These 7 Hikes in Alaska Are Completely Out Of This World
If you like hiking and you like extreme, then you need to explore the best hiking trails in Alaska. From traversing dangerous, snow covered ridge lines to dodging moose and bear as you brave Crow Pass, Alaska offers it all. Test your endurance and wilderness survival on one of these 7 outstanding Alaska hikes!
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This trail traces the old route for the iconic dog sled race, the Iditarod. You'll have to forge a creek and keep an eye out for wildlife but trust me it will be worth it. Crow Pass is a challenging hike that's worth the effort! This is an outdoor adventure in Alaska that’s on most locals' bucket lists! Check out the AllTrail’s listing for more information on this hike.
Resurrection Pass is a 39 mile trek in Hope, AK. The trail offers fee cabins along your journey that you can schedule ahead of time before embarking on your 4 to 5 day hike! Travel through the beautiful Kenai Mountains on foot. Read more about this challenging trail on the Alaska.org website .
The Kenai Fjords National Park includes a section of Exit Glacier in Seward, Alaska. The Harding Icefield Trail is exactly what you'd expect, a hike alongside a massive Icefield. So bring your climbing gear during inclement weather and a good camera, because you won't regret this one. Read more about this hike on National Park Service’s website.
Like any trail that has "ridge " in its name in Alaska, there will be some serious high traversing. Kesugi Ridge Trail is a 20 mile trek through alpine country in Denali National Park. It's a two to four day hike that will leave you speechless once you get back to your rig. This AllTrail’s listing has great information about this hike.
Twin Peaks Trail can be quite the chilly and snow packed hike depending on the time of year but the views of Eklutna Lake with an extreme Alaskan wilderness backdrop make the harsh weather worth your while. This trip is a fantastic thing to do in Alaska, especially with visitors from out of state. It’s an easy 35 minute drive from Anchorage. Learn more about the Eklutna Lake area on Visit Alaska’s website.
Portage Pass Trail is right outside of Whittier, Alaska and is a short out and back four mile hike into Portage Lake that offers beautiful views of the glacier. If you want to know more about this trail, head to Alaska.org for more great information.
This ridge line trek along Thorofare Ridge offers hikers some stunning views of Denali, and once in a lifetime encounters with Alaskan wildlife. This hard trail is worth every second for the stunning views you’ll see. Learn more about safety and information about the area on the Hiking Project website.
What do you think of the best hiking trails in Alaska? Have you made any of these amazing journeys? What other hikes would you add to this list?
Yes! Alaska is well known through the world for the incredible amount of land and backcountry to explore, and there’s hikes and trails suitable for all ages and abilities. Although there are challenging, amazing long treks like summiting Denali, there are also easy hikes that are well groomed and fun to explore. Check out the paved Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage, or the Beluga Slough Boardwalk in Homer. Check in at any visitor’s center in Alaska and they’ll let you know the easiest trails to adventure if you’re new to the hiking scene.
What should I worry about when hiking in Alaska?
Make sure to remember safety first! Bring bear spray, even in the more populated areas you’d think you wouldn’t need it. Make plenty of noise on the trail, especially if you’re hiking through dense brush. Most wildlife don’t want an encounter so if they can hear you they’ll avoid you. Always let someone know where you’re headed so in case something happens and they need to find you. Bring bug spray, because our mosquitoes here are fierce. And layers, because the weather can change quickly. Other than that, have a great time out there!
Casea Peterson grew up archery hunting, fishing, and camping throughout the Pacific Northwest. Motivated by her love for the outdoors she moved to Alaska to attend school and to spend time exploring the last frontier. If she doesn’t have a pen in hand or her nose in a book, she can be found out on a lake or up in the woods around a fire with friends.
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