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
-
Fairbanks, Alaska
Snow Biking in Alaska's Arctic
100 miWhite Mountains National Recreation Area is run by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and is best traveled during the winter months. The BLM maintains three trailheads to provide access to 12 public recreation cabins that are connected by extensive trail systems. Trailheads for the Wickersham Cr...Read more -
Trapper Creek, Alaska
Hike Byer's Lake Loop
5.2 mi / 100 ft gainThe Byers Lake Loop Trail begins in the Byers Lake Campground. If you're not planning on camping, you can park in the day use area (the first right hand turn, off of the campground entrance), pay the $5 fee, and walk towards the campground loops. At the bottom of B loop, there is a sign which sim...Read more -
Whittier, Alaska
Hike to Portage Pass and Portage Lake
4 mi / 800 ft gainProbably one of the best bang-for-your buck hikes I've ever been on. Starting from the trailhead, which is just on the Whittier side of the Portage tunnel, you'll hike up 800ft in one mile on a mostly wide, rocky trail. In what seems like no time at all, you'll be at Portage Pass, with views of t...Read more -
Chitina, Alaska
Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Kennecott Mines
1 mi / 100 ft gainIf you have already stepped foot into Wrangell-St. Elias, you probably arrived via bush plane or by heroically navigating the relentlessly brutal, pothole smothered McCarthy Road. Once across the Kennecott River footbridge, you must take the shuttle from the river's edge to Kennecott (NB: the shu...Read more -
Skagway, Alaska
Upper Dewey Lake Trail
5.05.5 mi / 3169 ft gainThe Dewey Lake trail system leads visitors to Skagway on adventures to multiple remarkable destinations, including Lower Dewey Lake, Sturgill's Landing, Icy Lake, Upper Reid Falls, Upper Dewey Lake and Devil's Punch Bowl. Each trail extends from a single trail head located closest to the cruise ...Read more -
Seward, Alaska
Hike Alpine Trail, Caines Head State Recreation Area
3.03 miThe Alpine Trail is only accessible via the Caines Head Trail System, located at Lowell Point. (Distance and elevation listed are for the Alpine trail itself, not for the coastal trail leading up to it. More info on those can be found here: http://dnr.alaska.gov/Assets/u... )From parking at Lowel...Read more -
Lake and Peninsula, Alaska
Climb to the Summit of Mount Katolinat, AK
8 mi / 2200 ft gainThis adventure begins long before you start climbing the mountain. First you need to make your way to Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park on the Alaska Peninsula. The Alaska Peninsula is not connected to the road system of Alaska so all travelers must arrive by either boat or plane. Fly to the sm...Read more -
Healy, Alaska
Camp at Savage River Campground
5.0The campground has limited cell reception and no wifi. Open fires are permitted at the campground. There are three group campsites available, which facilitate 9-20 people. Normal campsites host a maximum of 8 people. A free bus service is available, the Savage River Shuttle, to travel from this ...Read more -
Sitka, Alaska
Hike Harbor Mountain via the Gavin Hill Trail
6 mi / 800 ft gainThe first part of the trail involves a series of switchbacks through gorgeous forests of Sitka spruce. About a half mile in, you will come to the first bowl/overlook, which will provide a taste of the view to come. Another 1.25 miles from here you will begin to clear the forested area onto the pe...Read more -
Seward, Alaska
Explore Kenai Fjords National Park
5.08.2 mi / 3000 ft gainNone of Alaska’s eight national parks are easy to get to, but Kenai Fjords National Park is one of only three national parks in the state that can be accessed (partly) by road. It’s also the closest national park to Anchorage, which makes this an easier jaunt from the capital. While this park is ...Read more -
Juneau, Alaska
Kayak Mendenhall Glacier Channel
Kayaking in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is an exciting and breath-taking experience. There are multiple ways in which to organize this fun activity: bring your own kayak, rent a kayak from town, or sign up for an on-shore excursion at one of the various booths within the city of Junea...Read more -
Ketchikan, Alaska
Kayak the Blank Islands
You'll start your journey from the docks of Ketchikan, Alaska, where there are plenty of outfitters willing to rent boats to experienced paddlers looking to make the 14-mile out and back trip.Starting from the docks of Ketchikan, paddle across the Tongass Narrows towards Pennock Island. Watch out...Read more -
Skagway, Alaska
Lower Dewey Lake Loop
3.03.42 mi / 764 ft gainLower Dewey Lake is located in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park near Skagway Alaska. The hike to the lake has a few steep switchbacks and you should plan on it taking about 1-2 hours. There are trails to extend your hike if you want to walk around the lake, to hike to Upper Dewey L...Read more -
Sitka, Alaska
Hike Herring Cove Trail to Beaver Lake
6 mi / 250 ft gainFrom the trailhead, you’ll travel along a cascading creek ascending through gravel, rocks steps and a couple boardwalks within a dense hemlock, spruce and yellow cedar forest. The first part of the trail is by far the most difficult, with a couple steep areas and tight rock passageways. In total,...Read more -
Talkeetna, Alaska
Ski Touring in the Ruth Amphitheater
The Ruth Amphitheater is a lesser known, but spectacularly beautiful glaciated part of Denali National Park. There is terrain for any skier's tastes, from flat, wide open touring to steep, gnarly descents, and house-swallowing crevasses. If you're lucky and plan ahead, you can reserve the Sheldon...Read more -
Skagway, Alaska
Backpack the Chilkoot Trail
4.033 mi / 6800 ft gainThe Chilkoot Trail follows the access route from the Alaskan coast to the Yukon goldfields used during the Klondike gold rush. You can get to Skagway via road (from Whitehorse), flight, or ferry (from Juneau). Whale spotting on a ferry from Juneau is a great way to start the trip! There are 9 of...Read more
