Hiking, Glacier Kayaking, and More: The Best Activities in Alaska

Alaska, the land of midnight sun with its many National Parks, abundant wildlife, glaciers – some being accessible by road, is definitely a road trip worthy destination. With close to 22 hours of daylight in summers, road trips become all the more desirable. We have made two summer trips to Alaska and this post attempts to consolidate our experience from both of them.

How To Reach Alaska By Air?

Depending on the number of days and the region you plan to explore, these are the three cities in Alaska that you can set base for the roadtrip, although only Anchorage and Fairbanks have airports.

Fairbanks

This is a great place to make base if you are mainly looking to explore Denali NP, the arctic circle and/or road-trip northern parts of Alaska. There are higher chances of experiencing the aurora borealis during late autumn and winter at Fairbanks and only improve as you go north from here. It is worth noting that there are fewer direct flights into Fairbanks as compared to Anchorage and air tickets to Fairbanks may be pricier.

Anchorage

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and the airport here is the busiest in the state. This means you will likely find cheaper non-stop flights into Anchorage compared to other airports. You will also find plenty of options to stay which makes Anchorage a good starting point for your Alaska road-trip.

Seward

Seward is an adventure packed town located at the southern end of Alaska. This town will most probably already be on your road trip itinerary and if not then we are sure you will make a spot for it after reading this post. The easiest way to reach Seward is to drive from Anchorage. Though there are fewer, more expensive options to stay here, we recommend spending a night at the minimum to get a feel of this picturesque town.

Did You Know?

Midnight Sun – A sight you will not want to miss

The flight journey over Chugach ranges leading up to Anchorage is a sight you will never want to miss. Definitely choose a window seat on the flight (or sneak into someone else’s) for the last 20-30 minutes of the journey and thank us later. You will be treated with rugged views of snow capped mountains as far as the eye can see. Don’t be surprised if you already snag views of untouched, unnamed glaciers as your flight cruises past them to your destination!

Rental Cars in Alaska

If you plan to go off roading, make sure to rent a 4WD or vehicles with high clearance. Even with 4WD, rental companies strictly restrict where you can go off roading so make sure to be aware of such roads/highways. Click here to see a list of highways restricted by Avis

Things to do in Alaska

We have divided Alaska into three parts not ignoring the beautiful remote areas which we will add as we explore them.

1. Southern Alaska – Seward/ Kenai Fjords National Park
2. Northern Alaska – Denali National Park
3. Hatcher Pass Area

The map below highlights all the points on our roadtrip itinerary along with the most efficient way to cover them. Click on the red markers to reveal points of interest.

Anchorage to Seward Highway

The drive on Seward highway starting at Anchorage and leading into the coastal town of Seward is one of the most scenic ones we have ever been on. Listed here are some of our favorite stops along the highway that provide jaw-dropping views of the lofty, snow covered Chugach mountains. Even though the drive is under 3 hours one way, it could easily take more than half a day depending on how long you spend at each stop. You could also plan to split the stops and cover some of them on the way back from Seward to Anchorage.

Beluga Point

If you are lucky and stay long enough, you could catch views of a passing train along the scenic Alaskan railroad.

Bird Creek

Girdwood

This is a small, beautiful town with numerous quirky little places to eat and drink. You could also hike the easy Byron Glacier Trail for close up views of a glacier.

Over the next few miles before the next stop there are several viewpoints worth pulling over and taking in the views.

Wildlife Conservation Center

If you have not been lucky enough to have grizzly and black bear encounters in the wild, then this is the place to be. Although we are always for having wildlife encounters in their natural habitat, this place is great for understanding the variety in Alaskan wildlife and of course the thrill of being in such close proximity with them.

Portage Lake

This detour from the highway would add about 20 minutes to the roundtrip drive time but is worth it. The lake is easily accessible from the parking lot. This glacial lake is created by the Portage glacier which has now retreated out of easy view. If interested, there is a cruise service that takes you right up to the face of the glacier. Find more details here.

Seward/Kenai Fjords National Park

The highlight of Seward is Kenai Fjords National Park. Although there is road connectivity to the park, the way to truly experience it is via cruise, kayak, hike or helicopter as most of the park is comprised of water or ice.

Things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park

Exit Glacier Overlook Trail

• Distance : 2.2 miles
• Time : 1-2 hours
• Elevation gain: ~308ft
• Rating : Easy
• Kid friendly : Yes

This is an easy hike leading to views of Exit Glacier. There are markers on the trail showing how much the glacier has receded in the last two decade leaving behind debris and glacier melt runoff. This is a beautiful hike and also great for fall colors.

Exit Glacier Ice Hike

• Distance : 9 miles
• Time : 7-9 hours
• Elevation gain: ~865ft
• Rating : Moderate
• Kid friendly : No

This hike started off on the Harding Icefield trail and after about 1.5 miles we took a detour that opened up to views of Exit Glacier. As we walked closer to the edge of the hill, we saw this giant slope of ice in between two mountains and what was more thrilling was the thought of spending the next couple of hours being on it. Once we reached the boundary of land and ice, we changed into crampons, wore a helmet and harness to protect ourselves from injuries while walking ice.

