderful place to experience the changes of the seasons hiking the trails. Our favorite is the Boreal Forest trail. The bird life is most interesting and we've also seen the Northern Lights from there. It's a must do for us when in Fairbanks.

When we went, the trumpet swans had just returned. There are geese and ducks normally, but having the swans there was really special.

Great way to get out and about! Several trail options, all great. Beautiful area with lots of nature to take in. Added bonus, it's free!

We went there to walk at various times of the day on three different occasions taking different routes to enjoy the beauty!

Beautiful wide open field. We went there in the winter and it was filled with thick snow. Still a nice area to walk and view the Northern light. We stayed at the Wedgwood and that was only a few minites walk to the field.

Lovely preserve to do some bird watching. We uber’d here from downtown Fairbanks and were able to hike along the many paths early in the day. We then walked over to the Fountainhead Auto museum through the trials. Wonderful visit.

The swans were there -- everyone told us to check it out. I'm a bird person, so found all the birds interesting and cute. And it was a nice day, blue sky, warm. Lots of moms with young kids, older folks, photography enthusiasts taking close ups. We went for a walk on a trail, but it was very muddy and so we turned back after a bit. With the thaw, most people were wearing rubber boots to get through the standing water and mud. It would be a lot nicer to do the trail once it dries up.

This is Fairbanks history. The museum is staffed with very knowledgable people. The trails and very well maintained. If you want to see migrating birds a must stop.

Low key park runs on donations. Beautiful short walks and when we were there, lots of sandhill cranes. Bring mosquito repellent. The host as our B&B said she walks there, so this is a local place.

The refuge is state-owned, a former dairy owned by (I’m not kidding) Mr. Creamer. Mr. Creamer fed the birds and after his death, the farm became a refuge. Free nature walk with volunteer. Wear bug spray, the mosquitoes are terrible. We were a large noisy group, probably scared off the birds. The walk was still interesting, especially the “drunken” trees that are collapsing due to the loss of the permafrost.

Truth be told, I've never got why people go birding. Yep, I like seeing birds and have actually enjoyed watching a bird for a few minutes. But seriously??? So, with nothing to lose - this place is free and on my way - I dropped in. Creamers, a non-profit, is home for some species and a stopover for migrators. They conduct all types of research and track birds.

The acreage is vast with a variety of natural settings and rustic trails. I selected the half mile trail to the bird tagging hut.

On my way I encountered two volunteers freeing birds from nets and placing them in cloth sacks. Curious, I followed them to the hut, where the birds were weighed, checked for age , health, gender, etc., tagged and released. We were fortunate to see a woodpecker, a rarity, and a few chickadees processed.

After that, I selected another beautiful path for my return walk. Okay, so I ended up really liking this place. The many well-maintained trails weaving through a primitive natural setting of forests and lakes, drawing a large variety of birds - just up my alley!

We stopped at the Visitor Center where we got a flyer with a map and a listing of all the birds that could be spotted on the property. Lots of great information and friendly staff. The walking paths took us through some beautiful areas and we spotted a lot of Sandhill Cranes. We also met a few researchers who explained the tracking methods and how they count all the birds. This is a great place to enjoy the sunshine and see some of the wonderful birds from the region.

Saw lots of migratory birds .. swans, geese, ducks. It's always fun to stop and see what birds are there.

When we were there there were 124 swans. They were amazingly beautiful swimming and flying. In addition there were a variety of geese and ducks. Kids will love this too. On a previous visit when it was warmer we did the woodland walk which was lovely.

This refuge has many cool paths through the forest and wetland. They are clear paths and a lot of them are on raised wooden walkways. There are many informational signs on the flora and fauna of Alaska. It is an easy walk but still a good stretch of the legs. There were lots of birds and we saw moose tracks but no moose. Some parts of the Boreal Forest Trail felt more like Louisiana than Alaska because it was so swampy.

We arrived in Fairbanks on September 16, 2016 and the visitor center was closed. Canadian Geese were in the field, then some other birds started to arrive. We decided to walk the boardwalk trail, but we caught up to two families with a total of 5 kids. Noisy wouldn't begin to describe it. We were able to see a two new species for us, since we were so far north. Dogs are allowed but have to be on a leash. Some people didn't think their "Rovers" needed a leash. Oh well. This is a neat place to visit.

The birds that migrate through are constantly changing. We live on EAFB, so we come once a week to see the changing of the birds and field conditions.

You should consider taking the Boardwalk Trail in the summertime, don't forget some mosquito repellent - but it is about a mile long trail through the beautiful woods - very relaxing!

Peaceful setting, nice hiking trails and beautiful surroundings. I didn't see waterfowl but we went later in the night.

The information center was closed but the area was well signposted and it was a joy to wander and observe..

We went after hours but the outdoor areas appear to be open 24 hours. A good variety of walking trails (bring insect repellent!) with shaded pavilions near the parking. We watched ducks in the pond and two large flocks of birds in the fields which was very enjoyable for a brief visit.

We stopped to see the fields of all types of migrating birds. We didn't make it to the Creamery. It was a wonderful site to see how many types of birds were present & they all got along.

The field is likely an amazing place later in April/early May, but in the first week of April, and only due to the unusual warm weather, we saw the first and only goose. In spring the city spreads bird feed in the field to entice the birds after their long return flight.We saw a handful of people walking the trails, but area was still pretty muddy and icy.

Spring birds coming in so there were birds everywhere! It was so neat! You can just park and watch the birds come in or you can go to the back part where the old creamery is and go on a hike --- or do both! But take your camera because you might see just about any kind of critter out there. The trails are well groomed but the area is very muddy if it's been raining so plan accordingly.

we love seeing birds, especially migratory birds. here there were plenty and of various types. very interesting to view their behavior, and eating habits, and they did not fly away.

I love being able to get out in the woods and though I'm handicapped and can't get there as much as I'd like, I thank god for Creamer's! The trails wind in among the rees and are flat enough and short enough that I can manage them, even with my crutches. Though it's close enough to the road, it's still tranquill enough to help me resettle my mind. I visit often and am glad this place exists!

Amidst all the snow, we had a lovely time around Creamer's field and bought a little bottlecap magnet from there as well.

We saw over a hundred sandhill cranes and apparently many more are to come in August. I heard they have a festival at the end o August. We enjoyed walking the trails but were there too early in the day to go on a guided walk or do to the gift shop.

We were invited to take a tour and our guide was a knowledgeable localist, Bud. He knew the calls of every bird and the history behind every bit of the woods and waters. We took pictures .. It was a real blessing to visit!

A very relaxing and pleasurable visit. Take binoculars and good walking shoes. Maybe a picnic basket. You really could spend all day there.

was taken here by a fairbanks resident and enjoyed a nice hour walk through the woods and then around the fields, nice open place to stretch legs and walk dogs

We spotted about 30 sandhill cranes, plus several species of water fowl the evening we visited. We saw many other birds along the trails that lead through meadows and woods. Viewing stands are placed at several strategic locations on the property.

There was plenty of parking.

Beautiful barns, walking trails, fields, flowers and lovely fowls to see and hear. This is a lovely area to stop, stretch your legs, enjoy nature and enjoy your time.

We visited the refuge and much appreciated the walk in the woods. Although we did not spot too much wild life we enjoyed the information gained.

Great! We didn’t think they’d still be here but we got to watch tons of sand hill cranes. Amazing to see. They have lookout stations and trails that join with Wedgwood so we had a nice afternoon hiking both and exploring fountainhead auto museum

Just steps away from the road, you'll feel like you're in the wilderness. The visitor center is full of stuffed specimens; be sure to chat with the biologist who literally wrote (and illustrated) the book on the area's abundant wildlife. It's a very impressive document!

Right in Fairbanks, Creamer’s Field is a good place to see the lights. We were able to see them with a 4 rating between 1:30 and 2am. If you don’t see activity at one part of he parking off College, try the opposite end - that’s where we saw them. And it was free!

Visited the field in the winter. Great open area with nothing but snow! Great option to view the northern lights with minimal light pollution and open landscape.

In February 2020 we visited in the afternoon, a helpful worker pointed us to trail maps and we enjoyed the boreal forest boardwalk trail. In March 2021 we returned, and this time more interesting birds were at the feeders and trees. I saw my first bohemian waxwing bird and cute common redpolls and chickadees. On March 20 there was a strong corona aurora and we viewed this wonder over Creamers Field. I hope sometime we can return during migration when it's not frozen over!

This old dairy is interesting on its own merits, but the park they left behind is spectacular. As you walk along the many well-marked trails you will see migratory birds and other wildlife. Further along you will enjoy walking among the birch. This park is dog-friendly, but please pick up after your pooch.

Bring your binoc's and head nets. This refuge has it all. Lots of bugs to feed the birds. Lots of birds to see. Make sure you check out the Nature Center. Give them a big donation for all they do.

