Alaska
The untamed last frontier. While visiting Denali National Park is on many traveler's bucket list, and while it's well worth the trip there's no reason to stop there. Alaska is chock full of hiking, backpacking, packrafting, kayaking, rafting and more. It's truly difficult to put into words the scale and magnificence of an untamed Alaskan landscape -- you'll just have to see for yourself.
Top Spots in and near Alaska
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Fairbanks, Alaska
Photograph the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska
1 mi / 1 ft gainAs close to magic as you'll ever see on this Earth, the northern lights, or aurora borealis, are an absolute must-see for any nature enthusiast. The aurora borealis are visible in Fairbanks from August through April, meaning there's an astounding nine months of aurora viewing! Of course, the auro...Read more -
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Hike Mount Healy Overlook Trail
4.02.7 mi / 1700 ft gainThe trailhead for the Mt Healy Overlook Trail is located at the visitor center, just inside Denali National Park. Take the Taiga Trail, and follow signs to the Mt Healy Overlook Trailhead. There is plenty of signage and it's an easy trail to follow. The first mile or so of this 2.7 mile out-and-b...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Hike to Rabbit Lake and the Suicide Peaks
4.710 miThe best part about this trail other than the stunning views is it's easy access from Anchorage; it is about a 20 minute drive from the center of town. You can access the trailhead by taking DeArmoun Road past Hillside Drive, when it soon turns into Canyon Road. You basically drive until the roa...Read more -
Healy, Alaska
Backpack the Mt. Eielson Loop
16 mi / 2000 ft gainIf you are looking for an overnight backpacking trip in Denali National Park with spectacular views of Denali, this is a great option. There is no trail and if you happen upon one, DO NOT follow it. The best part about Denali is that there are not many trails and most of the park is designated wi...Read more -
Healy, Alaska
Climb the Ridge Behind Toklat Road Camp in Denali
5.05 mi / 2700 ft gainFrom the Toklat Contact Station look due west and that is the mountain you are about to climb. Directly across the from the tent there is a drainage. Walk up the drainage hugging the right side until you are above the treeline (about 300-400ft). Once you are above the trees climb out of the drain...Read more -
Seward, Alaska
Backpack the Caines Head Coastal Trail
4.37 mi / 650 ft gainThis hike begins near a family friendly visiting area, good bathrooms, and well kept parking lot. You will start out on a gravel path, which seems like it was created for horses, for about 1.5 miles until the path opens up to views of the ocean, mountains, and a bridge leading you over a river an...Read more -
Chitina, Alaska
Backpack to Donoho Basin
7 mi / 600 ft gainIf you’ve never been to the park, Wrangell is 13.2 million acres, the largest national park in the United States, roughly the size of Switzerland. Access is limited. There is only one main road into the center of the park, which dead ends in the town of Kennecott, a historic copper mining area. I...Read more -
Cooper Landing, Alaska
Hike Skilak Lookout
5.05 mi / 900 ft gainThis was my very first afternoon in Alaska. By myself just meandering around the state by car with a map in my lap. Alaska - what a limitless place of adventure. For those who end up following me, I have a things for places with bodies of water surrounded by towering peaks - so off I was to find ...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike the Pioneer Ridge-Austin Helmers Trail
5.09 mi / 5000 ft gainStarting at less than 200ft above sea level, the trail starts off steep and never lets up. It climbs through forest until you are at about 2000ft. The trail gets muddy as the ground thaws and becomes very slick. The vegetation thins out as the elevation increases and the trail begins to cut back ...Read more -
Seward, Alaska
Kayak in Pedersen Lagoon
Hikers are used to being confined to hiking trails most of the time. Kayakers ... not so much.How you get to Pedersen Glacier is the part that requires the most planning. Chances are very good that you'll be in the town of Seward, Alaska, and will arrange for either a water taxi or a guided paddl...Read more -
Chitina, Alaska
Mountaineering on the Root Glacier
5.06 mi / 500 ft gainStarting in the town of Kennicott you'll hike on the trail leading north outside of the town for a mile and a half.The trail will end at the edge of the glacier and this is where you put on your crampons. I would also suggest putting on your crampons at the edge of the glacier and not while on it...Read more -
Seward, Alaska
Hike to Callisto Canyon Cabin
4 mi / 500 ft gainFollow the signs south of Seward to Lowell Point. This is the trailhead. The first mile of the trail is about a mile long. You descend a well-maintained trail from the trailhead about 500 feet to the coast. Many people just hike this portion for a short trip to enjoy the beach.Once you reach the ...Read more -
Gustavus, Alaska
Kayak the West Arm of Glacier Bay National Park
5.00 mi / 0 ft gainEver wanted to sleep beside a calving glacier? Wake up with a humpback whale feeding along the shoreline of your private beach? Watch the sunset for hours until midnight?Witness bears foraging in the tidal zones or watch a moose go for a swim? This, and more, is possible in Glacier Bay.Starting a...Read more -
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Winter Camp at Wonder Lake
There are multiple ways to do this trip - ski, mush, or by flying in a bush plane and then meeting up with a group of mushers. I highly recommend doing ANY of them, but most likely you will need to assess your time, skill, and budget to decide what is best for you. The 2 most likely of the 3 will...Read more -
Trapper Creek, Alaska
Backpack Kesugi Ridge
4.727.4 mi / 4650 ft gainKesugi Ridge is a 27.4 mile point-to-point trail from Little Coal Creek to Byer's Lake in Alaska's Denali State Park. To get to the trailhead from Anchorage, take the Park's Highway north to the parking area at Little Coal Creek Trailhead at milepost 163.9. The trail quickly climbs about 1,750 f...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Winter Hike to Portage Glacier
6 miThis hike must be done in the deep of winter! Around February, Portage Lake is often frozen solid-solid enough to make walking safe. Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. This trail is appropriate for children. For younger children, ...Read more
