Top Alaska Nature Walks

Some of Alaska's most beautiful landscapes lie right on Anchorage's doorstep, but many visitors miss out due to transportation concerns. This guided tour departs from downtown Anchorage and takes you to Chugach State Park for a walk in nature. You'll see Barbara Falls, cross South Fork Eagle River and learn about plants and animals along the way.

Escape the cruise crowds and experience authentic Alaska in one incredible day. On this small-group tour, you’ll journey from Anchorage—in luxury—to witness Byron Glacier's majesty with an easy, guided walk along the river. Then, you’ll get guaranteed wildlife encounters with bears, moose, and wolves at the Conservation Center. Local guides, hotel pickup, and thoughtful touches make this adventure effortless (and effortlessly unforgettable).

Go on an outdoor adventure in Alaska with this small-group helicopter tour with glacier landing. Take off on a scenic flight and admire views of the Knik River on the way to the Knik Glacier. Land directly on or near the glacier (depending on the season) and set out on a guided glacier or ice formation hike before the return flight. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as moose, bears, and mountain goats.

Venture into the stunning Tongass National Rainforest, where ancient trees, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant wildlife abound. This tour offers an immersive look at Ketchikan's natural beauty, showcasing black bears, bald eagles, and spawning salmon in their natural habitats. A knowledgeable guide will lead the way, providing insights into the local ecosystem and ensuring a memorable experience tailored to the day's conditions. Ideal for couples, solo travelers, and small families, enjoy this intimate tour limited to 12 guests for personalized attention. - Explore the breathtaking Tongass National Rainforest with a local guide - Spot wildlife including bears, eagles, seals, and whales - Enjoy a small group experience with a maximum of 12 participants - Operates rain or shine; dress comfortably for the weather

Get out of the city and discover the stunning scenery that surrounds Anchorage. This small-group tour takes you south along the Seward Highway to soak up ocean and mountain views on the way to Alyeska Ski Area where an an aerial tram takes you 2,300 feet (700 meters) above sea level. Afterward, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to learn how sanctuary cares for the Last Frontier’s injured and orphaned animals and see resident wildlife including grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and musk ox.

Adventure. Authenticity. Exploration. This tour embodies these ideas. Leave the trails and cookie-cutter tours behind to go off-trail into the magical boreal forest just outside of Denali National Park. Put on your future-shoes for a moment. Your feet sink into the deep moss that carpets the forest floor. It feels like walking on a memory foam mattress. Your guide hands you a handful wild blueberries. They’re tastier than the ones you bought at the store. The flavors wash over your tongue as your guide tells you about the nutritional benefits. From the corner of your eye you spot movement! A snowshoe hare. It hasn’t lost its ivory-white winter coat yet. Your guide decides to change course and follow the hare. Why not? You’re not on a trail. Now drag yourself back to the present. Is that snapshot something you want to experience on your Denali vacation? If so, you're the person we designed this tour for. The magic starts when you leave the trail. We donate 5% to conservation.

Do you like jaw-dropping views? A good workout? Learning about Denali? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, this tour isn’t for you. But if you answered yes… Ready? Leave the buses and boardwalks behind. Hike high into the Alaska Range. Feel the wind in your hair. As the views unfold, you can’t peel your eyes away. The rugged mountains rise around you like castles. The wide valleys stretch into the distance. The greens, reds, and blues of the tundra create a patchwork quilt unlike any other. Now pick your jaw back up! There’s more to see, and higher to go! Toil further up the steep ridge. Scramble over jagged rocks. Stroll through dips full of delicate wildflowers. Later in the season, enjoy the bounty of wild blueberries, lingonberries, currants, and more. So tell me - will you settle for the buses and boardwalks most people in Denali see? Or will you come with us and adventure into the Alaska Range, seeing views normally reserved for the Dall sheep? The choice is yours.

Discover the beautiful scenery of Alaska's North Anchorage area during this helicopter and dogsled tour. Soar over the Church Range and Knik Glacier in a helicopter as you make your way to the Troublesome Glacier. Here, a team of sled dogs is waiting to transport you across the glacier for a true Alaskan experience. Keep an eye out for native animals such as moose and mountain goats throughout your tour.

Alaska Nature Immersion offers Forest Therapy in the beauty of the Alaskan Wilderness. This practice, inspired by Japanese Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing), provides you with a transformative experience to promote healing and wellness through immersion in the forest, fostering a deeper connection to nature. We aim to facilitate moments of mindfulness, gratitude and rejuvenation, allowing you to tap into the restorative power of the natural world. The tour takes place in the sanctuary of Haines, Alaska, where mountains rise high from the coastal fjords, the oceans teem with wildlife and rivers flow from glacial waters. Your Forest Therapy Guide is certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. You will be fully immersed in the healing energy of the forest by connecting deeply with your senses. Forest Therapy is more than a simple walk in the woods; it's a journey of self-discovery, a meditation in motion and communion with nature.

If you don't have the time, or the expertise required, to go on a glacier expedition on foot, a helicopter tour is a great way to see the glaciers surrounding Anchorage. This tour takes you over spectacular scenery and makes three landings—one alpine, one on an ice wall, and one in the middle of Knik Glacier—where you can get out and explore with your guide. You also have the possibility of seeing mountain goats, Dall sheep, moose, and, in the summer months, bears and wolves. Note: in winter, the helicopter lands next to the glacier.

