Anchorage is a perfect home base for these 10 day trips
Get to know Alaska in a truly authentic way — through its unique cuisine. On this walking food tour, you’ll sample flavors as you explore Anchorage and hear stories of the 49 th state.
Anchorage Day Tours and Attractions
In Anchorage, you’ll find access to pretty much every Alaska adventure you could dream of, from day cruises where you can watch a tidewater glacier calve into the water to a fly-in bear-viewing tour where you’ll check out bears congregating in their natural habitat.
Anchorage is also an ideal spot to discover the rich history and culture of Alaska through museums and cultural centers.
Looking for winter tours specifically? Check out our winter activities page.
Anchorage
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Day Cruises
Flightseeing Tours
Bear Viewing Tours
Kayaking, Canoeing and Paddleboarding
Sea Kayaking Tours
Jet Ski Tours
Bicycle Day Tours
Snowmobile Tours
Dog Sledding Tours
Guided Hiking
Jeep and ATV Tours
Rafting Tours
City Sightseeing Tours
Fishing Charters
Photography Tours
Northern Lights Tours
Museums and Cultural Centers
Wildlife Parks
Trams
Performances, Entertainment and Escape Rooms
Walking Tours
Gardens and Arboretums
Historic Parks and Sites
Fairs and Festivals
Horseback Riding
Day Cruises View All
Kenai Fjords National Park, Prince William Sound and Portage
Portage Glacier Cruise
Just an hour’s drive from Anchorage, a cruise on the M/V Ptarmigan lets you get within 300 feet of…
Portage Glacier Cruise
Season: May 13 to Sept 21 $45+ 1 hr
Just an hour’s drive from Anchorage, the MV Ptarmigan let you get within 300 feet of the towering ice wall called Portage Glacier. You can also book a narrated motorcoach tour to take you to Portage Glacier.
Major Marine Kenai Fjords Cruise
Take a half- or full-day cruise through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords. Enjoy the views from the cozy heated cabins…
Major Marine Kenai Fjords Cruise
Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. And Major Marine’s vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. This family-owned tour operator has gone above and beyond to give guests an amazing day on the water since 1990 .
Kenai Fjords Tours
Go with Kenai Fjords Tours and a fleet of fast, modern boats takes you to tidewater glaciers as you…
Kenai Fjords Tours
Season: Mar 16 to Sep 24 $113+ 4 to 8.5 hrs
This veteran tour operator runs a a fleet of fast, modern boats in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. You’ll visit tidewater glaciers as you watch for puffins, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and more. Some tours are designed to please birders or shutterbugs, while others are perfect for families.
Phillips Cruises and Tours – 26 Glacier Cruise
See 26 glaciers in Prince William Sound in one afternoon from the comforts of a luxury catamaran
Phillips Cruises and Tours – 26 Glacier Cruise
Season: May 6 – October 1 $189 5.5 Hrs
Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise, out of Whittier, will take you to 26 different glaciers in just 5 . 5 hours. Enjoy cozy comforts on the high-speed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300 feet of massive tidewater glaciers. In addition to glaciers, the captain will be on the lookout for wildlife like otters, whales, harbor seals, and marine birds. The trip takes place in the afternoon, and a hot lunch is included in your tour. . more
Lazy Otter Charters Custom Sightseeing Tours
This charter company out of Whittier offers custom sightseeing tours and transportation to secluded areas of Prince William Sound
Lazy Otter Charters Custom Sightseeing Tours
Season: Year Round $200+ 3.5 to 9 hrs
Lazy Otter offers classic tours, but this is a water taxi, so they’ll also take you anywhere you want to go within Price William Sound — or just customize a tour to whatever you want to see. Maybe that’s glaciers, or whales, — or maybe it’s quiet time on a secluded beach. Lazy Otter can also help facilitate taking you and your family on a camping trip. You’re not held to any strict schedule, either: if, on a day tour, you can spend more time in one . more
Flightseeing Tours View All
Prince William Sound • Knik Glacier • Denali (Mt McKinley) • Floatplane tours
Rust’s Flightseeing Tours
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Denali or other Alaskan scenic highlights on a flightseeing tour with Rust’s Flying…
Rust’s Flightseeing Tours
Season: Year Round $145+ 30 min to 3 hrs
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Alaska’s scenic highlights on a flightseeing tour with Rust’s Flying Service, where every passenger gets a window seat. Tour options include a short 30 -minute Anchorage Flightseeing Safari, a flight to Denali, Denali plus a glacier landing, and more. Tours begin at Anchorage’s Lake Hood, the world’s busiest seaplane airport.
Regal Air Flightseeing
Go see glaciers, Denali, and the Alaskan wilderness from above when you go flightseeing with family-owned Regal Air out…
Regal Air Flightseeing
Season: Year round – water landing approximately May 1st – October 5th $140+ .5 to 3 hrs
Explore Alaska from above with this family-owned company that operates out of Anchorage. Options include flying above Denali, Knik and Colony Glacier, the Chugach Mountains, and more!
Alaska Helicopter Tours
Scenic helicopter tours reveal hidden sites minutes from Anchorage. Spot wildlife from the air, stand on a glacier or…
Alaska Helicopter Tours
Season: Year Round $399+ 1 hr – full day
For outstanding viewing and incredible access to remote places, there’s nothing like flightseeing by helicopter. Join Alaska Helicopter Tours – a locally-owned, highly-respected helicopter tour and charter company – for excursions that reveal hidden sites just minutes from Anchorage. Spot wildlife from the air, stand on a glacier or land on a remote airstrip.
Outbound Heli Adventures
Flightseeing, glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, paddleboarding, heli-hiking and more. Private or small group excursions.
Outbound Heli Adventures
Season: Year Round $329+ 1.5+ hrs
Glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, and other activities are even more special when combined with a spectacular helicopter ride through Alaska’s dramatic scenery. Thanks to key partnerships with other experienced Alaskan tour operators, Palmer based Outbound Heli Adventures is able to coordinate seamless outings of a lifetime! And, they pride themselves on offering the most amount of flight time with their excursions.
Trail Ridge Air, Inc. Flightseeing
Choose from one-hour flights around the Anchorage area or longer flights that take in glaciers, Denali or Lake Clark…
Trail Ridge Air, Inc. Flightseeing
Season: Year Round $205+ 1-5 hours
Trail Ridge Air offers an on-demand perspective of Alaska’s wilderness, with personable and knowledgeable pilots. Watch for wildlife, check out massive glaciers, alpine lakes, Denali, or even Lake Clark National Park. Trail Ridge accommodates for the busiest of schedules, with flights ranging from one hour to a full day.
Alpine Air Alaska – Girdwood Flightseeing
There are few things more spectacular than lifting off in a helicopter from Girdwood and landing on a glacier…
Alpine Air Alaska – Girdwood Flightseeing
Season: Year Round $319+ 30 – 90 min
There are few things more spectacular than lifting off in a helicopter and soaring over Alaska’s glacier-filled terrain or out across its shimmering waters. Suitable for all ages. Get a taste for helicopter flightseeing on a 30 -minute trip into the 20 -Mile river valley and the heart of glacier country.
Alaska Air Service: Flightseeing and Backcountry Adventures
Flightseeing from Anchorage. Choose a classic trip, explore one of the state’s hidden gems, or dream up your own adventure
Alaska Air Service: Flightseeing and Backcountry Adventures
Season: May 01 to Sep 10 $195+ per person 30 min – 3.5 hrs
You’ll take off from Anchorage, and Alaska will open up for you as you appreciate its vastness from the air. Where will you go? That’s up to you! Choose from a variety of tours. Take one of the classics, like flightseeing to Denali, or opt to explore one of the state’s hidden gems. You can also fly to see glaciers, go bear viewing in Lake Clark National Park, or work with the pros at Alaska Air Service to create your own custom itinerary.
Bear Viewing Tours View All
An easy day trip; pick up and drop-off at your hotel in Anchorage. Lake Clark or Katmai National Park
Trail Ridge Air Inc. Bear Viewing
Bear viewing at Brooks Falls and Redoubt Mountain Lodge
Trail Ridge Air Inc. Bear Viewing
Season: July 1 – Sept 30 $1100+ per person 6 – 12 hrs
Viewing brown bears in their natural habitat is one of the most amazing things you can do in Alaska. If it’s high on your list, book a flight-seeing/ bear viewing trip with Trail Ridge Air, knowing that personable pilots will take you to where bears splash and fish, and where visitors run out of words to describe their amazement.