We enjoyed walking thru the trees and on the snowy paths through the woods, listening to the birds. It would be amazing to see when the Birds are migrating thru there or when the Dog Sleds are using the sled paths. Small museum gives a history of the Farm.

Great place to see sandhill crane. Arrived at 5:00am and the crane were coming in to feed in the field. There are a couple of observation towers and some nice trails running through the fields. Didn't visit the farm because it wasn't open at the time.

Lots of Canada geese here. Cool to see so many before they headed south for winter. Nice place to stop by.

My husband and I visited this lovely refuge on a recent trip to Fairbanks. A truly peaceful part of the city with many walking trails, and a Boardwalk featuring much wildlife. The fall colours were spectacular on our visit. Definitely check it out.

This is a wildlife refuge on the site of the historic Creamer's Dairy. It is a wonderful resource and just outside of town on the way to the University (and museum). We saw 50-100 Sandhill Cranes at close range. We enjoyed a 2 mile walk through different habitats and saw numerous other bird species.

The historic building are beautiful with the highlight being the Gothic shaped barn with elegant curving roof lines. A must-see when in Fairbanks!

This wasn't on my radar at all. One of the locals asked if I was going here, so I decided to check it out. A drowned forest of white birch trees with raised docks to walk over the water. It had snow by now, so everything was lightly dusted. A great refuge for nature lovers, hikers, birders and the like.

Its a great place to take a walk and during certain seasons of the year, its prime bird watching! You can take your dogs on a walk here as well, as long as you stay on the trail and dogs stay on a leash. During the winter, you can snowshoe, skijor and XC ski on the trails. I currently live in Fairbanks, so this is a good place to visit.

We missed all the birds by a few weeks, but the visitor center was very informative. Lots of stuffed birds and some great info on their different migrations.

A photographers dream for rustic buildings, landscapes, and birds (if you catch them). This is a nature preserve around former dairy farm. Includes a little visitors center staffed with enthusiastic volunteers that will keep up with your kids' questions.

They have well marked, safe trails, ranging from a 0.5 mile one around the prairie to a 3 mile one (I think) that takes you through the Borealis forest. This later one is a magical experience during summer as long as you take measures to protect yourself against mosquitos (bug spray alone may fall short of its mission). We have been here in colder weather and it is still pretty breathtaking.

From all the times we have been there (about once a month) it has never been very crowded. The shortest loop is perfect for my kids (4 and 6). This is also an ideal spot for light cross-country running too!

Stopped by here to burn some time, but realized it is actually a neat place. The office is small and has basic info, but the best part is the miles of trails through out the property. You get to see a lot of wildlife (birds) and get some fresh air. Its flat so anyone can walk the many trails of varying length through varying growth. Great nature walking activity.

Wonderful park like are with fantastic trails to view many bird species. The information center is inviting and they are a wealth of information.

This walk is a gentle walk with paved areas and nice views if it isn't too cloudy or rainy. My family and I walk the field trails and the fields have been full of birds such as geese and cranes for viewing. It's beautiful to see and watch the birds.

Great scenic spot with walking trails & plenty of wildlife to look at.
Nice place to take children to enjoy a day outdoors.

maybe we just came at the wrong time.... trails were excellent but only saw some ducks and LOTS of mosquitoes parking was easy and trail maps excellent.

Take a good pair of binoculars and prepare to be dazzled. We saw sandhill cranes, white geese, ducks and Canadian geese, and a plastic flamingo.
It is such a peaceful quite setting that it is no wonder the birds delay their migration to stop over at Creamer's Field

Wish I had discovered this place early on in my visit to Fairbanks, I would have been there every day walking the trails.
Enjoyed the farm house and information on the history of Creamer’s Field.
Especially enjoyed the volunteer led walk.
Just such a special spot in Fairbanks to enjoy year round!
Numerous cranes and ducks there on our visit.

Small but interesting visitor center in the former farmhouse. Nice walk along fields where migratory waterfowl fly in and out of, and congregate. There is a pond on one end but the forest boardwalk is closed for repairs.

This was our first visit to Creamers and we didn't have much expectations but were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed our visit. The docent in the visitor center was very helpful in explaining the migratory habits of the birds and explaining where we might be able to watch some. There are two trails inside, I don't remember which one we took but it was absolutely beautiful. It was very peaceful and calming to walk amongst those tall birch trees, birds and hear the rustling of the leaves high above us. It was like being transported to another world right in the middle of Fairbanks city. I would highly recommend everyone to give this hidden gem a shot.

My daughter, grandson and myself came to get some fresh air. Between it being mid-September and having a three year old with us, we didn't do much bird watching. But we did do a very nice hike. We did the Boreal Forest Trail. This is almost 100% boardwalks. Very well maintained. I've never seen so many Birch trees in one place. It should be noted I'm from New England. I wouldn't advise doing this trail in the summer without a ton of mosquito spray. You are in the woods and surrounded by water. I can imagine it is stunning in early September when all the trees are yellow.

We stopped to see the migratory birds...they were still migrating (somewhere else!).Ranger/naturalist was a hoot! talked us into buying his illustrated book and signed it! Nice illustrations. Not much to do here but walk around and look at whatever happens to be in the fields. Unfortnately, we picked a bad time to see birds!

We realized that there probably would not be a lot of birds here this time of year but I guess we expected some information, etc. about the migration. The young lady in the office was EXTREMELY RUDE and basically told us she did not know anything and that there was nothing to see so we could probably just leave, which we did.

We got to see a lot of birds, but no sandhill cranes, unfortunately. The guides really knew their way around. The trail was very walkable, with good viewing spots. Keep moving because the mosquitoes are thirsty. The old dairy is at least as interesting as the birds. How can you not like a dairy farmer named Creamer?

The hikes vary in length. They supply bug spray and binoculars. We enjoyed our boreal hike--beautiful, easy walking trails on boardwalks through the woods with birds, streams and surprisingly very few bugs.

We stopped here and explored this amenity that is valuable for the community. A biologist spoke to us about the site and which birds we might see.

it's truly amazing to look into the fall sky and see hundreds of Canadian Geese flying in formation. Equally amazing is seeing them resting in this large open farmland made accessible to the public. we were able to enjoy Sand Hill Cranes and many other beautiful species up close and outside in a natural space. highly recommend a stop.

The cranes just left when we were there, but we had a nice sunny afternoon walk on the trails in the refuge. Lots of information inside and we met a lovely volunteer from the Netherlands :)

The man, who is also an artist, from the Park Service, was very interesting to speak with. He gave us lots of information about the Boreal Forest, the various birds which are still visiting in winter. He has great sketches he's done and is willing to show and share. An interesting stop on the way to hike in the Boreal Forest.

If you are interested in birds, this is the place. Dozens of nesting yellow warblers and tree swallows. Numerous sandhill cranes also seen. If you do the boreal forest hike, be prepared of mosquitos. Nothing beats a mosquito head net. The volunteer staff was very helpful.

If ornithology is one of your interest, than you will love visiting this place. Bring your camera, and walking shoes as their are many trails to meander.

I shot great pictures of the huge crane population there. It is along the trail at Wedgewood Resort and close to the wildlife lake.

This was the best photo opportunity of the trip. Lots of migratory birds in the area including several hundred Sand Cranes.

We hiked here for a couple of hours. The weather was cold, snow was on the ground, and we had a great time enjoying the peace and serenity of the place. It's only about a 5 minute drive from downtown Fairbanks, but you feel like you're in the Alaskan bush when you're here. I'd like to return in the spring or fall.

We went there today and saw a lot of snow and beautiful forest scenery. Pretty level paths, lakes and wide open areas. Even saw a moose!!

Nice visitor center and hiking “trails” or snow pack. We enjoyed both walking through the boreal forest and watching skijorning and dog sledding. Went back for a second day.

Barley grown twice a season to feed/attact birds. We were between plantings and did not see many fowl, but a peaceful local nonetheless

Lots of mosquitoes. Saw no birds at 9:30 AM visit. Nice visitor center. Well maintained trails. Lots of parking.

Had thought this would be like Tillamok Cheese Factory in Oregon where you could watch production and even have an ice-cream or milkshake. My mistake. This creamery seemed to concentrate more on the Migratory aspect of the business. Nice photo album of the beginning of the Creamery in the little house, but that is about it.

They get lot of migratory birds from all the places of US as well from some South American countries. There is a small exhibition with stuffed birds which will give you lot of information. The lady explains it quite well. You can also take the trail and walk to the pond.

I love this place, in spite of the fact that I have friend who work/ed there. There are many habitats to explore (and mosquitoes to feed (on some days). There are Sandhill Cranes galore to watch and fields to roam, as well as Boardwalks and trails through the boreal forest to explore. I enjoyed it in the rain and in the sun. What a beautiful natural experience!

