The Best Hiking in Alaska

To begin on this adventure, you first have to find the trailhead. Drive out on the highway to Girdwood, and turn left at the sign that says "Portage Glacier". Towards the end of the road, it Ys and you take a right, then another right. Follow this road, and the first parking lot on your right is ...

This moderate to difficult climb starts at 2200 feet and gets progressively difficult as you get closer to the top. It will cost $5(cash or card) to park at the Glen Alps Trailhead where you will find a set of well maintained trails accessing different parts of the valley including O'mally Peak.F...

McKinley Bar Trail is a 5 mile roundtrip hike that is located 1/4 mile before Wonder Lake Campground. This hike is a great way to stretch your legs out after a long bus ride. This easy trail meanders through a spruce forest and past many small ponds before reaching the McKinley Bar on the McKinle...

Climb 3 miles from the parking lot at the Crow Creek Trailhead to Crow Pass. Waiting for you at Crystal Lake is the quaint A-frame Forest Service Cabin, along with an amazing view of Crystal Lake. The cabin sits just 500 feet off of the main trail upon reaching the pass. Reservations can be ma...

It's hard to fathom how massive some Alaskan glaciers can be. But spend a day hiking along one and you'll start to get an idea of how much ice there is in Alaska. The Exit Glacier is a small tongue of glacier from the Harding Ice Field that comes down to almost sea level.Drive the Exit Glacier Ro...

Most people will start this trail behind the Hotel Alyeska and parking is available there if you're not a guest spending the night. This trail can be broken down into 3 segments and the first section is .75 miles along many sections of boardwalk. It's all very flat and keeps you dry when the su...

The glacier is adjacent to the Glenn Highway at milepost 101. Located about 93 miles northeast of Anchorage. There is a $20 entry fee where you can park your car and take a quick hike to the glacier. A campsite is located at the entrance if you care to stay overnight, but this can be done in an a...

The Mendenhall Glacier, formerly known as Sitaantaagu ("the Glacier Behind the Town"), is a 12 mile long glacier about 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital Juneau. A quick drive from downtown Juneau to the ‘trailhead’ parking lot finds you overlooking the nearly half a mile wide face of the glacier....

The trail head starts at the small unpaved parking lot which is free, (it was very full though because of berry picking). The trail starts off wide and flat as you walk through a beautiful valley surrounded by trees and giant granite mountain peaks. The trail changes to an upward climb with lots...

Parking is at the Glen Alps trail head and costs $5 if you don't have a yearly pass which is $40 and lets you park at all the state parks without paying every time. This is also the same parking lot that you would use for the most hiked mountain in Alaska, Flat Top, so get there early to find a s...

The trail head starts out with a small climb but levels out shortly. The trail winds through forest at first, then opens up to beautiful Alaskan landscape. You cross a few bridges over small streams and rivers and hike by some turquoise ponds, then eventually come to a boulder field. It is about ...

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 Horsesho...

Thunderbird Falls is just 1 mile from the parking area off the Glenn Highway. The trail starts off with climb but quickly levels off. It skirts the Eklutna Canyon through a birch forest with viewing decks overlooking the cayon and falls. The trail splits near the end. If you stay to the right yo...

Make no mistake, this is a unkempt, social trail. Starting at the base of the mountain at the McKinley Park Road sign for Big Creek/Igloo Mountain Campground, begin hiking northeast towards a faint social trail heading up the mountain. Once you reach the first false peak approximately 1/3 of your...

The trail begins at sea level and winds its way through the forest gradually, occasionally allowing a peek at the Turnagain Arm behind you. Once out of the treeline, the trail becomes much steeper, around dirt and rocks, but with the summit in sight it's easy to continue on, despite that stingin...

If you've only got time to do a few things when in Alaska, make sure you visit Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass. It is open year round, and beautiful no matter the season. You can easily spend the entire day exploring the mine and surrounding area.The winter months fill the...