Rust’s Bear Viewing
The experienced pilots of Rust’s Flying Service will whisk you off into the Alaskan wilderness for a day of…
Rust’s Bear Viewing
Season: May to Mid September $945+ 6 – 10 hrs
Take off by seaplane for an all-day bear-viewing expedition. Fly past glaciers and volcanoes to the brown-bear country of southwest Alaska. Your Seaplane Bear Safari will take you to Brooks River Falls in Katmai National Park, home of the world ’ s largest salmon run. You can also fly 70 miles southwest of Anchorage to Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve for amazing bear viewing and luxurious accommodations at the Redoubt Bay Lodge. Rust’s, which has . more
Brooks Lodge Bear Viewing
Go bear viewing with Brooks Lodge for a less-expensive experience that gives you more time with the magnificent bears…
Brooks Lodge Bear Viewing
Season: June 1 – Sept 18 $1350 Day Trips from Anchorage Day trip and multi-day excursions
Brooks Lodge offers their own bear viewing tours which are less expensive than most, and give you more time at Katmai National Park to watch bears feasting on sockeye salmon from several viewing platforms. A commercial flight from Anchorage takes you to King Salmon where you’ll switch to a small float plane for a quick 20 -minute flight to Brooks Camp. After a brief safety orientation, you can watch bears from several viewing platforms, join the . more
Alaska Air Service: Bear Viewing
6 – to 7 ‑hour expedition from Anchorage to see bears in their natural environment in Lake Clark National Park
Alaska Air Service: Bear Viewing
Season: May 22 to Sep 01 $845 per person 6-7 hrs
With Alaska Air Service you’ll fly from Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park, where they’re a licensed park concessionaire. On the 6 – to 7 ‑hour expedition with an intimate group (there’s a 4 ‑to‑ 1 guest-to-guide ratio), you’ll start with a landing inside the park on a beach or in the grasslands to watch bears. Then you’ll travel, unrushed, to other spots in the park. Few operators include multiple locations, but showing you as much of the park’s . more
Regal Air Bear Viewing
After a short, scenic flight from Anchorage on Regal Air, you can be watching enormous brown bears swat salmon…
Regal Air Bear Viewing
Season: May 10th – Mid September $975+ 6.5 to 10 hrs
Hop aboard one of Regal Air’s planes departing from Anchorage and after a short, scenic flight you can be watching enormous brown bears swat salmon from Alaska’s rushing waters. Tours visit one of two destinations: Lake Clark National Park or Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park.
Alaska Bear Camp 6-Day Adventure
In the best way possible. you’re outnumbered by bears during your stay at this private fly-in wilderness camp.
Alaska Bear Camp 6-Day Adventure
Season: May 24 to Aug 22 $6395 to $6595 (+ internal air) 6 Days / 5 Nights
In the best way possible. you’re outnumbered by bears during your stay at this private fly-in wilderness camp. Fly by chartered plane from Homer to Alaska Bear Camp on a 5 ‑night, 6 ‑day all-inclusive package. This deluxe backcountry camp accommodates just 14 guests in some of the best bear habitat in the world. In contrast to day trips catering to dozens of visitors at a time, Bear Camp offers a rare and exclusive wilderness immersion.
Kayaking, Canoeing and Paddleboarding View All
Kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals. Expert guides available.
Outbound Heli Adventures
Flightseeing, glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, paddleboarding, heli-hiking and more. Private or small group excursions.
Outbound Heli Adventures
Season: Year Round $329+ 1.5+ hrs
Glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, and other activities are even more special when combined with a spectacular helicopter ride through Alaska’s dramatic scenery. Thanks to key partnerships with other experienced Alaskan tour operators, Palmer based Outbound Heli Adventures is able to coordinate seamless outings of a lifetime! And, they pride themselves on offering the most amount of flight time with their excursions.
AK Paddlesports
Find Top-flight kayaks, canoes or paddleboards for rent at AK Paddlesports
AK Paddlesports
Season: Mid May– Early September $30+ day rentals 1+ day rentals
Whether it’s kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding, you’ll find top-flight equipment for rent at AK Paddlesports
Sea Kayaking Tours View All
AK Paddlesports
Find Top-flight kayaks, canoes or paddleboards for rent at AK Paddlesports
AK Paddlesports
Season: Mid May– Early September $30+ day rentals 1+ day rentals
Whether it’s kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding, you’ll find top-flight equipment for rent at AK Paddlesports
Glacier Blue Kayak and Grandview Train Tour
Enjoy a magical morning or evening kayaking the calm waters of Spencer Lake, in the awe-inspiring presence of a…
Glacier Blue Kayak and Grandview Train Tour
Season: June 3 – Sept 17 $399+
Enjoy a magical morning or evening kayaking the calm waters of Spencer Lake, in the awe-inspiring presence of a jagged terminus glacier. Your time on the water is sandwiched between two train rides that offer up some of Alaska’s most scenic rail miles. It’s a full day of unforgettable experiences in our country’s second largest national forest – the Chugach.
Lazy Otter Charters Kayaking
This charter company out of Whittier offers guided kayak tours and transportation to secluded areas of Prince William Sound.…
Lazy Otter Charters Kayaking
Season: May 15 to Sep 15 $360, Full Day 8 hrs – Full Day
Lazy Otter offers guided kayak tours and transportation to secluded areas of Prince William Sound. The calm waters have a gorgeous backdrop of the Chugach Mountains’ serrated peaks. Keep an eye out for the creatures that walk the shores and swim in the sea: orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, puffins, seals, sea otters, eagles, goats, and bears.
Discovery Voyages Hike and Kayak Voyage
Explore the landscape and wildlife of Prince William Sound Alaska from the small ship M/V Discovery, with plenty of…
Discovery Voyages Hike and Kayak Voyage
Season: June 13 – August 26
From $4,850+
5 days/4 nights or 6 days/5 nights
Ports of Call: Anchorage, Whittier, Cordova
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Discovery
Perfect for the adventurous traveler, the Hike and Kayak voyage sees all the same sites as on our Classic voyage, but with more excursions. Kayak among icebergs, hike through mountain meadows, and take in the scenery on this unique trip. Activities can be customized to suit the interests and activity level of those on board.
Jet Ski Tours View All
Alaska Wild Guides Jet Ski Tours
Touring the spectacular tidewater glaciers of Prince William Sound is even more exciting when you do it on a…
Alaska Wild Guides Jet Ski Tours
Season: Mid-April – Late September $360+ per driver 4 hours
Touring the spectacular tidewater glaciers of Prince William Sound is even more exciting when you do it on a Jet Ski. Go with Alaska Wild Guides out of Whittier to experience the area’s unique sights and sounds while skimming across the top of the water on your own personal watercraft.
Glacier Jet Ski Adventures
Faster than a kayak and more intimate than a day cruise, this is a great way to get up…
Glacier Jet Ski Adventures
Season: May–September $360 4 – 4.5 hours
Faster than a kayak and more intimate than a day cruise, the Jet Ski is a great way to get up close and personal with Alaska’s gorgeous scenery. Go with Whittier-based Glacier Jet Ski Adventures and you’ll be taking your machine out on the water to explore the stunning glaciers and wildlife of Blackstone Bay. All equipment is provided and no experience is necessary on this unique 4 . 5 ‑hour journey.
Bicycle Day Tours View All
Alyeska Resort Summer Mountain Biking and Hiking Trails
Alyeska Resort offers amazing summer mountain activities, like hiking, mountain biking, or trekking on a glacier — all with amazing views.
Alyeska Resort Summer Mountain Biking and Hiking Trails
Season: June – September $60+ Bike and Gear Rental
Rent a mountain bike (and all the body armor you need) for a thrilling, two-wheel ride down Mt. Alyeska. Lessons and tours of the route are offered. Or, go for a hike on one of the many area trails, either with a guide or on your own. You can even strap on some crampons and go trekking on a glacier.