Best place for Aurora viewing. We rented a car and sit for few hours and enjoyed the beauty of aurora dancing above you!

We went here in winter to primarily look at the Northern Lights. This is not a good location for that. There are too many street lights around and you will not see anything in the sky.
Perhaps it is a nice place to visit in summer.

Nice area for viewing migratory birds, we saw mostly geese, but a few herons, the have several trails from 1/2 mile to longer. A nice place for a walk to enjoy nature.

We heard that we could ski here with our dog so we headed there as our second stop in Fairbanks so we could exercise the dog after a long road trip. We hiked in the evening through the woods, a beautiful trail winding through the forest. We came back the next day, we skied (fresh snow so trails were not groomed yet) and we also did the ornament making event going on during the day which we really, really enjoyed. We had a chance to speak with Mark, the author/artist of many of the sketches used in their map books and he was most welcoming even when the center had been closed the first day we got there. Trails are beautiful, and the trails close-by are easy enough to navigate.

We visited here in search of Alaskan birds. There were several Sandhill Cranes walking and feeding in a field. We also spotted a Ruffed Grouse as we were walking a trail. WARNING: Mosquitoes are HUGE and a problem ... but you probably already knew that. Try Skeeter Away spray and mosquito nets. Maps available (for a small fee) for the trails. Little gift shop which has birding books, etc.

Not only was this wildlife refuge beautiful, but it was so educational! We read the informational signs as we walked along the different sections of the hike. We learned about the migratory birds that visit, the benefits of forest fires, and about permafrost. Overall, this is a phenomenal outdoor place to enjoy nature!

We were staying next door at Wedgewood, so we just walked over to Creamer on the connecting trail. The trails are well marked and maintained. There are several elevated viewing platforms. You will definitely need bug spray or mosquito netting for the boreal forest trail.

We like to walk and it only took 30 minutes from our hotel. The chap at the information desk was so friendly answering all questions with enthusiasm and knowledge. We took the woodland trail into a pristine environment of silent snow except for the dog sled which took us by surprise but was a delight to see. I can highly recommend this attraction which would no doubt be as wonderful in the Summer.

It was a mostly cloudy chilly fall day with the threat of rain and this was the perfect place. The trails were well marked and some of the boardwalks were partially submerged. There were abundant geese in the fields. The boreal forest was just starting to turn. Very peaceful.

We were lucky to see 100's of Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes fattening up for their long migration ahead. The guide in the Farmhouse Visitor Center was very friendly and helpful in choosing a trail. There are benches scattered along the trails and posted signs detailing the birds and plants.

Great place for a picnic. There's even a bathroom. Free parking. Free informative gift shop / museum. Inside there may also be a recuperating bird or something for you to pet (we got to pet a cloud-soft big baby falcon which had an intimidating beak). Outside you will find a very nice trail or two both in the field and in the woods/swampy area. Don't forget the mosquito repellant during summer. We forgot ours so our hike in the woods became a foot race with clouds of hopeful mosquitoes catching up. We emerged with big welts mostly on our heads. Ugh. It's a much gentler hike either with repellant or in Fall or Winter. Bring binoculars to observe the nesting geese. Great spot. Nearby is the Fish and Game department, (google it for location) which also has some nice exhibits and information.

We enjoyed a lovely walk in this serene environment, but there weren't many birds when we were there. We took the long loop through the forest but had to turn back when we were almost out because the boardwalk was under water. It would have been nice if that had been communicated on a sign at the beginning of the walk.

Great if you are into bird watching! See what migratory birds are coming through our area. Many different kinds or birds, ducks and geese.

This is a free and family activity. Like most of the outdoor activities in AK, use mosquito repellent! You can see a permafrost forest up close and if you are quite perhaps some wildlife. This is a bird sanctuary and there can be hundreds if not thousands of amazing birds like Sandhill cranes, geese, etc. here. It is a wonderful way to spend time out doors and it's free. There is a tiny museum that is cute and you might need to pay -I can't remember but a donation for sure if you can. But outdoors is free, and fun. Good place to get some exercise.

This is an old dairy that's been turned into a bird sanctuary. We enjoyed seeing the hundreds and hundreds of Sand-hill cranes along with other water-foul and other birds. Lots of paths through tranquill forest and field settings. You can spend several hours or if you are short on time take the shorter walks or just visit the viewing sites.

My wife and I recently stayed in Fairbanks for a couple of nights with friends. While there, we visited the Creamer wildlife preserve and creamery. We enjoyed our visit and saw plenty of bird species. It was also interesting to learn about the history of the creamery.

The parking lot overlooking the main field is always packed when the geese and swans begin to fly up in the spring. It's like watching a fantasy land with so many waterfowl.

We were driving by and saw the parking lot. Enjoyed watching the sandhill cranes for a while and then did the Boreal Forest walk. Thanks to whoever built the boardwalk. Very nice!

Former dairy, now a wildlife refuge. Saw a flock of sandhuill cranes! Beautiful birds and ones I haven't seen outside of Florida before!

Open field for bird watching. Lots of geese. Sandhills cranes flew over. Not very exciting, but then again my husband likes birds more than I do

Birds birds and more birds! I've never seen so many migratory birds in one place. It's a gorgeous place to just hang out and watch them hang out with you. Don't miss this - spring through fall only.

The two of us had perfect weather with a couple inches of snow and frozen ponds to explore the woods and fields of this vast beautiful area near the center of Fairbanks. Enjoyed a few birds even in winter. The visitor center (open only on Saturdays off season) told us about how thousands of sandhill cranes gather here at the end of August to begin their migration south. Although I've once seen these cranes in the lower 48 states, it's tempting to return here again some late August.

On our trip we saw no birds. The only wildlife we saw was a squirrel (although he did have attitude), dragonflies, and mosquitoes. That said, the walk was really nice with lots of plants and we did enjoy ourselves.

Very unique experience in the outdoors watching and listening to all the birds feeding.......good place to clear your head!

We stopped here before getting to our hotel on our land tour through Alaska. A nice stop if you like birds, otherwise a little boring.

Great place to go for a hike and watch for the lights. This place is easy to find and has a lot of parking.

Ideal for a long walk stunning the beauty of the place and the small animals and birds.

It has no portaria, it is a free walk in demarcated trails.

The people at the creamery were helpful and explained to us how the Cranes were coming here during their migration. They were landing there and resting, in big groups while we were there. It was fun to see.

If you have a problem walking you can see the birds from you car. Also we just got out of the car in parking lot tp see the aurora.

Love how you can stop right off the road and immediately be transported to a migratory waterfowl refuge. Lots of different birds - don't forget your binoculars. Even if you are not a bird lover, this was very fun! Wonderful walks through the woods too.

Nice trail loops behind the buildings. We saw dozens of Sandhill cranes in the field by the parking lot. While walking around the wetlands area we saw a horned greebe. Good place to go for a walk.

My second visit to Creamer's Field and I really enjoy the easy paths and beautiful scenery. Even on a wet day, the trees give cover (raincoat needed, though) and the setting is unique and easy place to visit. Free to all. A great way to let the kids get some energy out!

Loved pulling into a field of Canadians and sand hill cranes. We then headed to the boreal forest and wetlands for a great walk. Bring mosquito spray as it’s well needed here. Beautiful trails and open spaces.

A series of walking paths around an old farm. Wetlands. There were sandhill cranes out there but we didn't see any other wildlife on our visits. Wear mosquito repellent as it is marshy and lots of mosquitoes will attack you. A good place to walk for an evening.

Wonderful walks through the woods and meadows where you'll be surprised at the birds you'll see. We saw a black backed woodpecker, and another time a juvenile hawk hunting in the meadow. This is a must do for anyone who loves birds. Bring your binoculars.

Spectacular. Just lucked into being in Fairbanks for the Sandhill Crane Festival. Superb walking trail through the Birch trees. Beautiful weather, lots of great people and information. Recommend to check it out even when the festival isn't on.

It was a nice sunny day, and people were bird watching. It didn't really appeal to us, but the dairy barn and home set up was quaint.

Like a time machine this attraction transports you to another place and time. So much of Alaska seems frozen, in time. (forgive the pun) Im not sure younger children would enjoy the setting but as empty nesters we loved the natural setting and the artifacts of another way of life.

Living in Fairbanks my husband and I visit Creamers field at least twice a week through the summer. There are alway new birds flying in and many stay the whole summer. The spring ( mid April) when the snow is finally beginning to melt the field, which is next to College Road, is partially plowed and seed spread to attract many species of birds who are stopping over on their way north. It is a wonderful place to hear the sounds of spring! A must see.

This was a great place to take a mile+ hike. You are never really far from your car but it feels like another world. The frozen bent snow heavy trees against the frail daylight was beautiful. We even spotted a moose who quickly scurried away.

