Harding Lake Nature Trail

The Granite Tors Loop Trailhead is located at Milepost 39 on Chena River Road east of Fairbanks. It starts at about 700ft above sea level and climbs to about 3200ft, peaking around the 8 mile mark. The climb is slow and continuous adding to the difficulty of the hike.The Chena River State Recreation Area has a much different landscape than the mountainous areas of Denali or Anchorage. It doesn'...

We split this 15-mile loop into an overnight backpacking trip and had an amazing time. Our route started up the eastern side of the loop and took us past the trail shelter. Once we reached the tors, we settled in and set up camp. It was stunning and we actually wished we would have left a day between hiking in and hiking out to just explore the tor formations. If you're interested in treating y...

As 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 aurora are only visible when it's dark out, so the between September and March will offer the most oppor...

White 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 Creek Trail and the Colorado Creek Trail are provided at milepost 28 and 57 Steese Highway, respective...

Horseshoe Trail is located inside of Denali National Park in Alaska. This area provides a ton of lakes, open meadows, and free ranging wildlife, such as moose, grizzly bears, and caribou. Starting at the parking lot near the railroad tracks, you follow the tracks south until you see the Horseshoe Trail sign. You will hike towards a raging river located near Horseshoe Lake, surrounded by beaver...

The trail is a quick and scenic 1.6 miles, with wonderful wild flowers and ample opportunities to see wildlife (along with the surrounding river valley and Alaska Range). The Taiga trail is best used from April to August. This trail also serves the purpose of connecting the visitor's center with other trails nearby.