Alaska Trail Guides
Choose your ride based on half-day or full-day options, as well as difficulty. Summer trail rides and winter fat…
Alaska Trail Guides
Season: Year Round $105+ Day Tours | $35+ Rentals Half and Full Day Tours | Rentals 4hrs+
Anchorage may be Alaska’s big city, but this bicycle tour operator offers quick proof that the city has a lot of wilderness. Choose your ride based on half-day or full-day options, as well as difficulty. You’ll go from downtown to Mother Nature — with mountains, coastal views, and the occasional moose sighting — in no time at all. Better yet, the tours often include beer tastings or lunch.
Snowmobile Tours View All
Glacier City Snowmobile Tours
Ride on groomed trails beneath massive, 7 , 000 -foot glaciated peaks. Or, opt to visit the dazzling blue ice of Spencer Glacier.
Glacier City Snowmobile Tours
Season: Mid-November to mid-April $275+ 3.5+ hrs
Hop aboard an eco-friendly snowmobile in Girdwood and ride on groomed trails beneath massive, 7 , 000 -foot glaciated peaks or visit the dazzling blue ice of Spencer Glacier. Or, head north of Anchorage for a trail ride through mid-alpine black spruce forests. No experience necessary, all gear provided, and warm beverages and snacks included.
Alaska Backcountry Adventures Snowmachine Tours
Take a unique snowmobile tour out into the Alaskan backcountry and look for wildlife as you appreciate winter in…
Alaska Backcountry Adventures Snowmachine Tours
Season: Nov 15 – April 4 $255+ Half Day, Full Day, Multi-Day
Owners Matti and Dan cannot think of a better way to appreciate Alaska than sharing it with others. Matti was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska and has been on snowmachines most of her life. Alaska Backcountry Adventures offers “ mild to wild” experiences and prides itself on providing a customized experience for all levels of ability. It offers the widest variety of expeditions on the latest and greatest equipment.
Alaska Wild Guides Backcountry Snowmobile Adventures
Explore Alaska’s backcountry astride a speedy and fun snowmachine. Go for one thrilling day, or several days of exhilarating…
Alaska Wild Guides Backcountry Snowmobile Adventures
$310+ 5-6 hours (day trip) or 4-10 days (multi-day)
Explore Alaska’s backcountry astride a speedy and fun snowmachine. Alaska Wild Guides will take you out for one thrilling day, or for several days of exhilarating adventure. Find hidden ice caves and remote glaciers while navigating along frozen rivers and through deep powder.
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Snowmobile Tours
Feel the thrill of exploring the Alaskan wilderness while driving your own snowmobile over the tundra, looking for wildlife and…
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Snowmobile Tours
Feel the thrill of exploring the Alaskan wilderness while driving your own snowmobile over the tundra, looking for wildlife and taking in amazing views. And on a clear day you’ll get an amazing view of Denali.
Dog Sledding Tours View All
Glacier Dog sledding from nearby Girdwood and Knik • Winter Mushing Tours in Willow
Alaskan Husky Adventures
Visit a family-run champion kennel, meet friendly dogs and an experienced musher for a ride along private trails with views…
Alaskan Husky Adventures
Season: Year Round $69+ 1-3.5 hrs
Summer or winter, visit a family-run champion kennel, meet friendly dogs and an experienced musher for a ride along private trails with views of Denali. Opt to ride in the sled or mush your own. Or, for a truly authentic adventure, go on a training run for the Iditarod! Large groups and special events welcome when organized in advance.
Salmon Berry Tours Dog Sledding
Salmon Berry Tours offers dog sledding excursions in summer and winter!
Salmon Berry Tours Dog Sledding
Season: November – March $329+ 8 – 9 hrs
Everybody loves sled dogs, and Salmon Berry Tours offers you the chance to get behind the sled year-round. In summer and winter, you’ll head to the kennel of Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey, where you’ll see a gear demonstration, meet the dogs, and ride on the sled behind them. They also have a multi-day adventure for Iditarod enthusiasts.
Alaska Mushing School
Ride behind a team of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Shuttle available from…
Alaska Mushing School
Season: Winter $169+ 1 – 8 hours
Experience the excitement of racing champion sled dogs at the Alaska Mushing School, just 75 minutes from Anchorage. Get a professional’s insight into the mushing lifestyle as you ride behind a team of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Bundle up and ride in comfort, or brave the cold and drive the team yourself!
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Dog Sled Tours
Winter or summer, experience the thrill of running Iditarod sled dogs and even have a chance to drive
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Dog Sled Tours
Season: Year Round Summer: $75+ | Winter: $150+ 2+ hrs
Winter or summer, experience the thrill of running Iditarod sled dogs and even have a chance to drive! Meet the sled dogs and hear first-hand just what it’s like to run the Iditarod.
Alpine Air Alaska – Girdwood Glacier Dogsledding
There are few things more spectacular than lifting off in a helicopter from Girdwood and landing on a glacier…
Alpine Air Alaska – Girdwood Glacier Dogsledding
Season: May 15 – Aug 31 $579 2 hrs
Ratchet up the adventure factor and try your hand at dogsledding. Alpine Air Alaska flies to a dog camp run by the oldest established dog-sled tour business in Alaska. With a shuttle option available from Anchorage, you’ll travel by helicopter from Girdwood’s green forests up over a small saddle to land on a glacier and be introduced to the dog team. “ Drive” the dogs yourself, or sit in the sled and enjoy hanging glaciers that surround you. . more
Glacier Dog Sledding with Alaska Helicopter Tours
Stunning scenery and happy puppies: this tour out of the Anchorage area offers an unbeatable combination of classic Alaska…
Glacier Dog Sledding with Alaska Helicopter Tours
Season: May 01 to Sep 10 $579+ 1.5 hrs
Stunning scenery, a thrilling ride and happy puppies: this tour out of the Anchorage area offers an unbeatable combination of classic Alaska experiences that will delight families or — really, anybody. Taking a total of about 90 minutes, and running from mid-May to early September, this tour includes a Flightseeing round trip, a small friendly group environment, and plenty of one-on-one time with the dogs and their mushers.
Girdwood Summer Sled Dog Adventure
Experience the thrill of Alaskan sled dog racing — in summertime! — on this unique tour from Girdwood with a real Iditarod musher and…
Girdwood Summer Sled Dog Adventure
Visit and snuggle real Iditarod sled dogs with their musher on this unique summertime tour. After touring their kennel, you’ll harness up and explore trails along Girdwood’s mountains which offer spectacular views while your guide offers fascinating gold mining history in the area.
Guided Hiking View All
Ascend Alaska
Drive your own Jeep equipped with a rooftop tent while guides leading the way in a separate vehicle take care…
Ascend Alaska
Season: May 30 – Sept 4 Day Hikes $120 | Multi-day $2,695+ Day and Multi-Day
Drive your own Jeep equipped with a rooftop tent while guides leading the way in a separate vehicle take care of the details as you go. Along the way you’ll enjoy some of the most iconic spots and experiences that the 49 th state has to offer.
Glacier City Rafting and Hiking
Discover Alaska’s scenic gem, Portage Valley — just an hour from Anchorage with Glacier City Rafting and Hiking. Explore glacial lakes, and…
Glacier City Rafting and Hiking
Season: May–September $119+
Discover Alaska’s scenic gem, Portage Valley — just an hour from Anchorage with Glacier City Rafting and Hiking. Offering small-group tours guided by knowledgeable locals, and explore glacial lakes, snow-capped peaks, and wildlife.
Go Hike Alaska
In summer enjoy quick hikes, alpine climbs, foraging, or heli-hiking. In winter, hikes, snowshoe treks, or heli-snowshoe tours!
Go Hike Alaska
Season: Year Round $99+ 2 hrs – Multi-Day
Get out there on one or more of these super-accessible trips, which range from easy nature walks to strenuous alpine multi-day treks. You’ll not only get a healthy dose of scenery, you’ll also exercise your body, mind, and soul. In winter, marvel at frozen waterfalls, snowshoe treks and even heli-snowshoeing!
Outbound Heli Adventures
Flightseeing, glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, paddleboarding, heli-hiking and more. Private or small group excursions.
Outbound Heli Adventures
Season: Year Round $329+ 1.5+ hrs
Glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, and other activities are even more special when combined with a spectacular helicopter ride through Alaska’s dramatic scenery. Thanks to key partnerships with other experienced Alaskan tour operators, Palmer based Outbound Heli Adventures is able to coordinate seamless outings of a lifetime! And, they pride themselves on offering the most amount of flight time with their excursions.
