Alaska

Looking for the best hiking in Alaska? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Alaska. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Alaska

  • Seward, Alaska

    Backpack the Caines Head Coastal Trail

    4.3
    7 mi / 650 ft gain
    This hike begins near a family friendly visiting area, good bathrooms, and well kept parking lot. You will start out on a gravel path, which seems like it was created for horses, for about 1.5 miles until the path opens up to views of the ocean, mountains, and a bridge leading you over a river an...
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  • Healy, Alaska

    Igloo Mountain Summit

    2.26 mi / 1634 ft gain
    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...
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  • Healy, Alaska

    Horseshoe Lake Loop

    5.0
    2.45 mi / 499 ft gain
    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...
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  • Cooper Landing, Alaska

    Hike Skilak Lookout

    5.0
    5 mi / 900 ft gain
    This was my very first afternoon in Alaska. By myself just meandering around the state by car with a map in my lap. Alaska - what a limitless place of adventure. For those who end up following me, I have a things for places with bodies of water surrounded by towering peaks - so off I was to find ...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Hike up Flattop Mountain

    4.0
    3.4 mi / 1300 ft gain
    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...
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  • Glacier View, Alaska

    Hike Matanuska Glacier

    4.8
    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...
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  • Palmer, Alaska

    Hike the Pioneer Ridge-Austin Helmers Trail

    5.0
    9 mi / 5000 ft gain
    Starting at less than 200ft above sea level, the trail starts off steep and never lets up. It climbs through forest until you are at about 2000ft. The trail gets muddy as the ground thaws and becomes very slick. The vegetation thins out as the elevation increases and the trail begins to cut back ...
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  • Seward, Alaska

    Climb Mount Alice

    5.0
    3 mi / 5265 ft gain
    This hike starts at 0 feet elevation on the side of Resurrection Bay opposite of Seward. Travelling south from Anchorage, take a left turn onto Nash Road a couple of miles before getting into Seward itself. Follow Nash Road for a few miles, past campgrounds, etc. About a mile before reaching the ...
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  • Healy, Alaska

    Climb Sheep Ridge in Denali

    3 mi / 1500 ft gain
    From the Toklat contact station walk east back across the bridge (crossing the river) and drop down onto the river bar heading north. Walk for about 75 yards north hugging the cliffs on the right. Eventually you will reach an area where the tundra comes all the way down to the river bar. This is ...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Hike the Crow Pass National Historic Trail

    4.0
    22.6 mi / 3100 ft gain
    Starting at an elevation of 600 feet from the Eagle River Nature Center, the trail runs through the Eagle River Valley and climbs over Crow Pass to Girdwood.The trail follows the river for almost 12 miles before requiring a ford. Fords can be very dangerous and it is very important to understand ...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Hike the Twin Peaks Trail

    5.0
    2.6 mi / 1800 ft gain
    The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains that host a variety of interesting wildlife. If you look closely, it is not uncommon to see a Dall's sheep or two on the mountain side. At the western edge of the lake, you will find the parking lot and trailhead. There are picnic tables and a bathh...
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  • Chitina, Alaska

    Mountaineering on the Root Glacier

    5.0
    6 mi / 500 ft gain
    Starting in the town of Kennicott you'll hike on the trail leading north outside of the town for a mile and a half.The trail will end at the edge of the glacier and this is where you put on your crampons. I would also suggest putting on your crampons at the edge of the glacier and not while on it...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Hike to Rabbit Lake & McHugh Peak

    4.7
    5 mi / 200 ft gain
    Rabbit lake and McHugh peak easy way in trail starts at Canyon Road off DeArmoun. This road is still not completely paved and I recommend you drive slow. You must arrived early to obtain parking spots on the weekends otherwise you'll be fine. Parking is free. The change of elevation is minimum ye...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Winter Hike to Portage Glacier

    6 mi
    This hike must be done in the deep of winter! Around February, Portage Lake is often frozen solid-solid enough to make walking safe.  Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier.  This trail is appropriate for children. For younger children, ...
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  • Palmer, Alaska

    Mint Hut via Gold Mint Trail

    5.0
    18.1 mi / 2802 ft gain
    Start your adventure by driving 1.5 hours north of Anchorage to the Gold Mint Trailhead about 20 mins away from the town of Palmer. Pay for parking, there is a day fee and a camping (choose either depending on your ambitions).  This trail can be broken down in four (unequal) sections.  The easy...
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  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Thunderbird Falls

    4.1
    1.98 mi / 404 ft gain
    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...
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