Alaska Guided Hiking Trips & Lodges
Hiking is one of the best ways to discover what makes the Alaskan wilderness unique: fragrant forests, amazing wildlife, the sounds of nature, sublime mountain light, and a real sense of peace. And while you shouldn’t be afraid to go hiking on your own, going in a group with a guide can add a lot to the experience. Because they’re experts in their local areas, they know the best trails and the most scenic spots. And they’ll share fascinating insights about the trees, tundra, wildlife, native history, and natural history of the places you visit. You’ll come away with a much deeper understanding of how plants and animals have adapted to survive in our hostile climate.
Small Group Land Tours
Go with a small-group escorted tour company like Alaska Wildland Adventures and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hike. AWA offers multi-day trips with seasoned naturalist guides, nice lodging, and great food. All-inclusive packages start at about $1000 per person and are an excellent value.
Alaska Wilderness Lodges
Alaska’s full-service lodges aren’t inexpensive, but their guided hikes, personalized tours, and great access to otherwise untouched wilderness are well worth the cost. The best lodges for guided hiking: Kenai Backcountry Lodge, where you'll hike through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; Kenai Riverside Lodge, which offers hikes in Chugach National Forest; Camp Denali / North Face Lodge in the heart of Denali. And Kennicott Glacier Lodge is great for self-guided hikes.
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Guided Hiking & Hiking Lodges
Talkeetna View All
Alaska Nature Guides offers guided hikes in Denali State Park. Enjoy nature walks, wilderness treks, and even a heli-hike! Or, fly in to a remote lodge to use as your base camp for a day of hiking with Caribou Lodge Alaska, located in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Explore Alaska on foot — take a scenic day hike into the South Denali area. Choose one of 3 great hikes; from an easy, 2‑mile stroll to a moderately strenuous 5½-hour hike. You’ll get spectacular views and see plenty of wildlife as you trek with your experienced naturalist guide. Depending on the hike you may pass pristine lakes, see an old pioneer’s cabin, catch a glimpse of Mt. McKinley, and even have the chance to spot foraging bears. These ...more
Get a unique view of the Alaskan wilderness on a four- or seven-day backpacking trip through the backcountry. You’ll be trekking on Kesugi Ridge in Denali State Park, with magnificent views of Mt. McKinley and of course plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. Your experienced naturalist guide will be with you the whole way, cooking up great meals at your campsites. You should be fit enough to carry a pack up moderate hills, though you’ll ...more
Go hiking in the Alaskan wilderness, but bookend your hike with a spectacular helicopter ride. Lift off from Talkeetna for a short, scenic flight into the boreal forest around town. Then get ready to start hiking with your experienced naturalist guide. You’ll get great views of Denali, the Alaska Range, and countless mountain peaks as you walk through the alpine tundra of the South Denali area — it’s a hiker’s paradise only accessible by chopper. ...more
This fly-in wilderness lodge on a private lake in the Talkeetna Mountains is a great place to unplug. Choose from 3 private cabins and enjoy home-cooked meals served family style with other guests. Take guided walks to look for wildlife or wild berries, or just relax and enjoy the peace and blissful views.
Skagway View All
Guided heli-hike on a glacier
Taking a TEMSCO helicopter tour shows off the Gold Rush lands around Skagway in a new light, revealing gorgeous, glacier-filled valleys, tumbling waterfalls and peak after icy peak at the north end of the Juneau Icefield. Then land on a remote glacier for an exciting guided journey on ice that was formed thousands of years ago!
Ketchikan View All
Just outside Ketchikan, the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary promises a close-up view of old-growth forest, salmon habitat, an historic lumber mill, totem carving, raptor exhibits, and chances to see black bear and other wildlife – all in under 3 hours! There’s no better introduction to Alaska’s Southeast than this showcase of ecology, wildlife, history and Native culture.
Experience kayaking in Alaska the way it should be — away from the crowds — with these unique Ketchikan paddling tours that make you feel like a true explorer. Your small group (usually just 4 people) will board the company’s comfortable boat and set off from the Ketchikan cruise-ship dock, leaving the big ships and the crowds behind. Choose from a 3‑hour tour, or 5‑hour kayak and hike tour.
Board a rigid-hull inflatable boat for a 20-minute ride out to a secluded island. Weave through a series of small islands with massive cliffs that rise hundreds of feet out of the ocean, check out active bald eagle nests and look for sea lions and seabird rookeries along the way. Once at the island, you’ll climb out on the beach, break out into smaller groups, and set off on a stunning hike on a boardwalk that snakes through the rainforest. ...more
Alaska invites contemplation and reflection. Experience the quiet side of Ketchikan on a guided walk through dense stands of cedar and spruce to a rural ocean beach. Here you can connect with the land and sea through activities such as creative writing, meditation or tai chi.
Bike 5 miles alongside a 100-year-old water flume, surrounded by the gorgeous Tongass National Forest, to a salmon-spawning stream at Ward Creek. After a delicious snack, hike about ¾‑mile, following a boardwalk up into the forest. You’ll learn all about the plants that thrive in this unique environment.
Denali View All
Hike near the Denali National Park entrance for wildlife-spotting opportunities and walks along the Nenana River. You can also hike a frontier-era trail back to an old hunting cabin. Or stay in a Kantishna wilderness lodge and take advantage of their trained naturalists offer multiple hikes per day, from easy to challenging. You’ll get close-up views of Denali (Mt. McKinley) from secluded trails where you usually won’t see any other groups.