Traverse Alaska Anchorage Trips
Custom guided outdoor adventures designed to take visitors off the beaten path and away from the crowds
Traverse Alaska Anchorage Trips
Season: Year Round Custom pricing, contact for rates Full and Half Day Options
Explore Anchorage’s best kept secrets with a local guide. Traverse Alaska’s private, custom adventures are designed to take visitors off the beaten path and away from the crowds. Adventures can incorporate a full day of hiking or a combination of scenic driving and outdoor activities. Each trip is custom designed to meet your interests and desired activity level.
Matanuska Glacier Walk with Salmon Berry Tours
Walking across Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier is an unforgettable experience that you can take advantage of year-round
Matanuska Glacier Walk with Salmon Berry Tours
Season: Year Round $299 per person 9 hrs
Walking out across the ice of Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier is an unforgettable experience that you can take advantage of year-round — and it’s just a two-hour drive from Anchorage.
Comet Heli Hiking and Rafting
Combine a helicopter ride, alpine hike, glacial lake tour, and train ride all in 9 – 10 hours
Comet Heli Hiking and Rafting
Season: Jun 01 to Sep 17 $849 per person
Experience the wilderness of the Chugach National Forest from several different perspectives. Combine a helicopter ride, alpine hike, glacial lake tour, and train ride all in 9 – 10 hours! It’s one big and bold Alaska tour de force with Chugach Adventures.
Jeep and ATV Tours View All
Alaska ATV Adventures
3 hour ATV tours just south of Anchorage. In the alpine meadows, you may see bears, mountain goats, and Dall…
Alaska ATV Adventures
Season: May 15 – Oct 31 $180+ 3 hrs
There’s great Alaskan backcountry ATV riding just a few miles south of Anchorage. Engage in the sights, sounds, and smells of the northernmost temperate rainforest while experiencing the thrill of the throttle through the winding wooded trails of the Chugach Mountain Range. In the alpine meadows of this wilderness area, there are frequent sightings of both brown and black bears, mountain goats, and Dall sheep.
Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours
Drive over rocks, splash through mud, and look for wildlife on your way to the Knik Glacier as you…
Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours
Season: Apr 15 to Sep 30 $259+ drive | $139+ passenger Half, Full, and Multi-Day
With Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours, you can experience glaciers inaccessible by road. Never fear if you’ve never driven an before; this company teaches you to maneuver your ATV through the Alaskan wilderness with your guide at the lead. Your destination is the magnificent Knik Glacier, where you’ll enjoy lunch and gorgeous scenery.
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: ATV Tours
Great for groups or families with options to both steer your own ATV or ride in a side-by-side. Tours depart…
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: ATV Tours
Season: May–October $225+ Half and Full-Day
Experience Alaska ATV and Side by Side tours at historic Hatcher Pass. These half-day and full-day tours take place high in the Talkeetna mountains where you will venture through creeks, twisting trails, and climb to amazing views. This tour is suitable for beginners and more advanced riders! Located just an hour from Anchorage.
49th State Motor Tours
Drive through woods and splash through rivers on your way to a gorgeous glacier. Transportation from Anchorage included.
49th State Motor Tours
Season: Year Round $245+ Full day, half day and multi-day
Head out into the Alaskan wilderness on this exciting ATV adventure, driving through woods and splashing through rivers on your way to a gorgeous glacial moraine surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks. Transportation from Anchorage included.
Hatcher Pass ATV Tours
Discover Alaska’s rugged beauty with Hatcher Pass ATV Tours. Splash through rivers, pan for gold, and explore year-round with expert…
Hatcher Pass ATV Tours
Season: Year Round $60+ per person 2.5 hrs
Pilot a utility task vehicle ( UTV ) — an ATV that’s fully enclosed — with family and friends as you splash through rivers, take in stunning views, and even pan for gold on this unique, 3 ‑hour excursion with Hatcher Pass ATV Tours out of Willow.
Rafting Tours View All
Glacier City Rafting and Hiking
Discover Alaska’s scenic gem, Portage Valley — just an hour from Anchorage with Glacier City Rafting and Hiking. Explore glacial lakes, and…
Glacier City Rafting and Hiking
Season: May–September $119+
Discover Alaska’s scenic gem, Portage Valley — just an hour from Anchorage with Glacier City Rafting and Hiking. Offering small-group tours guided by knowledgeable locals, and explore glacial lakes, snow-capped peaks, and wildlife.
Spencer Iceberg Float
The original hallmark trip that got the Alaska Railroad to stop at Spencer Glacier in 2002 . One of the…
Spencer Iceberg Float
Season: May 27 – September 17 $235+
The original hallmark trip that got the Alaska Railroad to bring the Glacier Discovery to Spencer Glacier in 2002 . This is one of the most scenic glacier river trips in Alaska and a perfect float for all ages. Your trip begins with a scenic ride on Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train, which runs from Anchorage, Girdwood, and other pick-up points along the railbelt. Enjoy a beautiful ride down Turnagain Arm and the Placer River Valley and . more
Flow AK
Season: May 10 – Sept 15 $200 per person 3 hrs
Join Flow AK on a backcountry adventure with expert guides as you navigate the narrow canyons and challenging rapids of Six Mile Creek. With small groups and personalized attention, you’re sure to make new friends and unforgettable memories. Just a short drive from Anchorage, this excursion is not to be missed!
Comet Heli Hiking and Rafting
Combine a helicopter ride, alpine hike, glacial lake tour, and train ride all in 9 – 10 hours
Comet Heli Hiking and Rafting
Season: Jun 01 to Sep 17 $849 per person
Experience the wilderness of the Chugach National Forest from several different perspectives. Combine a helicopter ride, alpine hike, glacial lake tour, and train ride all in 9 – 10 hours! It’s one big and bold Alaska tour de force with Chugach Adventures.
NOVA Alaska Guides (Seward Highway – Six Mile Creek)
Go with the experienced guides of NOVA River Runners down one of the most famous — and challenging — whitewater runs in the…
NOVA Alaska Guides (Seward Highway – Six Mile Creek)
Six Mile Creek is one of the most famous — and most challenging — whitewater runs in the entire state of Alaska. Your heart will be pounding and your muscles burning as you paddle through rapids called “ Big Rock Drop,” “ Suckhole,” and “ Let’s Make a Deal.”
City Sightseeing Tours View All
Escaping Anchorage
Short on time and want to see another side of Anchorage and the gorgeous surrounding area? Take a small-group tour…
Escaping Anchorage
Season: Year Round $115+ 3+ hrs
Short on time and want to see another side of Anchorage and the gorgeous surrounding area? Take a small-group tour with Escaping Anchorage, whose owner, Brittney, creates personalized adventures featuring beautiful scenery and real insights.
Coastal Classic Train (Anchorage to Seward)
Sit back and relax on the Coastal Classic Train and take in amazing views on one of the most…
Coastal Classic Train (Anchorage to Seward)
Season: May 13 – Sept 25 $88 to $393
The Coastal Classic train runs between Anchorage and the town of Seward — a four-hour trip that’s the most beautiful along the entire Alaska Railroad. You’ll see Turnagain Arm as the train departs Anchorage, then a panorama of mountains, glaciers, lakes, and streams. You may even see wildlife like Dall sheep, Beluga whales, moose, bear, and more! Day Trip from Anchorage: Seward, Girdwood Multi-Day Trip from Anchorage: Overnight Seward, or . more
Denali Star Route (Anchorage – Talkeetna – Denali – Fairbanks)
The Denali Star train services Denali National Park and Fairbanks from Anchorage, with great views of thick forests, tundra,…
Denali Star Route (Anchorage – Talkeetna – Denali – Fairbanks)
Season: May 10 to Sep 21 $73 to $489
This train travels through the forested areas north of Anchorage into the boreal forest, and eventually into the tundra regions further north. On a clear day the train will slow down to allow you to see beautiful vistas of Denali. You may also spot wildlife along the way. Day Trip from Anchorage: Talkeetna Day Trip from Fairbanks: Denali Multi-Day Trip from Anchorage: Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and / or Fairbanks Multi-Day Trip . more
Pedal Anchorage
See Anchorage in a whole new way aboard the only party bike in Alaska! Ride this unique, open-air vehicle, and…
Pedal Anchorage
Season: May 25 – Sept 30 $59+ 2 hrs
See Anchorage in a whole new way aboard the only party bike in Alaska! Ride this unique, open-air vehicle, and take in the city by yourself or in a group. It’s electric and perfect for most age and ability levels so pedal or sit back and relax with food and drinks you bring or pick up along the tour.