As it was October there were very few birds. We did take a walk with Bud who was a terrific docent. We saw clear evidence of climate change with sunken areas of permafrost. Well worth the visit.

I wanted to see the sand hill cranes.....so this was our first stop on a Sunday morning.....it was a rainy morning though.....all the birds were nestled down in cover.....we came back after the weather cleared up that afternoon and were greeted with many more birds......we came on Sunday 7/31. got some OK pictures of the sand hills - they were a bit far away......but it is what it is!

the walking trails and lookouts looked inviting - but we just didn't have the time

When I put Creamer's on the list of things to do while we were on vacation in Fairbanks, I did so simply because hubby and I both love being outside, walking in the woods, and the trail map for Creamer's looked interesting. It wasn't until we arrived in Fairbanks and I looked online for directions that I discovered they host a Sandhill Crane Festival every year in August. We were not disappointed - there were hundreds of them, and we were there two weeks before the festival.
But the real highlight - they have a bird-banding facility. We were there in time to watch them banding birds. They explained the whole process to us, and we were able to watch them band several birds. When they finished banding each one, they'd ask who wanted to release it. I was the first one in our group to volunteer. I was shown how to hold the bird in one hand and let it rest on my other hand, and told to wish it well when I took my upper hand away. My little Swainson's Thrush actually sat on my hand for a few seconds before it flew away, and it was the thrill of a lifetime.
The trails wander around through woods and wetlands, and we saw a large variety of birds. I would recommend using insect repellent.
The gift shop is not huge, so if your main motivation is shopping you'll be disappointed. There is a map in the gift shop that shows the migration paths for several different birds, and that's definitely worth studying. It was really a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.

Great place to see a lot of different species of birds and up close too. Great nature trails in the back, you don't know what you will see.

For anyone who travels to see the outdoors, Creamer's is a must for any visit to Fairbanks. A former dairy farm, with open fields, ponds and forested areas, there is a lot to see here. In July there were cranes feeding in the fields. There were lots of flowers out (mainly fireweed and purple vetch). Just into the south end of the Forest trail, there is a seasonally inundated forest with a lot of willows. There were lots of yellow warblers, yellow-rumped warblers and chickadees. Following this largely boardwalk trail, you move through a collapsing forest, caused by the melting of permafrost beneath the forest floor. Trees lean in all directions. There are viewing platforms both at the far side of the forest trail and on the fields. During the migration season, there are thousands of migratory birds. At the north end of the site there is also a state bird banding station. While Creamer's is an on-leash area, I met many people with dogs off-leash that scare away the birds. There are moose in the area, so hikers have to be careful. There are also lots of mosquitos, so be sure to take spray. If you enter via the farm buildings, you can pick up a map. You can also enter by a well-disguised path to the far right of Joy Elementary School, across from the Fountainhead Bear Lodge. Overall an excellent site.

It is closed for the Winter. But lots of the local park there during the weekend. Very peaceful experience just looking at the field from the car winter.

The dairy museum is so interesting and staffed by knowledgeable, friendly personnel. Nice gifts available - special and perfect for grand-kids and adults. The fields have nice walkways of varying lengths so you can choose what is right for you. Dogs are welcome.

Easy level walks with easy parking. Lots of people come here to walk their dogs so be cautious of dog poop. There's also a public restroom here.

A great spot to take a walk or hike or just sit and birdwatch or picnic. Beautiful open spaces to enjoy

About the only birds there were sandhill cranes, but there were a lot of them. Interesting interpretive center.

Open 24/7/365 and free. Wetland trail was lovely but biting bugs kept us off the boreal forest trek. Visitors center was staffed by real birder. Small gift shop and they accept donation. Please br generous as they do good work on a shoestring.

This place is awesome for anyone looking to have fun outdoors and on a budget. There are miles of walking trails that lead you back into the birch forest, which feels you are walking through an enchanted forest almost. There is plenty of wildlife to see, we even saw a moose as we were walking!

The Friends of Creamer's Field is a 2,200 hectare bird sanctuary on the former farm of Charles Hinckley and later Charles Albert Creamer (who raised chickens and fed the birds of the area here until 1974).

Long after the death of Creamer (17 years later in 1991), a so-called non-profit organization was founded, which now takes care of the site and holds many events (especially with schools).

There are beautiful hiking trails on the site where you can not only see birds, but also like to run into a moose.

This is an old dairy farm that has been bought by the state for a nature preserve. We took the guided tour and really enjoyed it. After learning about the Creamer family that started it we then went on a hike of the area. Reviewed much of the local flora fauna and many of the birds in the area. Only draw back was the amount of mosquitoes. Part of it is in a low and marshy area so until the lake dries up it grows some big mosquitoes.

We didn't explore the whole facility but from the viewing area you can see lots of geese, ducks and Sandhill Cranes. Since the latter live near me in the winter, I was interested to see their summer stomping grounds.

What a fantastic place to visit. We stopped initially in the car park near the roadside and had our picnic lunch watching the birds over one area of the field. Because of the weather, the sky was constantly changing and with the yellow colour of the field and the rainbow in the dark blue and light blue sky, it was really dramatic....the birds were an added extra. We then drove down to the visitor centre car park and went for a walk on the paths round the back of the old creamery. We could not believe the size of the place. The land went on for miles!!! Insect repellant is a must but if you smother yourself in it, then you will have a fabulous time. Unfortunately the rain started so we did not get to go through the forest walk. So glad we found this place on our last day in Fairbanks. It was one of our favourite places and it is FREE!!!!

This was one of our favorite activities in Fairbanks. It's a beautiful property with several hiking trails through fields, wetlands and woods. We saw sandhill cranes and there were wildflowers everywhere. Very quiet and peaceful. There's a Visitor's Center in the old farmhouse and restrooms by the parking area. The trails are relatively level and hard-packed, so suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. There's a long section of wooden boardwalk that goes through a marsh too. Admission is free. The only negative is that the mosquitoes were REALLY bad in the wooded marsh, worst of our whole trip. Bring repellent! Could use another restroom or two out in the field.

Nice spot to walk around and take in all the visiting waterfowl. Lots of free parking and clean bathrooms.

This is a wonderful place to go and observe the Geese returning in the Spring Time. It is also nice for nature walks year round and bird watching. This used to be an old Dairy Farm. You can request to check out equipment and have special tours for classes. There is a small visiting room to learn about the history of Creamers Field. You can walk by ponds and walk in the woods on a boardwalk. Locals provide nature walks in the evenings, usually in the summer only.

This refuge has some really nice shorter hikes available. We were stunned with the beauty of all the birches in the wetlands with wooden boardwalks for the trail. There are observation decks to view the birds. Very peaceful setting for nature lovers. We understand you can also see the aurora from this location when skies are clear and solar activity is good.

We stopped in for the nature walk at noon but decided to take the six year old for a self guided walk instead. Great place to go for a walk.

We were there in April, no cranes but tons of water fowl. Swans, geese, mallards, pin tails speckled geese, Beautiful. Grain was laid out. Was windy so we did a lot of looking from the car. Great front row parking.

Great for level walking. However, the end of May must not be a good time for birds. We saw a few ducks and not much else.

Wonderful place for viewing the northern lights. We saw the story on tv about the sanctuary. Great things are happening here.

Glad this area is preserved! The history is rich and the fact that the area is supported by the community made this a great find.

Arrived at 12:00 pm Did all trails and saw little wild life. Hot, the wetlands were very dry. Bugs manageable.
Some nice wild flower fields.
Just a good walk to burn the cinnamon bun from the Cookie Jar this place is about 10 min walk from there.

Spring and fall are the times that migrating birds are in the field and easy to observe. There is a bit of history there with the old Creamer's Farm building but also there are lots of trails to walk on. It is an easy hike but somewhat secluded and right in town. Also a good place for song birds.

We were staying at a nearby hotel and enjoyed walking the many paths around the fields. There were not many birds there when we visited, but I can imagine what it must look like (and sound like) in the early spring. Very cool place

We thoroughly enjoyed our March hike around the barns and on the Boreal Trail. Winter wonderland scenery along a packed snow trail and a few interesting bird species, too. Saw Black-capped Chickadees, Black-backed Woodpecker, C. Ravens, 3 White-winged Crossbills and a possible N. Goshawk. A moose blocked the trail right at the end and we hiked the whole way back around which amounted to double the fun. Easy to get to from all Fairbanks hotels and ample parking. No entrance fee but recommended donations. Knowledgable naturalist on staff.

It was nice for hiking, but the mosquitoes were insane. If you walked through the fields on the path they were OK, but once you got into the woods near the water they ate you alive. We saw a lot of cool large birds and it was nice and peaceful.