The hike up on the ice was a real butt kicker since the slope was far from being gradual and this was the first ever time we were hiking with crampons and harness, so it definitely took a while getting used to the gear. But the views were unreal, to say the least. We came across several enormous crevasses on the surface of ice, deep blue canyons filled with crystal clear water and the oh-so-gorgeous shade of blue as the sun shone brightly upon the glacier! All this while being surrounded with views of Kenai mountains. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed every second of our time exploring the glacier.

Things to note if you are interested in taking on this adventure yourself –

• Ice hiking can only be done as part of a guided tour. We went with Exit Glacier Guides and highly recommend them.
• The gear needed to hike on ice like crampons, harness, helmet etc. were a part of the rental and included in the price. For cost of the tour and details of what to bring, click on the link here.
• Keep in mind that although full of adventure, this was a physically strenuous activity. We had to climb up steep grades while wearing crampons and carrying backpacks.
• Wear quick-dry hiking pants (not shorts!) and layers.
• Expect to get bruises and scrapes as it is easy to lose balance, slip and fall on the ice.

Bear Glacier Iceberg Kayaking

This was one-of-a-kind experience for us, something we will cherish for a long time. Although we have gone kayaking before, this adventure was something else. Imagine being surrounded by icebergs while kayaking towards the largest glacier on Harding Icefield. We highly recommend anybody with a sense of adventure visiting Seward to take on this experience.

We went with Liquid Adventures on a guided trip and they are probably the only outfitters in Seward that offer this experience. It cannot be done independently. The trip starts off on a jet boat from Seward, across Resurrection Bay and towards Bear Glacier lagoon. After about 30 minutes, our boat bumped into tiny icebergs that started off as small thuds but as we got closer to the lagoon, the bigger ones even rocked the boat and got our adrenaline soaring! Our skilled captain maneuvered the boat and got us safely off on a black sand beach. Once on the beach, we got into dry suits, boarded a 2-person kayak and followed our guide into the lagoon. For the next two hours, we paddled in an icy wonderland next to massive icebergs taking numerous breaks to absorb their sheer size and beauty. When we got closer to the face of bear glacier, we stopped paddling and sat in silence listening to the sound of water melting from the surface of icebergs and dripping into the lake, while being surrounded with icebergs 20 times our size. Pictures cannot do justice to what it felt like sitting there.

Things to note if you are looking to go Iceberg kayaking in the Bear Glacier Lagoon:

• This trip starts from the office of Liquid Adventures at Seward. Find information about cost, rental gear, availability etc. here
• We highly recommend booking this tour well in advance (at least a month or two) as they get sold out pretty quickly.
• Dry suit, dry bags to store gear & valuables, paddle shoes and gloves are included in the rental cost.
• Wear layers and quick dry clothes. Avoid woolen and cotton.
• Be prepared to actively paddle for about 2-2.5 hours with small breaks in between. This activity is beginner level so prior kayaking experience is not required.
• Feel free to carry snacks and munchies.

Hatcher Pass

You could either spend a couple of days or as little as a few hours exploring this area and still be left in awe of the scenery. This place is a mountain pass in the Talkeetna mountains and has some great hikes for all skill levels.

Things to do in Hatcher Pass

Independence Mine State Historical Park

This is an abandoned gold mining site, and possibly the most scenic one as it is set on a valley surrounded by snow capped Talkeetna Mountains. Take a free walking tour or a paid guided tour of this area with refurbished building and ruins that made for miners’ colony and equipment houses in the 1900s.

Drive the Hatcher Pass Road to Summit Lake

Take in views of emerald green water of the lake after a short walk from Hatcher Pass Summit or drive down to the lakeshore for a dip in the icy cold alpine lake.

Take a Walk Near Hatcher Pass Cabins

The contrast created by the color of these cabins against the lush green backdrop of the valley is a sight worth witnessing. These are private cabins available to book overnight here.

Best hikes in Hatcher Pass Region

Gold Cord Lake Hike

• Distance : 1.5 miles
• Time : 1-2 hours
• Elevation gain: ~500ft
• Rating : Easy
• Kid friendly : Yes

This is an absolute gem of a hike with beautiful views from the very beginning. The elevation gain is fairly even except the last stretch leading up to the lake. Feel free to take a dip in the lake but know that a good portion of it remains frozen well into July.

Note: The parking lot for this trailhead is open from 9am to 7pm and there is a $5 parking fee. If you are looking to hike outside of these hours, add an extra mile each way to the hike distance on a well paved road.

April Bowl Trail

• Distance : 2.2 miles
• Time : 2-3 hours
• Elevation gain: ~865ft
• Rating : Moderate
• Kid friendly : Yes, if your kids are experienced hikers

This is steep hike that ends at a set of glacial lakes and 360° views of Talkeetna mountains. It is moderately challenging but the panoramic views at the end are worth the work out.

Reed Lakes Trail

• Distance : 9 miles
• Time : 6-7 hours
• Elevation gain: ~2250 ft
• Rating : Difficult
• Kid friendly : No
• Trailhead : Summit Lake Recreation Area

We could not hike this trail as Akshay was still recovering from his injury but this is on top of our list for the next time. This hike is for adventure seekers and we have heard that the views are breathtaking!

Denali National Park