Alaska Trail Guides
Choose your ride based on half-day or full-day options, as well as difficulty. Summer trail rides and winter fat…
Alaska Trail Guides
Season: Year Round $105+ Day Tours | $35+ Rentals Half and Full Day Tours | Rentals 4hrs+
Anchorage may be Alaska’s big city, but this bicycle tour operator offers quick proof that the city has a lot of wilderness. Choose your ride based on half-day or full-day options, as well as difficulty. You’ll go from downtown to Mother Nature — with mountains, coastal views, and the occasional moose sighting — in no time at all. Better yet, the tours often include beer tastings or lunch.
Glacier Discovery Train (Anchorage – Whittier – Spencer – Grandview)
The Glacier Discovery services Whittier, Portage, Spencer Glacier, and Grandview, with views of glaciers and the beautiful Turnagain Arm
Glacier Discovery Train (Anchorage – Whittier – Spencer – Grandview)
Season: May 13 – Sept 17 $76 to $158
The train can be used as a mode of transportation, however it can also be a round-trip sightseeing excursion. This primary destination is the town of Whittier, a major cruise ship and afternoon day cruise hub. Day Trips from Anchorage: Whittier, Girdwood, Spencer Glacier, Grandview
Big Swig Brewery Tours
Small group tours by van, bike, and rail bring you through the frontier city’s legit craft beer, cider, and…
Big Swig Brewery Tours
Season: Year Round $159+ 4 – 11 hrs
If you’re a beer snob — or just like soaking up the personality of a city through its brewpubs — this creative tour company offers a few different tours, each of which provide an interesting look at life in Alaska, as well as through a taste of the state’s legit craft beer industry. The Anchorage Brews Tour, is a short, 3 . 5 hour local brewery tour. Hops on the Rail tour combines breweries between Anchorage and Talkeetna with a ride on The Alaska . more
Anchorage Trolley Tours
Relax and enjoy the ride while your Alaskan guide takes you past all the sites and attractions of Anchorage…
Anchorage Trolley Tours
Season: May 4 – Oct 2 $20+ 1-2 hrs
Step aboard Anchorage’s first trolley. Relax and enjoy the ride while your guide shows you the sites and attractions of Anchorage. You’ll see the Alaska Railroad, Lake Hood (the world’s largest and busiest float-plane base), mysterious Earthquake Park, Cook Inlet, Anchorage Museum, shopping areas, and restaurants. Your ride is fully narrated, and the trolley is heated and enclosed.
Jeff Schultz Photography
Travel with award-winning photographer Jeff Schultz and you’ll get personalized instruction as you take in Alaska’s magnificent sights
Jeff Schultz Photography
Season: Year Round
$975+
Land Package Type: Photography Tours
Don’t just experience the beauty of Alaska — learn how best to capture it on your camera. Travel with award-winning photographer Jeff Schultz and you’ll get personalized, hands-on instruction as you take in the state’s magnificent sights. Choose from custom tours or small group tours with a maximum of 6 participants that depart throughout the year and include accommodations, transportation, and meals.
Jeff Schultz Alaska Bears, Glaciers and Fall Colors Photography Workshop
In one trip you have the opportunity to photograph bears, moose, glaciers and iceberg studded lakes, the beautiful colors of…
Jeff Schultz Alaska Bears, Glaciers and Fall Colors Photography Workshop
Season: Sep. 15 – 22
$8,795+
8 Day / 7 Nights
Visits: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Palmer
Land Package Type: Photography Tours
This fall photography trip offers some of the best photo opportunities in Alaska as the seasons change. Head to Lake Clark National Park for grizzly bears, turquoise-colored lakes, snowcapped mountains and the bright gold colors of fall. You’ll also spend a half day photographing moose, and a helicopter flight to an iceberg-filled glacial lake only accessible by air. Fall can also be a wonderful time to photograph the aurora borealis, weather . more
Salmon Berry Tours Sightseeing
Take a unique and exciting day tour with a small group and knowledgeable guide in either summer or winter…
Salmon Berry Tours Sightseeing
Season: Year Round $59+ 45 min – 9 hrs
This experienced, locally run company offers a superb guide-to-visitor ratio, creating a real feeling of intimacy, while their expert guides will help deepen your understanding of the area. From city overviews to forays just outside town, Salmon Berry Tours offers experiences from 2 . 5 hours up to a full 8 ‑hour tour.
Traverse Alaska Anchorage Trips
Custom guided outdoor adventures designed to take visitors off the beaten path and away from the crowds
Traverse Alaska Anchorage Trips
Season: Year Round Custom pricing, contact for rates Full and Half Day Options
Explore Anchorage’s best kept secrets with a local guide. Traverse Alaska’s private, custom adventures are designed to take visitors off the beaten path and away from the crowds. Adventures can incorporate a full day of hiking or a combination of scenic driving and outdoor activities. Each trip is custom designed to meet your interests and desired activity level.
Alaska Escape Rooms
This year-round Anchorage attraction, where a group solves a mystery while “ locked” indoors, makes a fun diversion rain or…
Alaska Escape Rooms
Season: Year Round $35 1.5 hrs
Every now and then in Alaska — where the weather can change quickly — a great indoor activity comes in handy. But this unique year-round attraction, where a family or a group of friends solves a mystery while “ locked” indoors, makes a fun diversion even when the skies are clear outside.
Alaskan Sights and Bites
Get to know Alaska in a truly authentic way — through its unique cuisine. On this walking food tour, you’ll sample flavors…
Alaskan Sights and Bites
Season: Year Round $130+ 3-8 hrs
Get to know Alaska in a truly authentic way — through its unique cuisine. On this walking food tour, you’ll sample flavors as you explore Anchorage and hear stories of the 49 th state.
Rust’s Photo Safari
This stunning ride, led by a photographer-pilot, is filled with photo ops of rugged mountains and ice blue glaciers
Rust’s Photo Safari
Season: Jun 01 to Sep 15 $995 per person 8-10 hours
The 7 – to 9 ‑hour tour out of Anchorage’s Lake Hood is led by a photographer-pilot whom has published photos in such magazines as Air and Space, Stearns and National Geographic. Set up for the best shots, every passenger gets a window seat and a two-way headset for pilot narration — you’ll have a stunning ride filled with photo ops of rugged mountains, glacial pools and ice blue glaciers. Then, you’ll land on a remote waterway to take photos on the . more
Wild Journeys Alaska
Explore Alaska by hiring a guide for a day and creating a custom, private adventure for yourself and up to…
Wild Journeys Alaska
Season: Year Round $950 | Up to 7 people 4-8 hrs
See Alaska’s unique and authentic side by hiring a guide for a day and creating a custom, private adventure for yourself and up to 7 others. Tours depart from Anchorage or Girdwood. Excursions include Matanuska glacier hikes, ATV tours, gold panning, northern lights viewing, snowmobiling, and more.
Anchorage Aurora Quest
Photograph alpenglow on snow capped mountains, frosty scenes glowing in rich winter light, wildlife wandering snowy paths, and possibly…
Anchorage Aurora Quest
Season: Aug 17 – April 24 $269+ 6 hours
Photograph alpenglow on snow capped mountains, frosty scenes glowing in rich winter light, wildlife wandering snowy paths, city lights reflecting on the water at twilight, and possibly even the northern lights!
Sunset Photo Safaris by Alaska Photo Treks
Join Alaska Photo Treks as they go hunting for the best light of the day, which during summer at…
Sunset Photo Safaris by Alaska Photo Treks
Season: Year Round $179
Join Alaska Photo Treks as they go hunting for the best light of the day, which during summer at this latitude can last for several glorious hours before sunset. You’ll be transported to scenic locations around Southcentral Alaska to shoot a variety of enchanting subjects. The itinerary is flexible and allows for spontaneous stops to photograph wildlife en route.