This field is on College Rd right next to the Fish & Game offices and next to the Wedgewood Resort. There is a parking area right off from College Rd. There is a "visitor's center" and there are trails through the preserve. Mornings and evenings are the best time to see the birds. There a many types of water fowl and cranes are nearly always in the fields. Spring and fall are the best viewing times as other than the local nesting species pass through on their way to their nesting grounds. It's certainly well worth while to stop for a few minutes. The few minutes might turn into hours so be careful. Highly recommended!

We walked here from our Fairbanks hotel specifically to see the sandhill cranes and we were not disappointed. There were dozens of them in the field. Having never seen one before we were very impressed. It was worth the walk.

We went to Creamer's Field to see the Sandhill Cranes and were not disappointed. Saw at least 50 of them! The Visitor Center was interesting. There are several hikes available but we did not take one due to the rainy weather. It appears to be a popular place to walk dogs as most of the intrepid walkers had their dogs with them.

We walked many trails, all were flat, some were groomed, some went through the woods and marshy areas. It would be great place to see the birds when they migrate!

Great place to get out and walk and see nature. Many water fowl to see. We came in late September so activity was down some. Beautifully maintained trails.

You don't have to be crazy about birds to enjoy the Boreal Forest trail (1,5 miles) and learn a lot about the Forest of the North. It's very compact, pretty impressive and wonderful for children and their parents, but also anyone interested. Of course, the birds are the perfect add-on to the landscape.

We had some time to kill so we took a walk through the refuge but we only saw one type of bird, some sort of crane. We are not bird watchers so maybe we missed some things. It's a nice place for a walk but we didn't feel it was that memorable. When the trail is near any trees it's pretty buggy some bring some bug spray. Not sure we would do it again.

This was located very close to our hotel.
This is huge field on both sides giving an impression that we would not be able to sight and birds but there were a few birds the place was serene and though we did not spend lot of time but it was worth every minute

Family and educationally oriented with good walking trails. You do not need much time to explore the area but you can go at your own leisure. It was well worth the stop and I would recommend if you are in the area.

Worth a quick stop to check out. Lots of birds and signs to read and learn about the visitors. This is also right outside the Department of Fish and Game building which is worth checking out as well. They have a ton of stuffed animals and furs to look at and learn about the Alaskan wildlife.

We spent several hours at the refuge prior to the onset of the land portion of our trip with Princess Cruises. We allow an extra day as a safety factor if delays in travel occurred. The refuge was included on a list provided by the Artic Chapter of the Audubon Society. We thought with a mix of fields, deciduous woods, brush and forest habitats plus numerous spring ponds this place would give us plenty to explore. We took a taxi from the Princess Riverside Lodge to the refuge for $20. Our driver was a bit pessimistic as to us finding much at the refuge but we were game to take a chance.

Right away we were rewarded with the sight of hundreds of juvenile and adult sandhilll crane staging in fields at the refuge as part of their migration south. A first for us!
We walked trails including the one around the adjacent lake in an old quarry seeing cranes, greater white-fronted geese, Canada geese, chickadees, juncos, common yellowthroat, yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, various other waterfowl, thrushes, and red-necked grebes another first for us. And the list might get longer once we examine our photos for unidentified birds. What a great way to spend our first full day in Alaska.

Definitely time of the year will influence what birds are present. Binoculars are a must.

When I lived here this was our go to place. We could see the migrating birds and explore the many trails. The down fall to Alaska is the state bird (the misquote) if it is in the summer time stop off at an out door store and get yourself some repellent you will need it. If you are here in the winter time it is covered in nothing but white and is beautiful. A lot of people come here to do their cross country skying. In the winter time you are able to walk some areas that you have not been able to do in the summer time that is because the water is frozen over. This is a great place to take the family.

It was a bit wet soggy on the day
The trails were muddy - wear appropriate boots to keep dry
The wooden walk ways were great except for 2 that were under water - staff were notified as people had put bits wood etc, to try and get over the water
The forest walk was lovely
Still had some bird life
Lovely walk, would be perfect in nice weather
Worth the trip
No fee to enter just donation and small gift shop

Hit and miss. Just like any birding expedition. But it appears most of the time to be used by locals as a park. Walking of dogs and jogging. Hiking trails though out the fields with viewing platforms and viewing towers. This is accessible off college road and you can just set in the parking area along College road and look over the fields. If you go during business hours the visitor center is open and the barns. I was there the end of June, and there were a few ducks in the ponds and a flock of sand hill cranes. I understand the area is full of birds in the migratory months. This is free and dogs are allowed to walk trails on leash, and many people were jogging. Not a place to go out of your way to visit.

A gem in the middle of Fairbanks! A quick way to get in some fresh air not far from home. Easy (flat) hiking trails and well-groomed XC skiing trails in the winter.

We happened to be coming through the area during the sandhill crane festival. We had not planned it that way but decided to stop in. Fun for anyone with even a slight interest in birds.

Several easy walking trails including boreal forest. Saw Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese and various ducks from a distance and binoculars were useful. There were a few mosquitoes in marshy areas.
Toilets and small gift shop at entrance.

This is a nice place to take a stroll and get close to nature. Dog and kid friendly with nice well maintained trails. If you head to the left after entering, you will walk along wood planks with a couple of viewing areas. Also, if you are wanting to get some nice family/nature pictures, this is the place to go.

This is my number one recommendation as the place to spend a day in Fairbanks. I visited in the summer, but I am certain each season at Creamers Field brings its own magic. I love the history of the place, and the active learning opportunities, and the delightful and varied trails through the property, including a few viewing platforms. This is great for individuals, families, groups, everyone. Such a special place!

We viewed many cranes, ducks, and other birds. Took a nice trail walk to the lake. We also observed song birds and the creamery.

I've been coming to Creamers Field since I was a kid. Its environment is changing with each season due to its diverse landscape it seems different and new each time I go. There is so much to take in and see at any time of the year. It is truly my favorite place in Fairbanks. Free for all and they aren't selling anything. Such an incredible gift.

My wife and I went here twice because we enjoyed watching the sandhill cranes feeding in the fields so much. It's easy to get to, as everything in Fairbanks seems no more than a 15 minute ride away. There's plenty of parking and benches. We did not even find it necessary to do any trail hiking. Maybe we simply hit the right time of year. But there were scores of sandhill cranes easily visible to the naked eye. There's also a small, staffed visitor center with a free telescope outside.

Hiked and saw a moose and she ran away from me thank God. I guess I scared the crap out of her because we saw her droppings along the hike trail lol. Beautiful place and if you're staying in the city I recommend this place to watch the aurora. Being overweight it was nice to hike without getting out of breath being flat ground.

I enjoyed the snowy trails. Would be wonderful when the migratory birds spot by in the spring. There are hiking and cross country skiing trails.

We had an extended stay of 15 nights last August in Fairbanks, our base for visiting Dalton Hwy and Kaktovik. Our stay was longer than normal as we were waiting for 3 things to happen: northern lights, fall colors in Brooks Range, and the return of polar bears. In addition to seeing all 3 as planned, we enjoyed our stay in Fairbanks as there were so much to do in the town itself and its surrounding.

While in Fairbanks, my wife and I visited Creamer's Field whenever we had time - we honestly lost count of our visits - probably 6 times or more. We were not professional bird watchers nor photographers, but you don't need to be one in order to enjoy it. Our experiences were:

- We loved the small visitor center and the people there. In our 55-day journey in Alaska, we visited many visitor centers and they were all good. But this one was our favourite - people were helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and warm. Suggest you spend at least 15 mins here. Warning: the birds can be very distractive along the way :-))

- Sandhill Cranes: they were simply adorable! A couple of hundred there on Aug 9 when we first arrived. Only a dozen or so remained on Aug 31, our last day in Fairbanks. It was always fun watching them in action - the males were juggling for position in the packed field, many families of 3 or 4 were strolling leisurely while some singles were dancing to impress/attract. They took off and landed constantly in small groups. It was always fun watching a group landing gracefully on the field.

- Waterfowl: Saw different species such as Canadian geese, mallard ducks, swans etc. We were no experts and couldn't tell all the names. While they fly in small groups almost continuously, once in a long while they all took off. The sky was filled with all kinds of cranes, geese, ducks and birds. The sight and sound were truly amazing. In one occasion, an old lady at the visitor center told us they were in this frenzy because a bald eagle came looking for prey. Unfortunately our untrained eyes couldn't spot this one raptor amongst thousand of birds. Wish you better luck/eyes :-))

- Northern Harrier: there was a family nesting at the edge of the field. They came out around 5pm looking for dinner. They were awesome especially when they seemed to freeze in the mid air searching for prey below. When they were gone, it would be the time we left for dinner ourselves.

- Trumpeter Swans: a family of 3 visited the water ponds here occasionally. It was the first time we saw flying swans - they looked absolutely gorgeous!

- Trails: there were a number of trails here. Some went around the field, some went into the boreal forest. As many reviewers had already said, they are relatively easy walk. There were some mosquitos in the forest, but we were not too bothered. Suggest you wear long sleeve shirt and long trousers.