The Treadwell mine collapse of 1917 ended an era of gold and industry in Alaska. Today, the preserved ruins of this massive site sit quietly among the trees. While the forest has grown in around it, the foundations, machinery, and stories still remain. This guided walking tour takes you through the original streets of Treadwell, past towering ruins, old mine shafts, and up to the edge of the 1917 cave-in. Along the way, carefully placed immersive media scenes help bring key moments of history to life right where they happened. The tour spans 2–3 miles of scenic walking trails, showcasing a century-old industrial footprint that few visitors ever see. Along the way, your guide shares stories of the people who both built and lost this remarkable place.

Explore the natural wonders of Alaska on this enriching tour from Seward to Anchorage. Begin with a pickup from the Seward Cruise Terminal before venturing to Exit Glacier, where an easy trail offers stunning views of this magnificent glacier. Next, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see native animals in their natural habitats. Stop at scenic viewpoints like Beluga Point and Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, where wildlife enthusiasts can spot various birds and marine life. Conclude your journey with insights into the 1964 earthquake at Earthquake Park. Perfect for cruise travelers with later flights from Anchorage. - Includes pickup and drop-off from the Seward Cruise Terminal - Discover Exit Glacier and learn about glacial retreat - Observe rescued wildlife at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - Visit scenic spots like Beluga Point and Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary

Look for loons and kingfishers on the lakes and moose and bears in the woods. This lush old-growth forest is alive with songbirds, wildflowers, berries, and mushrooms. Your guide will share stories about wildlife encounters, life in Talkeetna, and how the area’s Athabascan Native peoples thrived in this wild land. The fresh air, exercise, and a healthy homemade snack will renew and invigorate you, no matter the weather!

Discover Tongass, the biggest National Forest in the U.S., with the help of a local guide who’s got a wealth of experience hiking in the area and knows the best routes for your group’s skill level. Your guide helps you forage for berries and mushrooms and tells you about what life is like in Sitka. Keep a lookout for bald eagles and, during the right time of year, salmon spawning.

Learn about Anchorage’s history while cruising around town in a bus outfitted to look like a vintage trolley. Gain unique into the local history and culture of Alaska's most populous city from guides with generational ties to the region. You may even get to spot moose crossing the road and seaplanes descending on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard.

Explore Chugach State Park's Eagle River trail system without the risk of getting lost when you hike on a small-group guided tour. Lovers of the outdoors won't want to miss the opportunity to hike through boreal forests and glaciated valleys, to see where salmon spawn, and to spot wildlife like bears, moose, and birds. Meet your guide at a designated spot and enjoy a moderate five-hour hike.

Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938, they left behind their equipment, buildings, and personal belongings; yet, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on! St. Elias Alpine Guides holds the exclusive concession with the National Park Service, and access to the 14-story Concentration Mill is only possible through this tour. Come see what it was like to live and work in this remote wilderness as you tour the town site with one of our knowledgeable guides. Listen to tales of lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. Gain exclusive access to explore inside the 14-story mill building and several other historic buildings when you join our tour! Our 2-hour historic Mill Town Tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Kennecott, Alaska!

View Denali from the air on this small-group flight over the Alaskan wilderness, and see the rugged landscape from a whole new perspective that most tourists miss. Soar over rivers, valleys, and glaciers, and experience landing on and walking atop a glacier. Pickup, drop-off, headset, and live commentary are all included for an even more seamless experience.

Discover the wild heart of Sitka, Alaska with private guided hiking tours that showcase the region's pristine temperate rainforest. Engage with the breathtaking landscapes, from serene lakes to cascading waterfalls, while encountering local wildlife. Each tour offers a tailored experience emphasizing safety and personal connection with Alaska's natural beauty. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and families, these intimate adventures guarantee unforgettable moments amidst stunning vistas. Choose from various hiking trails, catering to all fitness levels Private tours for groups of up to 6, ensuring personalized attention Duration options ranging from 2 to 8 hours, designed for your pace Expert local guides share unique insights into Sitka's ecology and history

This exclusive, small-group hike on the Matanuska Glacier is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which will leave you with a greater appreciation for one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena. Discover your inner glaciologist as you traverse across ice fields, hearing the cracking sounds of the glacier moving, and learn about the makings of the glacier in detail from your expert guide. Round off the adventure with local honey and wine tasting.

This is one of the only fully off-trail activities in Denali, and it's the ONLY survival focused activity offered in the Denali area. It is lead by an expert survivalist guide who has survived off the land for weeks on end. If "Into the Wild" is part of what brought you to Alaska, this is the best way to get an idea of what Chris McCandless's life was really like in the Denali backcountry. Eat the edible plants that he ate and learn the not-so-edible ones he ate that resulted in his demise. OH! And we donate 5% of our net profits to conservation in the areas we guide. That means you're helping Denali by taking this tour!

Don't spend your final day in Alaska sitting on a shuttle or waiting at the airport. Turn your transfer from Seward to Anchorage into one last unforgettable Alaska adventure. Designed especially for cruise passengers, this experience combines reliable transportation with breathtaking scenery, wildlife encounters, and memorable sightseeing before arriving at Anchorage Airport (ANC) or your downtown hotel. Travel with a knowledgeable local guide as you visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, admire spectacular views along Turnagain Arm, stop at Beluga Point, Potter Marsh, Earthquake Park, and enjoy views of Exit Glacier. Throughout the journey, your luggage remains safely stored while you relax and continue exploring Alaska instead of worrying about transportation. Whether you're flying home or staying in Anchorage, this experience allows you to make the most of your final day in Alaska.

Both the US and Canada have a rich history of logging and lumberjacking. Cheer on your favorite team as you watch Alaskan and British Columbian woodsmen chop, saw, roll logs, and throw axes as they compete in the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Then, join in the fun as you learn how to throw a double-bit axe for yourself, trying to best your fellow attendees.