Custom Private Alaska Photo Tours with Jeff Schultz
Award-winning Alaska-based photographer Jeff Schultz can take you to stunning Alaska locations to create your dream images of Alaskan…
Custom Private Alaska Photo Tours with Jeff Schultz
Season: Year Round
Inqure for rates
Land Package Type: Photography Tours
Award-winning Alaska-based photographer Jeff Schultz can take you to stunning Alaska locations to create your dream images of Alaskan landscapes and wildlife. Whether you want to make photos in classic Alaska locations or in places that the average traveler will never see, based on decades of living, traveling and photographing all over Alaska, Jeff can create a custom photo trip that will meet all your wants and desires.
Alaska Heritage Tours
Bringing together the best of Alaska
Alaska Heritage Tours
Alaska experts work with you to customize your trip including award-winning lodges, wildlife and glacier tours and a variety of activities.
PicTours Alaska
With PicTours, you’ll reach cool photo spots in and around Anchorage. Get photo tips, light up social media with…
PicTours Alaska
Show off your adventurous Alaskan vacation to everyone back home. Just grab your camera – whether stand-alone or cell phone – and PicTours Alaska will shuttle you to cool spots in and around Anchorage. Get photo tips, light up social media with fab selfies, and have a fun, engaging time with the whole family.
Ghost Tours of Anchorage
Step into the underworld of Anchorage — a hidden gathering of ghosts and spirits — on this walking tour through the city’s most…
Ghost Tours of Anchorage
Step into the underworld of Anchorage — a hidden gathering of ghosts and spirits — on this walking tour through some of the city’s most haunted sites. It’s the most unsual perspective you can get of Alaska’s largest metropolis.
Fishing Charters View All
Salmon fishing • Fly fishing • Fly-In fishing tours
Trail Ridge Air Inc. Fly-out Fishing
Plan a custom fishing day-trip or multi-day trip
Trail Ridge Air Inc. Fly-out Fishing
Season: May 1 – Sept 30 $695 8 hrs
You don’t need to be an expert or a Hollywood star to enjoy fly-out fishing in the wilds of Alaska. Trail Ridge Air offers guided, non-guided and custom trips, getting you into creeks and lakes where you can catch not only fish, but also a great Alaskan fish tale of your very own.
Regal Air Fishing
Take a fly-in salmon or trout-fishing trip from Anchorage with Regal Air for world-class angling with experienced guides in…
Regal Air Fishing
Season: May 01 to Sep 30 $725 8 – 10 hrs
Take a fly-in salmon or trout-fishing trip out of Anchorage with Regal Air to enjoy world-class fishing in pristine, remote rivers. Regal Air teams up with wilderness lodges and guiding services and can set you up with anything from lunch to gear. They’ll even teach you how to cast. You’ll get the ultimate Alaska flying experience, taking off and landing in a float plane, and soaring over big, braided glacier river valleys and endless forests. . more
Wilderness Place Lodge
Excellent access to Alaska’s freshwater fish, along with a unique eco-travel experience that comes with a high level of…
Wilderness Place Lodge
Season: May – September $685+ fly-in fishing day trip, $1,386+ overnight all-inclusive 1 – 6+ Nights
Exploring Alaska’s backcountry lakes, forests and rivers is a phenomenal experience. Wilderness Place Lodge — tucked away on a remote river northwest of Anchorage — offers excellent access to nearly any freshwater fish you came to Alaska for, along with a unique eco-travel experience that comes with a high level of service, a variety of non-fishing activities and the mellow freedom to create an Alaskan experience that suits your own taste.
Rust’s Fly-in Fishing
Rust’s experienced guides will fly you into to the Alaskan backcountry to discover world-class fishing for kings, silvers, grayling,…
Rust’s Fly-in Fishing
Season: May – Sept $745+ all-inclusive packages One day or 3-night
Since 1963 , Rust’s has been safely carrying anglers far away from the crowds. Experienced guides lead you to world-class fishing for kings, silvers, grayling, and trout in some of Alaska’s most beautiful and remote wilderness — and they’ll clean and package your catch for the trip back to Anchorage. On the way, enjoy a window-seat view and pilot narration.
The Bait Shack
Go fishing in Anchorage with rented gear or with a guide and land the catch of your dreams. Bait and…
The Bait Shack
Season: Shack: May–August. Guided Trips: Year-round $100
Go fishing right in Anchorage – whether you have only have a few hours or a full day. Rent a gear package and fish on your own. Or, hire one of our local guides to take you on a guided tour to land your dream catch. You can also buy bait and fishing licenses.
Northwoods Lodge
Fly from Anchorage to the remote Northwoods Lodge, where you can enjoy up to 10 hours of fishing each…
Northwoods Lodge
Season: Year Round $650 full day fishing, $1430+ all-inclusive multi-day packages 8 hrs – Multi-Days
The Northwoods Lodge is a remote lodge where visitors can find themselves in a 45 minute flight from Anchorage. The lodge specializes in guided fishing, and guests can enjoy 8 to 10 hours of fishing a day if they choose. Guides help you spin or fly fish for trophy king salmon, silver and sockeye salmon, or resident rainbow trout, arctic grayling and northern pike
Photography Tours View All
Jeff Schultz Alaska Bears, Glaciers and Fall Colors Photography Workshop
In one trip you have the opportunity to photograph bears, moose, glaciers and iceberg studded lakes, the beautiful colors of…
Jeff Schultz Alaska Bears, Glaciers and Fall Colors Photography Workshop
Season: Sep. 15 – 22
$8,795+
8 Day / 7 Nights
Visits: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Palmer
Land Package Type: Photography Tours
This fall photography trip offers some of the best photo opportunities in Alaska as the seasons change. Head to Lake Clark National Park for grizzly bears, turquoise-colored lakes, snowcapped mountains and the bright gold colors of fall. You’ll also spend a half day photographing moose, and a helicopter flight to an iceberg-filled glacial lake only accessible by air. Fall can also be a wonderful time to photograph the aurora borealis, weather . more
Custom Private Alaska Photo Tours with Jeff Schultz
Award-winning Alaska-based photographer Jeff Schultz can take you to stunning Alaska locations to create your dream images of Alaskan…
Anchorage is a perfect home base for these 10 day trips
Locals like to say that Anchorage is only 30 minutes from Alaska: wedged between 5000ft peaks and an inlet filled with salmon and whales, the Big Apple of the north is unlike any other city. Indeed, Anchorage makes a prime home base from which to explore both Alaska’s small town charms and big, cinematic scenery one day trip at a time.
From artsy, mural-strewn ‘bergs to glacier hikes, from stunning lakes to cozy taverns, from fun road trips to train rides, you might be surprised to see just how much of Alaska is accessible from Anchorage. These are our ten favorite day trips.
Editor’s note: During COVID-19, please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government health advice. Events may be subject to change.
1. Spencer Glacier
Encircled by mighty peaks brimming with glaciers, Girdwood is a laid-back antidote to the bustle of Anchorage. Home to the luxurious Alyeska Ski Resort and the fabled Girdwood Forest Fair, Girdwood is a dog-and-kid kind of town, with excellent hiking, fine restaurants and a feel-good vibe that will have you staying longer than anticipated.
Getting there: Ride the Alaska Railroad to Spencer Glacier, where you can hike a 3.4-mile trail to the face of the glacier or join a guided walk with a United States Forestry Service Ranger. Whistle Stop hikers have from 1:25pm to 4:40pm to complete the hike and meet the train for the return.
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2. Turnagain Arm
The drive out of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm is well worth the price of a train ticket or rental car. Sure, it might be quicker (and probably cheaper) to fly, but staying on the ground will make you appreciate just how close to the wilderness Anchorage really is.
Turnagain Arm Trail, an easy 11-mile hike, begins at Potter Trailhead (Mile 115). Originally used by Alaska Natives, the convenient route has since been used by Russian trappers, gold miners and happy hikers. The trail, with a mountain goat’s view of Turnagain Arm, alpine meadows and beluga whales, can also be accessed at the McHugh Creek (Mile 112), Rainbow (Mile 108) and Windy (Mile 107).