Forget the trailhead on your next hike. Instead, take a short but very scenic helicopter ride to a special wilderness area just outside Denali National Park and start your trek from there. Your guide will lead your small group on a soft-adventure hike above the tree line, with sweeping views. You’ll learn about identifying animal tracks and the local flora and fauna, and of course have the opportunity to spot wildlife like bears, moose, and Dall ...more
Traverse Alaska can craft fully-guided custom adventures, or set you up on a trip into the Alaska wilderness arming you with some know-how — and providing you with the independence to freely explore. Traverse Alaska’s owner, Joe and his local team can help facilitate stays in lodges, cabins, tents or yurts, and provide the necessary gear and instructions..
Glacier View View All
Walking out across the ice of Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier is an unforgettable experience that you can take advantage of year-round — and it’s just a two-hour drive from Anchorage.
Experience the thrill of walking or climbing on a glacier. The Matanuska is Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier, and it’s just 90 minutes from Anchorage, so it’s an easy way to get up close and personal with these amazing natural wonders. You don’t need to be experienced in either activity — just be in good shape and up for adventure. You’ll either walk around on the glacier with crampons or learn how to use an ice axe and safely work your ...more
There’s climbing a mountain – and then there’s climbing an ICE mountain. Regardless of your climbing ability or experience, you’ll end the day feeling fulfilled and inspired. MICA also offers short, guided hikes and longer treks if you prefer a more leisurely explore of the glacier and its grandeur.
Juneau View All
Located in a lush temperate rainforest, there are plenty of opportunities to get on the trails. Adventure Flow offers a hike with an emphasis on photography and a more challenging hike with views of Mendenhall Glacier. Or, you can hike across a glacier with TEMSCO Air or Northstar Trekking.
Northstar Trekking operates out of Juneau and caters to all styles of exploration. The curious glacier observer can simply fly to the glacier and snap photographs from flat or rolling terrain. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. If you’re very adventurous, you can even learn how to climb on the ice walls. No matter which option you choose, NorthStar Trekking will guide you all the way, making sure you get the most out of this ...more
A tour aboard a TEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
Feel the truly unique thrill of walking on an ancient glacier. This unforgettable experience begins with a canoe trip to the glacier, where you’ll don crampons and explore the gorgeous blue ice…no experience required!
McCarthy-Kennicott View All
The Root Glacier near this famous ghost town is a good place to take a guided glacier hike. Kennicott Wilderness Guides offers great guided hiking excursions, from single to multi-day.
St. Elias Alpine Guides have a long history of sharing the wilderness with travelers — whether the activity involves hiking a glacier, backpacking, rafting, skiing, or even doing some extreme mountaineering — there’s something for everyone! You can also take advantage of the option to customize your trip.
Experience the thrill of trying out a new sport: packrafting. Led by expert guides, you’ll leave from the town of Kennicott out to the Alaskan backcountry, then strap a raft to your back (it’s under 9 pounds) and set off on an interpretive walk down to a lake. Then unpack the raft and put in the water. You’ll learn how to use and maneuver these unique boats in Class I‑II water, and even have the possibility of taking on some Class III rapids. ...more
Explore the Alaskan wilderness while carrying your pack and camping out — it’s a way to truly get in touch with nature. Choose a 1‑night or 2‑night trek leaving from the town of Kennicott — your expedition will be led by expert guides, who will take you on hikes that can wind past gorgeous lakes and stunning waterfalls. Work with your guide to personalize your adventure — they know the must-see highlights of this area and can fill you in on the human ...more
If you’ve never walked on a glacier, this is your chance. Going with experienced guides, you’ll leave from Kennicott, hike two miles, and spend the next several hours on the Root Glacier, safely exploring the blue ice, blue pool, canyons, and moulins of this extraordinary natural phenomenon. Choose a half- or full-day tour and learn all about natural and human history from your expert guides along the way. Or ramp up the excitement by going ice ...more
Anchorage & Girdwood
North of Anchorage, the Eagle River Nature Center, offers guided hikes and nature programs for a small fee. Just need transportation? Flattop Mountain Shuttle offers shuttle service from downtown Anchorage to the Flattop trailhead where you can enjoy an unguided hike on one of Anchorage's most popular trails. South of Anchorage, Ascending Path offers glacier hikes and relaxed nature walks.
Experience the wilderness of the Chugach National Forest from several different perspectives. Combine a helicopter ride, alpine hike, glacial lake tour, river rafting and train ride all in 9 – 10 hours! It’s one big and bold Alaska tour de force with Chugach Adventures.
Walking out across the ice of Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier is an unforgettable experience that you can take advantage of year-round — and it’s just a two-hour drive from Anchorage.
Homer View All
Kachemak Bay State Park • Mountain & Glacier views
Seward View All
Exit Glacier Guides offers guided hikes on and near Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as heli-hikes to more remote locations. Seward Wilderness Collective also offers hikes in the national park, in addition to more remote locations accessible via water taxi.
Start with a dramatic flightseeing trip in either a helicopter or ski plane and then get out onto an ancient river of ice for a thrilling glacier exploration either hiking or climbing.
Traverse the majesty of Exit Glacier by ice hiking or ice climbing, or opt for a nature hike in the gorgeous terrain around Seward, Alaska. Never ice climbed or hiked on a glacier? Not a problem. All trips include instruction to get you started.
Take a spectacular private guided hiking tour in Seward — where the mountains meet the ocean — to explore glaciers and alpine ridges. When you go with Seward Wilderness Collective, you get a great tour plus a dialogue with their knowledgeable guides about the impacts of climate change, with living examples right in front of your eyes.