Anchorage

Hiking

Experience the stunning beauty of Alaska by helicopter ride with three different landing spots. Pass over Lake George, watch for wildlife, and realize the scale of the glacier ice wall. Take half an hour at each landing site to explore and snap photos. Fly up from Knik and capture areal views of Alaska. Take in the natural beauty of Lake George, awarded as a Natural Landmark. Scouer the valley floor, look for moose, and witness just how big everything is up North. Soar over an alpine meadow and capture a birds-eye view of the massive Knik glacier below. Spot bears foraging along the hillsides, moose roaming in the snow, and Dall sheep keeping warm among the elements. Dropdown for the last landing at the azure-colored melt pools. See the deep blue ice, and learn about the life cycle of glaciers and their importance to life all over the globe. Explore the glacier with your guide before heading back to the Knik.

Enjoy a classic Alpine hike in Chugach State Park as you admire the scenic views around Anchorage and Cook Inlet. Gaze at deep, glaciated, u-shaped valleys, and giant ridgelines defining the landscape. Start the day by meeting your expert guide at the meeting point in Anchorage. Travel by minivan to the trailhead, before setting off on your hiking adventure. Trek through pristine, treeless, tundra loaded with vegetation that you can touch, taste, and feel. On the way, keep a look out for native animal species including moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, or maybe even a bear. Try to spot reclusive small mammals like arctic squirrels and marmots. You may also see birds soaring overhead, such as bald eagles, thrushes, chickadees, and jays. Learn about the native flora and fauna from your expert guide. Enjoy plenty of stops to enjoy the amazing scenery, with panoramic views all around you. On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Denali hundreds of miles away. After a full day of hiking, head back to the bus for a convenient transfer back to central Anchorage.

Take off from Anchorage on a guided walk through nature. Enjoy an easy hike, learn about Alaska’s vegetation and animal populations, and see one of the Chugach State Park’s most photogenic alpine valleys. You’ll start by meandering through hemlock forests scarred by thrashing leeward winds from the Turnagain Arm. Snowshoe hares make their homes here, attracting the rare lynx living in the area. In June, wild geraniums, bluebells, and forget-me-nots pop up. Spot blissful blueberries, funky fungi, and changing colors that tell us when summer is coming to a close. Every season is a wealth of surprising encounters. No matter when you take your hike, you’ll get to see something memorable. The flora and fauna of the Glen Alps will tell you the story of an ecosystem living in harmony just outside of Anchorage. Moose and bear birth their young in spring and mate during the fall months. Many animals travel through the mountains and valley in search of their favorite feed, providing ample opportunity for wildlife viewing and photography.

Marvel at the wonders found in one of the Chugach State Park's fondest, glaciated valleys. On this guided tour from Anchorage, hike the Eagle River trail system, where boreal forests and salmon spawning streams are found. Enjoy snacks, bottled water, and optional trekking gear. The first portion of the hike takes you to the network of forested trails found at the Eagle River Nature Center, nestled deep along the north fork of the Chugach State Park's massive Eagle River. The hike features a portion of the historic Iditarod dog sledding trail that’s no longer in use. That means there won't be any dogs giving you a ride on this adventure ─ just your two feet. Onward, reach through thick spruces and birches while keeping an eye out for wildlife. You may see the American dipper swimming in a tributary warmed by geothermal heat or a moose and small mammals like the snowshoe hare or red fox. For the second portion, take a short ride to the Chugach State Park's waterfall, Barbara Falls. This section is a short half-mile walk that features local plants, fungus, and point-and-shoot photo opportunities around every corner. It's super rewarding and a great way to conclude the tour.

Witness the ice-covered Barbara Falls, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Chugach State Park, on this guided walking tour from Anchorage. Learn all about the flora and fauna of the area from your guide on this wintertime nature excursion. Departing from Anchorage, follow the South Fork Eagle River, observing ice dam formations created by freezing temperatures and fast-moving water. Reach the base of the 25-foot Barbara Falls and see shimmering icicles, ice bridges, and falling water frozen in time. See the vegetation that lives within the diverse forest. Admire the towering species such as white spruces, paper birches, and aspens that drape the frozen ground below. Learn about the intriguing biological processes happening within the lichen, mosses, and trees that dominate the environment from your guide. Keep an eye out for local wildlife such as moose, snowshoe hare, rodents, and birds.

Feed your adventurous heart on this round-trip helicopter ride and hiking tour from Anchorage. Explore the lush Alaskan wilds from the sky and on land, including the Chugach Range, Knik Glacier, Lake George, and more. Enjoy a flexible trip that can be customized to your interests. Start your trip by considering the best location for your hike and the itinerary with your guide. There are dozens of incredible high-alpine locations that are ideally suited for heli-hiking. Your guide will be there to help satisfy your interests. After deciding on your ideal hiking experience, you’ll board the helicopter and be whisked to the location. Upon arrival, your guide will help you out of the helicopter, which will then zip back to the lodge. Complete silence will quickly surround you. From here, take in the one-of-a-kind scenery and go explore with your guide. You’ll be traveling in a group size that ensures an optimum wilderness experience with a minimized human impact. This tour is all about you, so ask when you would like to stop, take a break, snap some pictures, or run up the ridge to see what is back there ─ more mountains and glaciers, but go for it. Your guide will be perfectly happy taking it easy and waiting with you for the perfect light, that cloud to move into position, or for wildlife to get just a bit closer, all while looking out for your safety. At the end of your adventure on land, you’ll return round-trip to the take-off location.