Meanwhile, Potter Marsh (Mile 117) was created in 1916, when railroad construction dammed several streams. You can stretch your legs along the 1500ft boardwalk while spying on ducks, songbirds, grebes and gulls.
Bird Ridge Trail starts with a wheelchair-accessible loop at Mile 102, then continues with a steep, popular and well-marked path that reaches a 3500ft overlook at Mile 2; this is a traditional turnaround point for folks in a hurry. Or you can continue another 4 miles to higher peaks and even better views from sunny Bird Ridge, a top spot for rock climbing.
Getting there: Turnagain Arm is just south of Anchorage and can be reached on the scenic Seward Highway – a worthwhile day trip in and of itself.
3. Seward
Perched on the edge of Resurrection Bay, Seward offers out-of-this-world views of water, sky, mountain and forest, and is easily accessed by road, boat and rail. Because of its size (and its history as a railroad port), there is plenty of nightlife and there are lots of good restaurants in the picturesque old-time downtown area.
Slurp local oysters backed with champagne at The Cookery or cozy up by the massive wood stove at Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery. The Lost Lake Trail offers gorgeous views of Seward from alpine meadows. Stoney Creek Canopy Adventures gives you a unique perspective of Seward from its treetop ziplines. Or you can simply stroll the town and admire the many murals – go to the Painted Whale to get a tour led by one of the artists.
Meanwhile, the 127 miles of the Seward Hwy is all Scenic Byway, and there are plenty of turnoffs for gawking and snapping photos. The mileposts along the highway show distances from Seward (Mile 0) to Anchorage (Mile 127). The Turnagain Arm section of this road is from Anchorage to just past the Portage Glacier turnoff (Mile 79).
Getting there: It’s only two and a half hours to Seward from Anchorage by car or four by train, but if either seems too long to spend on a day trip, you can also fly – though that’s the more expensive option.
4. Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park was created in 1980 to protect 587,000 acres of Alaska’s most awesome, impenetrable wilderness. Crowning the park is the massive Harding Ice Field; from it, countless tidewater glaciers pour down, carving the coast into dizzying fjords. Lucky for visitors, the park is free. The majority of visitors either take a quick trip to Exit Glacier’s face or splurge on a tour-boat cruise along the coast.
From the Exit Glacier Nature Center, the Outwash Plain Trail is an easy three-quarter-mile walk to the glacier’s alluvial plain. The Edge of the Glacier Trail leaves the first loop and climbs steeply to an overlook at the side of the glacier before returning. Both trails make for a short hike that will take one or two hours; you can return along the half-mile nature trail through cottonwood forest, alder thickets and old glacial moraines before emerging at the ranger station.
Getting there: It’s two and a half hours from Anchorage to Kenai Fjords via AK-1 S and State Hwy 9.
5. Eagle River
As you drive out of Anchorage, you’ll soon parallel Knik Arm, while the Chugach Mountains stay to your right. Small communities dot either side of the road, but Eagle River and Eklutna offer the best access to the mountains. Both communities are worthy of a day trip from Anchorage, but to escape the hustle of the city, you can use these small towns as a base for exploring Anchorage and the wilds around it.
Eagle River has something of a city center; the Eagle River Town Square is off Business Blvd and has just about every business you’ll need. The Bear Paw Festival is worth the trip just for the Slippery Salmon Olympics, which involves racing with a Hula Hoop, serving tray and, of course, a large dead fish. Most people, however, come here for the drive down Eagle River Rd or to take a hike.
Getting there: Eagle River is less than half an hour from Anchorage along Glenn Highway / AK-1 North.
6. Whittier
Whittier is a wonderfully weird Cold War anachronism set on the edge of some sublime coastal wilderness where rugged fjords dispatch tumbling glaciers into Prince William Sound. Even by Alaskan standards, this is a bizarre outpost. The “town” is dominated by two Cold War military installations: the hopelessly ruined Buckner building and the equally incongruous Begich Towers, a 14-story skyscraper that houses most of Whittier’s population.
Activities in the area include following a marked historical walk around the spooky monuments to Whittier’s Cold War past. You can also take a deluxe boat cruise past a profusion of Prince William Sound’s glaciers, or head uphill on the Portage Pass Trail for an immediate wilderness fix and great views at this trail two miles outside of Whittier.
Getting there: Arriving in Whittier from Anchorage after a spectacular ride on the Alaska Railroad alongside the waters of Turnagain Arm is a special experience.
7. Eklutna
In one direction, just west of the Eklutna Lake Rd exit at Mile 26.5 of the Glenn Highway, you have the 350-year-old Alaska Native village of Eklutna, home to Eklutna Village Historical Park. In the other direction is the gorgeous 7-mile-long Eklutna Lake, which offers lots of recreation opportunities, including kayaking, biking and hiking on 27 miles of trails. It’s worth every minute once the sky suddenly opens, unveiling a stunning valley with a glacier-and-peak-ringed lake, the largest body of water in Chugach State Park, at its center.
Getting there: Eklutna Lake is 10 miles east of the highway on Eklutna Lake Road.
8. Talkeetna
Downtown Talkeetna is a strip of gift shops, guide services, restaurants and old-school saloons. And it’s awesome: artsy, playful, infused with community spirit, but also self-aware enough to market itself to the thousands who come here seeking a view of Denali and a dip in the funky energy that permeates the mountain’s main climbing base.
The Talkeetna Historical Society Museum is a great introduction to the area’s indigenous and frontier past. So is the Belle’s Interpretive Trail, which strolls past interpretive signs laying out local history. The Talkeetna Riverfront Park affords great views of Alaska’s scenery, not to mention fish doing their best acrobatic routines.
If you’re here for the outdoors, roll down the local waterways with Talkeetna’s knowledgeable river guides – if you’re lucky, you’ll get a view of Denali from the Chulitna River. You can also hire an Alaska Nature Guide for trips to local lakes or even a trek into the bush by plane. Zipline tours are available in the area, as is dogsledding and salmon fishing charters.
Getting there: Talkeetna is just two hours from Anchorage via AK-1 S and State Hwy 9, and can be reached by car or bus.
9. Palmer
Nearby Palmer, the town of Knik boasts a rich sled-dog history, since it’s the home of many Alaskan mushers (and checkpoint 4 on the race route). For more information about this uniquely Alaskan race, stop in at Iditarod Trail Headquarters. Outside, you can get a short sled-dog ride (around US$10, from 9am to 5pm) on a wheeled dogsled.
Getting there: Palmer is just under an hour from Anchorage via AK-1 North or about an hour and a half by train.
10. Hope
Hope has beautiful views of Turnagain Arm, a quaint and historic downtown, wonderful gold-rush-era relics, and incredible camping and hiking opportunities. Life here moves a little slower. It’s close enough to Anchorage to attract a weekend city crowd, but tucked away enough to stay tiny and quiet. It’s authentic, pioneering, friendly and esoteric. Most tourist services close October to May.
Sixmile Creek is serious white water, with thrilling – and dangerous – rapids through deep gorges that survivors describe as ‘the best roller coaster in Alaska.’ The first two canyons are rated Class IV; the third canyon is a big, bad Class V. It’s a four- to five-hour round-trip. Dress warmly and bring extra clothes.
The Hope area also provides numerous opportunities for the amateur panner, including a 20-acre claim that the US Forest Service (USFS) has set aside near the Resurrection Pass trailhead for recreational mining.
Getting there: The Seward Highway will get you to Hope in about two hours.
Epic Hikes of the World
With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the World will inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic.
Epic Hikes of the World
With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the World will inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic.
Aug 2, 2023 • 8 min read
If you’re seeking history and hospitality, Savannah, Georgia is a great destination for you with a wide variety of experiences.
The best day trips from Anchorage for giant cabbages, Cold War citadels and craggy mountain climbs
Anchorage is the hub around which the rest of Alaska spins.
Road and rail routes radiate out north and south, jet airliners touch down at Ted Stevens International Airport and wasp-like seaplanes take off from busy Lake Hood to the more rugged reaches of the Last Frontier. Once you’ve spent a day or two absorbing the city’s urban sights, take your first tentative steps into the surrounding wilderness with one (or more) of these easily accessible day trips.
Whittier
Why go? A surreal Cold War citadel in an ethereal wilderness setting.