- Facilities: In addition to the visitor center, there were more than one carpark in the area (one by the roadside next to a pond, a perfect spot to park your car and take a picnic lunch, many locals were doing this). There were also a good number of viewing platforms, most with wheelchair accessible eco toilets. While there was no cafe in the area, you can get food within a couple of miles. We normally got our coffee from a KFC nearby.

Chances are you won't be spending 15 nights in Fairbanks like us (we are kind of crazy). But even if you only have a day or 2, we will highly recommend a visit there - it can be a short 30min quick stop (if you are in a rush) or a couple hours to relax and take all in. You guess right, it was not as exciting as watching bears catching salmon. But if you appreciate seeing birds in a beautiful and peaceful envirnoment, you should not give this place a miss.

Best of luck with the birds and enjoy :-))

An excellent interpretive walk around waterways, along boardwalks. The Creamer's Field is close to downtown, drive or catch a local bus. If you have 45 - 90 mins this is a worthwhile visit.

Open field where you can see thousands of different migratory birds. If you're into bird watching this would be a must.

We loved our visit to Creamers. In the fields in front there were hundreds of geese and also Sandhill Cranes. There is also a very cool hike through the wetland. Definitely a place you visit if you are in Fairbanks.

Well preserved open space with several walking trails. If visiting in summer, you will need bug spray. You may meet a moose, but that is very unlikely. The visitor center personnel are very knowledgeable. The history of the creamery may also be of some interest.

We enjoy driving by to see the cranes as well as the geese and ducks. Hopefully we can take the nature trail through the area on our next trip to Fairbanks.

Visited many times in the past 2 years. Nice birding as well as walking a trail. Good signage explaining the wild life that visits there. We enjoy the cranes. Nice place to walk around. There is also sheltered viewing.

This was a last minute stop and what a wonderful surprise this was. I was driving around Fairbanks with my family and stopped in to see what this was about. The staff was very helpful and the trails to hike were fantastic! a must-see in Fairbanks.

Love the trails they have here! The birch are extraordinarily beautiful in this area and the trails are well maintained. There are good, responsible dog owners who keep their pups leashed which is nice.

First and foremost, love that it's a migratory waterfowl protected area! We've hiked there on multiple occasions. Trails are easy to walk, easy to follow and vary from openness to the Boreal forest trail with boardwalk and outlook areas. Saw the Sandhills and lots of Canada Geese this weekend. A place of solitude in a city! Hiked the trails in the winter and fall - interesting to see the difference the permafrost makes. A must do each time to Fairbanks!

The backdrop of the old Creamer's field barns are spectacular for the many varieties of water foul that migrate there every year. I personally have gotten some excellent photos of birds in flight. A great place to just come out and sit and relax and watch the birds.

We decided to take the guided tour. Our tour guide, Frank Heim was a wealth of knowledge! Highly recommend him if he is available!

My husband and I visited during the fall, and the incredible golds of the leaves along the trail were beautiful. Nice exhibit at the visitor center, and lots of waterfowl to view!

Free, easy to find and walk around, free parking and large area for viewing. Got some terrific pictures....bird lovers kind of place!

I'll start off by saying I know that Creamer's Refuge offers activities such as trails, snow trekking, etc. However, we were in town mid-April when the migratory fowl were arriving, so our experience there was centered on the birds. This refuge is in the center of town, yet is the destination for many types of waterbirds in their migration. There was still snow in the refuge, but the walkway in the front was open, as well as the display boards which describe the types of birds, their flight paths, etc. We saw Canadian geese, several types of ducks, and swans, and it was interesting to watch their interactions as they all fed together. Sandhill cranes also come in there, but had not arrived when we were there. We went back just at sundown one day, and hundreds of the birds were flying together in circles above the feeding grounds, calling as they flew. Also, since the refuge stretches over 2,200 acres, part of it is across the road from our hotel, the Hampton Inn. One morning from our window we saw geese and ravens in some kind of "discussion" on the frozen portion of the refuge ponds.
This refuge is a free option for an interesting visit while in Fairbanks, something adults and children alike can enjoy. We would go there again if back in Fairbanks.

I biked around many of the trails. A very peaceful and relaxing spot to enjoy nature and have a picnic.

Still covered in snow in March, but easily walkable with some good winter boots. Absolutely stunning. We did the boreal forest trail which included boardwalks covered in snow weaving through the trees and was pretty much flat the whole way through. The lyrics "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go" kept playing over and over in my head. It was serene and quiet during the winter. Apparently, a favorite local spot for aurora viewing as well!

I can only imagine how lively and lush it would once the snow has thawed. Would love to see it for myself.

Made Creamer's Field a morning activity . Unfortunately the heavy rains of previous days made some trails boggy, and we were not prepared with boots. Still we did see some sandhill cranes and visited the song bird research tent where we were able to help with releasing some of the birds. Good photo op. Plenty of trails to to explore with observation decks and lots of Alaskan wild flowers to see. Migration had not started yet unfortunately so bird sightings were few. A good activity for bird lovers of all ages.

Peaceful with plenty of nature trails. donations accepted. Check for guided tours. Nice fun activity for a young family. Favorite stop for birders. Visited ten plus years with grandchildren.

My husband said,"It was a field." There are some paths to walk on, and there is a little historical info on the dairy that used to be a working farm. You may not need bug spray if you are walking on the field paths, but the moment you step into the wooded areas you will be hunted down by large swarms of mosquitos. We arrived around 2 pm and 200+ cranes were in front of the facility. Around 3 pm they took about 20 minutes to fly in groups of 20-30 to the back field. Really cool to photograph. I wasn't expecting so many cranes in one place. If you like birds, this is worth a stop. No fee, but they accept donations.

July is not best month for birds and the tour guide did not appear, but interesting 3 hours seeking nature.

the shops were very interesting. the hot springs very cool and the walks down the paths were very calming. a nice place to spend a few days at. I would imagine during the winter this would be the hottest spot in Alaska!

While this creamer has a history of raising cattle to sell milk, cream, ice cream, etc., it was owned and run by a family by the name Creamer. We went on a special day when a couple of the Creamer family were in attendance. There was a slide show of the creamery, a tour, and family stories. The family even brought a beautiful vintage automobile to show visitors. Also, there was plenty of free ice cream.

While you might not make a special event such as this one, there is still plenty to see and do. The visitor center is full of the creamery's history while you are likely to see plenty of nature by hiking around the property.

Disclaimer, I am not a bird watcher. That said there was little to see. The trails themselves were just OK, rather uneven in spots. One trail came to a dead end with a sign that said bridge sustained water damage. Why not have the same sign at the start so we know not to take the trail?

Creamer's Field MIgratory Waterfowl Refuge, located at 1300 College Road, here in Fairbanks, Alaska, has quite a good reputation with Fairbank's residents as a place to see and to be familiar with. The Visitor's Center is really pleasant to visit. The birds you will see depend upon the time-of-year you are visiting. In the Spring and Autumn you will see the Canda Geese as they pause here at Creamer's Field en route North or South. In the summer, you MAY BE a victim of the Alaska Mosquitioes. I am posting photos of the Cranes that I have seen here.

Unless you more-or-less know what you are looking for, it would be easy to just drive-on-past Creamer's Field. It is, after all, just a gigantic field. There are some trails you can walk. One trail is 2-miles in length. The Visitor's Center is off College Road and not readily visible as you drive past.

Is this a must-see attraction? Yes and no, depending upon your interest in the birds. It is free-of-charge but do welcome donations in the Visitor's Center. IF you do visit, be sure to see the Visitor's Center.

We loved the trails. Such a great day with beautiful scenery even in the middle of January. Make this a must do while in Fairbanks

I was here in April and the Swans had arrived. There were many Canadian Geese and quite a few White Fronted. Beautiful views of the birds coming and going.

We were nearby this area, so we wanedered over there. It was too early in the year for any birds to be there yet, so we just hung out a little while and left. No cost. The snow was very mushy and there were deep puddles all over, so we didn't go into the fields. Beautiful area, and if there were migratory birds, my review would be a hundred percent different.

Creamer's was dairy in Fairbanks that has been turned into a nature sanctuary. Every spring and fall thousands of migratory birds from all over North America visit the fields here during their bi-annual travels. You can see sand hill cranes, several species of ducks and geese, terns and other migrating birds all in one location. There is a visitor's center and hiking trails for those who want them Even the locals will check out the fields! Go and enjoy it!

This was a great place to visit. Can't share my Bird photos. They are in my SLR camera disk. But there are lots of birds to see. And great hiking paths.

We were there when they had an artist exhibit and they gave several artists an hour to produce a masterpiece. I've included three of the art works.

We went with a large group, 14, looking for a place to picnic. They have some benches and tables that worked for us. The sandhill cranes were impressive. They migrate so aren't here all year. It's a good stop for bird lovers.

