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Flightseeing is one of the best ways to experience Alaska’s national parks. These parks stretch across remote mountains, coastlines and tundra. Flying gives you a perspective you simply can’t get from the ground. From glacial fjords to volcanic craters, the view from above helps you understand just how wild and expansive these landscapes really are.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what it’s like to fly over each of Alaska’s eight national parks. You’ll learn what the scenery looks like from the air, where flights depart from, how long they take, and which local operators we recommend.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Flightseeing over Kenai Fjords gives you an incredible perspective on where mountains, ice, and ocean meet. Just minutes after takeoff from Seward, you’re soaring over Bear Glacier—the park’s largest—where icebergs float in a brilliant blue lagoon. From there, you might fly past tidewater glaciers like Aialik or Holgate, watch waterfalls spill down sheer cliffs, and trace the edge of the massive Harding Icefield. Flightseeing here is especially convenient, since Seward is a major cruise port and often included in first-time Alaska itineraries.

Departs From: Seward or Moose Pass
Tour Time: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours
Recommended Operators: AA Seward Air Tours, Scenic Mountain Air, Marathon Helicopters, Alaska Helicopter Tours Seward

Denali National Park

Seeing Denali by air is one of Alaska’s signature experiences. From Talkeetna or Anchorage, flights approach the mountain from the south, giving you views of the massive Ruth and Tokositna Glaciers as you climb toward Denali’s towering 20,310-foot summit. From the Denali Park entrance area, flights approach from the north, offering the most direct views over the national park itself. No matter the direction, the scale is staggering—jagged peaks, winding rivers, and endless tundra stretch in every direction. Many tours include the option to land on a glacier for a brief walk on ancient ice.

Departs From: Talkeetna, Anchorage, or Denali Park entrance
Tour Time:

From Denali: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
From Talkeetna: 1 to 2 hours (longer with glacier landing)
From Anchorage: Approximately 3 hours round-trip

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park

Wrangell–St. Elias is vast—over 13 million acres of mountains, glaciers, and wilderness. From the air, its scale is hard to overstate. You’ll fly over the Wrangell, St. Elias, and Chugach mountain ranges, spot glaciers tumbling down valleys, and pass remote airstrips that serve as entry points to this enormous park. It’s one of the more remote flightseeing experiences in Alaska, but still accessible by road via Glennallen, Chitina, or McCarthy. Whether you’re circling above the peaks or landing on a glacier near Kennicott, the sense of wildness is unmatched.

Departs From: Glennallen, Chitina, or McCarthy
Tour Time: 1.5 to 3 hours
Recommended Operators: Wrangell Mountain Air, Copper Valley Air

Glacier Bay National Park

From above, Glacier Bay is a world of ice, water, and towering mountains. You’ll fly over glacier-carved fjords, watch icebergs drift across the bay, and trace the deep blue tongues of glaciers that still push slowly toward the sea. The landscape feels remote and serene, with rich shades of blue and white stretching across the horizon.

Departs From: Gustavus or Juneau
Tour Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Lake Clark National Park

Lake Clark is wild, beautiful, and only accessible by air. From the plane, you’ll fly past volcanic peaks, turquoise lakes, and the dramatic mountains of the Aleutian Range. Most visitors come for bear viewing, lodge-based adventures, or to visit historic sites like Dick Proenneke’s cabin on Twin Lakes. Whether you’re flying in for a day or staying overnight, the views are spectacular from start to finish.

Departs From: Anchorage, Homer, Soldotna, or Port Alsworth
Tour Time: Typically a half-day or full-day trip, depending on the itinerary
Recommended Operators: Rust’s Flying Service, Trail Ridge Air, Smokey Bay Air, Natron Air, Regal Air, Alaska Air Service

Katmai National Park

Similar to Lake Clark, Katmai is best known for its world-famous bear viewing, but the flight in is just as memorable. You’ll soar over Cook Inlet, volcanic ranges, winding rivers, and the windswept Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Most tours land at Brooks Camp or coastal areas for bear viewing, but the route there often includes breathtaking aerial scenery. These trips are longer in duration—plan for at least half a day, often more.

Departs From: Anchorage or Homer
Trip Duration: Full day from Anchorage; half-day to full-day from Homer
Recommended Operators: Rust’s Flying Service, Trail Ridge Air, Smokey Bay Air, Regal Air, Emerald Air

Gates of the Arctic National Park

There are no roads, no trails, and no established facilities in Gates of the Arctic—just a vast sweep of wilderness above the Arctic Circle. From the air, the Brooks Range unfolds in sharp relief: jagged ridgelines, glacier-carved valleys, and braided rivers winding through wide tundra plains. You might spot caribou trails etched into the landscape or alpine lakes hidden between peaks. Flightseeing here offers solitude, silence, and a rare glimpse into one of the most untouched places on Earth.

Departs From: Fairbanks, Bettles, Coldfoot, or Kotzebue
Tour Time:

From Fairbanks: 5 - 6 hrs with Northern Alaska Tour Company
From Kotzebue: 4 hrs on a combo tour of Gates & Kobuk National Park with Golden Eagle Outfitters.

Recommended Operators: Northern Alaska Tour Company, Golden Eagle Outfitters

Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk is remote even by Alaska standards, but it’s often part of a combo flightseeing tour that includes Gates of the Arctic. You’ll fly over Arctic tundra, braided rivers, and the surreal golden dunes of the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. With operators like Golden Eagle Outfitters, you have the option to land and step into the park—making this more than just a flight, but a true boots-on-the-ground experience.

Departs From: Kotzebue
Trip Duration: Combo tours that also include Gates of the Arctic typically run about 4 hours
Recommended Operators: Golden Eagle Outfitters

Which Alaska National Park Should You See by Air? Compare All 8 Parks