Classified as a city, but with a population of barely 200 people – 99% of whom live in the same building – Whittier isn’t your normal wilderness outpost. Founded as a military supply line in World War II, it came of age during the Cold War. Accessed by a dual-use road-rail tunnel that deposits you on the spectacular shores of Passage Inlet, Whittier is surrounded by a steep-sided circle of waterfalls, glaciers and mountains. Set against all the natural beauty are two incongruous Cold War structures: the skeletal and disused Buckner building, and the 14-story Begich Towers (home to most of the population).
Traveling round-trip on Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train train from Anchorage allows a little over six hours in Whittier, plenty of time to visit its concise war-themed museum, undertake a self-guided walking tour of its Cold War infrastructure and explore the edges of the surrounding wilderness. The Horsetail Falls trail ascends behind the “city” through a mix of forest and muskeg to a lofty viewpoint. The more popular Portage Pass trail follows an old native route from behind the road-rail tunnel to a low pass with glacier vistas. Save time for a halibut lunch at the harborside Swiftwater Seafood Cafe afterwards. A word about the weather: It rains here – a lot!
How to get to Whittier
The Glacier Discovery Train runs daily round trip between Anchorage and Whittier, May to September. By road, it’s an 80-minute drive with a possible extra 30-minute wait at the tunnel entrance.
Eklutna
Why go? Backcountry gateway with unusual Russian-Native Alaska heritage.
Home to an only-in-Alaska combination of Russian Orthodox and Alaska Native culture, the 350-year-old Athabascan village of Eklutna (population 70-ish) is dominated by the Eklutna Village Historical Park, where two Orthodox churches overlook a cemetery dating from 1650. The older of the two churches is hewn from spruce logs and hails from the 1870s; the white clapboard and onion domes of the newer structure date from 1962. The highlight of the park is its unusual cemetery sprinkled with a mini-city of diminutive spirit houses (native shrines that provide shelter for the spirits).
If you’ve come for the day, it makes sense to fill the afternoon in and around seven-mile-long Eklutna Lake, the largest body of water in Chugach State Park (which, in turn, is the third largest state park in the US). Ringed by glaciers and high peaks, the lake offers plentiful recreation opportunities, including kayaking, biking and hiking on 27 miles of trails. The classic is the flat Lakeside trail that parallels the northern shoreline for 13 miles to a glacier viewpoint.
How to get to Eklutna
Eklutna is 29 miles northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. There’s no reliable public transportation.
Girdwood
Why go? A comprehensive outdoor-adventure nexus only 45 minutes drive from Anchorage.
Probably the most accessible day trip from Anchorage courtesy of daily bus and train services during the spring and summer, Girdwood is a small town (population 1800-ish) that’s worth a protracted visit.
With only a day, your best bet is to focus on the Alyeska Resort area, with its comprehensive hotel and year-round aerial tramway. In winter, the tramway shuttles downhill skiers to the top of the trails; in summer, mountain bikes rule the slopes. Most activities can be organized through the hotel, including biking, hiking and alpine yoga. For the full Girdwood experience, hike the two-and-a-half miles up Mt Alyeska and get the tramway down.
How to get to Girdwood
Girdwood is on the Anchorage-Seward train line and served by twice-daily trains: the Glacier Discovery and the Coastal Classic. Alternatively, it’s a 45-minute drive through the distracting beauty of Turnagain Arm.
Spencer Whistle Stop
Why go? A spectacular train ride combined with an easy-going backcountry hike.
Utilizing the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train, it is possible to get dropped off close to the Spencer Glacier in the northern reaches of the Kenai Peninsula, then get picked up again three hours later by the same (returning) train.
By prior arrangement, you can organize a glacier float amid the bergs of Spencer Lake followed by a bobbing journey along the light rapids of the adjacent Placer River.
How to get to Spencer Whistle Stop
The Glacier Discovery Train runs daily round trip between Anchorage and Spencer Whistle Stop, May to September.
Flattop Mountain
Why go? A short yet challenging mountain climb on the outskirts of the city.
On a warm day in summer, the most Anchorage-y thing to do in Anchorage is to head southeast to the cusp of the Chugach National Forest to climb the rocky hump of Flattop Mountain with several hundred locals. Neither the region’s tallest nor its most spectacular mountain, Flattop has, nonetheless, been adopted as a classic weekend fitness test for adventurous urbanites.
Though the trail measures just one-and-a-half rugged miles one-way from the Glen Alps trailhead, hikers will be guaranteed plenty of company, the odd bit of scrambling and a stupendous view on arrival. Para-gilders use the summit as a launch site, while more robust walkers carry on to a second, taller summit immediately behind Flattop.
How to get to Flattop Mountain
The Glen Alps trailhead is a 25-minute drive from downtown Anchorage. Making things easier for car-less visitors is the Flattop Mountain Shuttle, a minibus that leaves Downtown Bike Rental daily between May and September. Hikers can book the shuttle both ways or choose to rent a bike and return on two wheels to the city center afterwards (it’s mostly downhill).
Eagle River
Why go? A bike-able suburb with options to branch out into a sprawling state park.
Eagle River is classified as a suburb of Anchorage and is close enough (16 miles) to the streets and shops of downtown to reach by bike. A dedicated cycle lane parallels the Glenn Highway heading north from Anchorage’s city center with the waters of Knik Arm to the left and the Chugach Mountains to the right.
While the neighborhood itself feels like a separate town with a small urban core and options to fuel up on coffee or pizza, it’s largely used as an entry gate to the less-tamed attractions of Chugach State Park to the east. Access is via the 13-mile long Eagle River Road that dead-ends at a nature center, where several short trails lead out to salmon streams and beaver dams.
In July, the town hosts the uniquely Alaskan Bear Paw Festival. The event is famous for its Slippery Salmon Olympics, which involves racing with a large dead fish in one hand and a tray balancing a full glass of soda in the other.
How to get to Eagle River
Eagle River is less than a half-hour northeast of Anchorage along the Glenn Highway. People Mover bus #92 runs from Anchorage City Hall to Eagle River five times daily, Monday to Friday.
Palmer
Why go? Prime agricultural region with an interesting pioneering history.
Born during President Roosevelt’s New Deal, Palmer was a great social experiment that transplanted 200 farming families from the Depression-era Dust Bowl to Alaska, where they cultivated a new agricultural economy. Trainloads of Midwesterners were deposited in the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys, both deemed suitable by the government for industrious farming.
Original buildings from the 1930s still stand throughout Palmer, many of which maintain their hearty, wooden farm feel. Descendants of the pioneering colonists, who refer to themselves as Colony children or grandchildren preserve their story in the Colony House museum bivouacked in one of the old farmhouses.
Palmer’s 20-hour-long summer days produce freakishly large vegetables. To gaze upon the biggest giants, visit during the 12-day Alaska State Fair in early September.
How to get to Palmer
Palmer is under an hour from Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. Interior Alaska Bus Line runs between Anchorage and the city, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, year-round.
Hatcher Pass
Why go? Former gold mining area recolonized by wilderness.
The alpine passage known as Hatcher Pass, 20 miles northwest of Palmer, cuts through the Talkeetna Mountains leading to meadows, ridges and glaciers. Gold was the first treasure people found here; today it’s footpaths, ski trails, abandoned mines and popular climbs that outshine the precious metal.
The main attraction is Independence Mine State Historical Park, a massive, 272-acre abandoned gold mine that sprawls over a gorgeous alpine valley. The 1930s facility, built by the Alaska-Pacific Mining Company, was for 10 years the second-most-productive hard-rock gold mine in Alaska before finally closing in 1955.
Today you can explore the structures, hike several trails and take in the stunning views at Hatcher Pass. From the visitor center, follow the Hardrock Trail past the dilapidated buildings including bunkhouses and a mill complex that is built into the side of the mountain and looks like an avalanche of falling timber.
How to get to Hatcher Pass
You’ll need a car. First, drive to Palmer on the Glenn Highway, then take the Fishhook-Willow road a further 20 miles.
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Buy USA’s National Parks
Lonely Planet’s USA’s National Parks is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Marvel at the Grand Canyon, paddle the Everglades and rock climb in Joshua Tree; all with your trusted travel companion.
May 15, 2023 • 7 min read
Experience the best of Alaska with this guide to the top things to do in the Last Frontier.