What an amazing place. The noise from the birds makes it so interesting. We saw Sandhill Cranes and Greater White-fronted geese. We walked some of the paths and read the informational signs. The Visitor Center roof was being replaced so it was not open for visitors.

I was disappointed in this place. I think this was a stop on the scheduled tour just to waste time. I would not go there.

A great place to visit to check out the local natural scenery. We did a tour and it was awesome. Take your bug spray and binoculars and enjoy some awesome history and time outdoors!

Unique...Outdoors, Indoors, instructive, magnificent displays, managed by nature/bird and education-lovers!

Went on the Winter Track Walk and had an amazing time. Learned about animal tracks in the snow and then went and found some. Guide was very knowledgeable and the ground and place are beautiful.

Creamer's Field is a FANTASTIC place to enjoy a good walk and explore nature. Beware: In the summer there are ALOT of mosquitos. Make sure you put on mosquito repellant. Enjoy the outdoor beauty that Fairbanks offers.

We visited in the winter and the snowy trails through the boreal forest were breathtaking. We wandered around two days in a row here enjoying the scenery and views. My young boys loved looking for tracks in the snow and other signs of wildlife. The real gem is the visitor center though, I’m so glad we stopped in! Beautiful taxidermy displays of many bird species and sketches with information cover the walls. My boys really enjoyed their bird call book and listening to the sounds of the birds. The gal working the desk is incredibly knowledgeable on all things birds and was so patient with my boys questions. My oldest son noted the sketches on the wall and inquired about them, the artist Mark Ross was actually upstairs and came down to talk with my son about drawing and observing. He inspired my son and was so kind and patient. The visitor center is so full of interesting info and sights, be sure to check it out!

We camped at the Fairbanks State Fairgrounds which is about a 1/2 mile away and just stumbled onto this sweet refuge. Sandhill Cranes were arriving in droves to begin their southward migration. We missed the Crane Festival by 10 days... I wished we could have stayed. There are great observation points where you can watch from your vehicle which was nice since it was raining.

We came here to just do a little walking and enjoyed our walk very much! Everyone at the visitors center was so welcoming and friendly! We learned a lot just from a quick introduction talk. The trails are beautiful and we did see some ducks which was nice.

Great place to stretch your legs for an 1, or 2, or more! We hiked each of the trails through the different stretches of field and forest. Excellent place to see sandhill cranes. They were right off the parking lot when we pulled in.

Depending on the season, you can see a wide variety of waterfowl. It's on the property of an old dairy, has beautiful trails to walk on. Pets are welcome.

My wife and i walked the 2.5 miles from town to see this great wildlife center on the outskirts of town. We saw a silver fox and cranes it was a beautiful day!

Great place to visit, this is a must see in Fairbanks! Go in and talk to the staff, they are so helpful!!

We loved exploring the trails in the winter. We just walked around in our snow boots, but cross country skis would be great at this place. There are multiple trails with wooden walking paths that can be explored even in the winter, we had to come back on our last day in town for more. We even saw a moose (fortunately off in the distance)!

We found this place by chance and enjoyed walking the nature trails. Saw several different birds and very peaceful area. Would recommend stopping here if in the area.

The sweet lady at the visitors center was very informative and friendly. She told us about the birds that visit and their migratory patterns. We had a small hike and it was beautiful. Also, saw a few people skijoring and other XCing.

We drove by and even stopped several times throughout our eight day stay and only seen a couple of flocks of birds. If you go into the visitors center there is some history but we did not dare to walk out into the fields because of the mosquitoes.

We enjoyed many walks in the woods done easily along raised boardwalks and nice clean pathways...nice elevated viewpoints throughout and benches here and there. We were lucky enough to see a moose while walking there...we turned around and gave her her space! Several different "biome" walks. lovely Boreal forest

We are from Canada, and went to this field hoping to see bald eagles, maybe owls etc. We saw a farmers field full of Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese

If you like birds, go see them!! Easy access and excellent grounds. A lot of interesting history about the former dairy.

All the trails are easy to walk and there are many places to see and take photos of birds. We like to come here and spend a few hours walking around and taking pictures.

We were here in a " Excellent " Aurora condition night but we didn't see Aurora. We followed the Fairbank "Where to view Aurora" in Fairbank. We stayed there between 1 AM-2 AM but no viewing... Suggest still spend some money to go 15 mins away of city for Aurora viewing house. We did that in second day and we did see Aurora.

Creamer's used to be a dairy farm but is now more of a wildlife sanctuary for migrating Sandhill Cranes. They have huge fields they maintain and prepare for when the Cranes come back to Fairbanks. There are other water fowl in a couple small ponds. There is the Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival held toward the end of August and the Cranes are spectacular. They do their mating dance and capture the hearts of those who see them. They are quite noisy but, oh so much fun to watch.

I am not much of a bird watching type, but this place is free - you can park and watch the birds for a long or little as you like. We went here after arriving in fairbanks, it was just before sunset and the birds were getting there for the night.
I would definitly recommend swinging by are morning or evening - even if for a few minutes. We ended up staying almost 40 minutes.

When I think about our day in Fairbanks, the refuge is right at the top of my favorites. We only had an hour, so we chose to walk the Boreal Forest Trail. It was so incredibly peaceful, with lots of yellow from the willow and birch leaves changing color. No admission fee; however, you can support with a donation in the Visitor Center.

The field features a visitor's center as well as many trails. We tried to see the lights there, but it was too cloudy. Hiking around in the snow was fun.

Right off the road, a good view of open fields with many cranes. Did not go into the center, but probably should have.

If you wish to see those beautiful elegant and gracious birds, there is no better place we have seen in Alaska. It is much better than Homer. We saw many dozens of them from 20 yards and they kept on arriving. Try late afternoon/early evening or early in the morning - that is when they congregate. In the afternoon you will see them landing at this place - a magnificent sight in itself.

We were lucky to visit on the final day of the Sandhill crane festival when hundreds of birds were in the fields and flying in. Also a lovely place to take an easy walk. Although warned of mosquitos, we were not bothered much. Nice to get off the beaten path of our tour a bit. The hotel recommended a driver for hire who was great (Linda).

This is a favorite wildlife and bird viewing area on College Rd just off the Johansen Expressway. It is set at a retired, historical creamery, with a beautiful meadow of wild flowers and migrating, feeding birds. Currently cranes are gathering. Other times assorted ducks and geese are visible. Trails lead back into the woods where an occasional moose might be glimpsed feeding. This is a peaceful place to commune with nature and an easy walk for young children and elderly.

When visiting Alaska in the winter, creamers is the place to go for cross country skiing. I recommend going for the back trails, where it's not as icy and the trees are beautiful. In the summer, creamers is a great place to hike and see some wildlife (ran into moose far more often then I would have thought).

if you want to go to a piece of nature without leaving town this is the perfect place. it is a defunct dairy that the CITIZENS of fairbanks bought as a bird sanctuary. you can spend as much time as you like with daily guided tours.its a great place to relax.

The field was full of Cranes and Goose flying south. It's awesome place to visit. Was a very sunny day

We were there to pass some time before we flew out that evening. Started talking to Bud and he gave us a tour! Very educational and beautiful! We will visit again when back in Fairbanks!

The first time I visited Creamer's I was out for a run with a friend. I was pleasantly surprised by how peaceful it was to watch the birds in the field. Additionally there are nice trails to walk/ run through. If you are looking to learn about the squawkers there is a small visitors center that also offers tours.

A great place to go with family on a nice day for a nature walk. Great setting and really enjoyable trails.

A very interesting place with a great history. This is one of the best places to see in Fairbanks. Lots of easy trails and very scenic.

Even though the Boreal Forest Trail was closed several people told us to take it anyway. It was a wonderful and relaxing walk.

This is a nice place to go to see birds but do not expect to see anything particularly exotic. For me, the real attraction here is the farm and the history behind it. There are not that many sub-arctic farms in the world and this is a great opportunity to learn about one. Hike the trails, read the signs and drop in the visitor's center where for $2 you can pick up a nice history of the farm. For anyone with any interest in agriculture, this is a great place to go.

This is easy to get to. The paths are easy walks. You'll probably see birds. We also saw a beaver in the water several times.

This is popular with locals so expect to see people with children and dogs.

An excellent experience with very knowledgable guides. Take the two hour tour which starts at 10:00 am

Lovely natural area with hiking trails through the snow, BUT it appears very few people who take their dogs hiking actually pick up after them. Hard to look at the surroundings when you're dodging dog poop. Nice little visitors center.

They say this is the best place in Fairbanks to view the lights. It's an open area near town and during the day, at some points of the year, there are lots of birds. While we were there, we saw no birds but beautiful area with the snow untouched. Tip for Northern light viewing, looko sfor white clouds in the sky, if you take a photo with a digital camera you can see the colors. We found this out after we were seeing white 'clouds', ad several photos in you could see the lights. Harder to see with the naked eye. Much easier to see when you are out in the bush and the lights are super active.

There's not a lot here - or if there is, it wasn't open when we passed by, but we were able to see a huge number of Sandhill Cranes in the field.

We had a little time to kill after our museum tour so we decided to check out Creamer's Field. With all there is to see & do in Alaska, This was not out vacation highlight but it is well worth a short stop. I've seen a lot of sand hill cranes in my life but the ground was thick with them along with other large waterfowl. Stop if you have the time or opportunity.

Unfortunately, we were not there at prime birding time (very overcast, cool, between breeding/migrating times, and late morning), but could see that this is a fabulous birding opportunity! Lots of easy trails thru various habitats, interesting center with friendly staff, and several elevated viewing platforms. We did see probably 40-50 Sandhill Cranes and got into a whole batch of very active Yellow Warblers, plus Wilson's Warblers and Blackpoll Warblers.

This is a really nice series of trails in a unique bog & meadow area in Fairbanks. Great for a walk to see some unique scenery and watch for birds. The boardwalks take you right into the bogs and that makes for some great experiences. But it also makes for mosquito territory! Be sure to wear enough bug spray - I forgot to spray my shoulders & back of my t-shirt and they didn't take long to start attacking me there. I just had to keep moving along the paths. It's a great spot overall, just don't make my rookie mistake!

If you are the least bit interested in birds this is the place for you. We joined a very interesting and informative bird walk. The leader was very patient pointing out the various birds I was not familiar with. Nice little bookstore. Been here before and hope to go there again.

Very neat place. And educational. Has nice trails to walk on and see some wildlife. Also a great place in town the see the northern lights.

Creamer's field was only partially open when we visited. They still had some great trails and beautiful views of local wildlife.

This former dairy is a wonderful wildlife sanctuary, especially if you visit when the different species of migratory birds are stopping here on their way north or south. Be sure to wear decent hiking boots on the trails. But if you don't want to walk the trails, you can still see the birds from the paved parking lot that borders College Rd. If you walk west on the trails, you will see the almost invisible, badminton-like nets that catch songbirds, which are banded and released at an enclosure there. In winter, it's a great, flat place to cross-country ski.

A nice easy hike, with a surprise visit from the sandhill cranes. But except for Canadian geese, there was limited other activity during our visit, except for the mosquitoes! Worth a visit, take an hour.

Nice, easy hiking trail near the river. There are wooden boardwalks, so probably not great for mobility-impaired. Good bird viewing.

The person at the visitor’s center was very friendly and helpful. We were lost in regards to the walking trail next to the center. As the staff member stated, mosquitoes are plenty on the trail but they are “good” ones. The mosquitoes were merciless. However, the pond view was amazing. We just could not stay too long while being eaten alive. I do not recall seeing any waterfowls because we were busy keep the mosquitoes off. Hand sanitizer eliminated the swelling but the walk was not fun.

Nature in the middle of Fairbanks! Beautiful walking trails. There’s a small museum with info concerning Creamer’s and the Sandhill Cranes along with other bird species call these fields home during the warmer months. Bring mosquito spray!!

A great place to explore. We were there in March. It was still filled with snow. Dress appropriately to enjoy the outdoors.

A dairy turned wildlife refuge - Creamers is free to the public and has a good trail system with plenty of places to view the cranes and other waterfowl that occupy the refuge.

This seems to be a place more for locals to come hike and have a picnic. Although if you are into bird watching, this would be a great touristy place for you. Bring binoculars.

This is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. The are a number of trails for all levels of hikers. There are benches along the trails if you need to rest. This is definitely a worthwhile activity when you visit Fairbanks.

Wish we would have had more time to walk the trails but the birds were migrating and we enjoyed watching them.

We just stopped to take an hour's walk but it was lovely through a birch forest that is collapsing, (good signage to explain why), and along a wetland. The only migratory birds in the area still were sandhill cranes and Canadian geese.

I found this Park good for a quick trekking. There were a few birds, I expected to see more at this place.

Depending on the time of year, many varieties of birds can easily be seen in this large empty field in which the birds like to graze, which includes a water area where waterbirds can rest and feed for migration.

We took the paths through the fields and forest areas. IT was a very easy walk and was such a nice walk! The Sand Hill Cranes and Canadian Geese were all over! Great place for families.

We walk around the fields and saw a few ducks, herons. We found out we missed the migration for this year. We did return the next day and saw a few more ducks.

This is a nice place to sit back and watch the birds--whichever happen to be there. I was lucky to see the swans and Canadian geese. It was too wet for me to go on the trails, but they have them for you to walk on.

A beautiful, peaceful area. It was muddy when we were there so we could not enjoy all the trails. But we saw plenty of birds. The visitor center was also closed at the time. Easy to get to. Binoculars would be great to bring!

The location is amazing! It is to die for. Its a great place to walk around and enjoy nature and the sights. Completely worth the trip. We will be doing this again.

Wear comfy shoes! This is a beautiful, easy hike... and the history is interesting. Lots of permafrost forest to see, and depending on the year, some birds, a few birds, or a lot of birds! It is a nice little walk though, and you won't be disappointed.

We walked the trail amidst Aspen trees. It was a good cold walk. Did not see any birds as but forestry was good for photos.

A great place to take a stroll, see the changing seasons and be in a bit of nature, close to the city. Autumn is best, with the early frosts and clear days.

I have been to Creamer's field several times before. But this was the first time I drove toward the barn to park. I was amazed to find a hidden lake laced by an extensive boardwalk in back. There are several observation towers and many interpretive signs.Its a great place for a relaxing walk. Bring binoculars.

I travel regularly to Fairbanks for work, and I always make it a point to get out to Creamer's Field for a walk/hike at least once during my stay. There are excellent trails throughout the property that provide opportunities to view varied wildlife - from birds to moose to maybe something more elusive - and walk through several ecotypes found in the Interior.

A full circuit of the area clocks in at around 3 miles, but you can make it longer or shorter as you want by choosing side trails. Most all of it is easily accessible for those with limited mobility, and benches are frequent and well maintained.

We took a quick drive by stop to bird watch, saw a ton of geese, though this was a quickly I enjoyed potters marsh sanctuary better for birding.

In the spring and in the fall there are huge birds (and people) crowds, so it's possible to see cranes' and swans' mating dances.

It was a very short hike or walk around ponds full of very interesting migratory birds that visit the area. If you like watching wildlife this is a great place to visit.

There is plenty of parking but the restrooms were closed in March and there is not any wildlife to view with all the snow.

I have been to Fairbanks twice. Understand, the the sandhill cranes migrate later in the summer (my first experience). When they are there, the huge field is packed with them and it is quite the site. During my June visit, there were only a dozen or so. So I would rate this as a 5+ in late summer and a 2 in June.

Maybe we were just there at the wrong time of the year. Only saw a few cranes but LOTS of mosquitos.

Nice visitor center, trails and a pond. Lots of birds around when I was there. Great place to take young kids.

Even though a little late for migration season, still a nice variety of birds. Plenty of fields and trails to view. Always enjoy watching birds and there is plenty of space to do that here. A couple of viewing platforms out in the fields. Birdhouses around for smaller birds (mostly tree swallows). There is a stop on the Blue Line bus right at the refuge.

My wife and I visited during our 3 night stay in Fairbanks at the Bridgewater Hotel on our escorted 'Natural Wonders of Alaska' tour with Titan Travel. Our motor coach stopped here for a short visit on our journey to visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum (well worth visiting!) located within the Wedgewood Resort complex in Fairbanks. At first glance this is just a field but the viewing platforms and the information panels indicated the importance of this field as wildlife refuge. Far in the distance, I saw through my binoculars a number of migratory birds, especially waterfowl, using this field as a refuge. I saw numerous swans, Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes as well as mallards, seagulls and other birds which were too far away to identify through my binoculars. Unfortunately my camera lens couldn't get close up photos of the birds either so the information panels were very useful to identify some of the birds feeding in the field. This field is one of many fields designated as a wildlife refuge, all part of the former dairy farm nearby owned by the Creamer' family. Our 'flying' visit didn't allow us time to walk some of the trails to appreciate more of the wildlife and to visit the historical former dairy farm, both worth doing according to other reviews on Trip Advisor. It's easy to pass by Creamer's Field without realising its importance - it's worth a stop with a good pair of binoculars and a camera with a long lens!

From sand hill cranes to a variety of other birds, this a good stop for those interested in birds. While the grounds weren't covered in birds, if you walk the trails you will spot plenty of species. Just take bug spray, because once you head into the woods along the marshes the mosquitoes will come for you!

Great trail system for the bird watcher and nature lover. Migrating bird galore in early sring and fall. Just a cool historic area.