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.

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.

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).

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.

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!

The Seward Transit Tour to Anchorage is a unique experience that offers a scenic journey through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Alaska. The tour starts in Seward, a charming coastal town that serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, and ends in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Along the way, visitors can witness breathtaking scenery, including glaciers, mountains, and coastal vistas, and visit a variety of must-see destinations, such as the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Beluga Point. This tour offers a blend of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and informative commentary from knowledgeable guides, making it a one-of-a-kind journey through Alaska's stunning wilderness.

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.

PRIVATE TOUR - LUNCH INCLUDED Enjoy a scenic helicopter tour as the helicopter zips you over the gorgeous valley to the Knik Glacier, where you will land next to a gigantic crevasse. Your skilled climbing guide will teach you about the surrounding glacier structures as you get harnessed up for your tour. Not only will you have 4 hours to climb, but you will also have opportunity to explore the Knik Glacier and melt pools. We do recommend you bring layered clothing, a hat, sunscreen, a neck gaiter for your comfort and of course sunglasses for those bright summer days!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

As featured on HGTV and USA Today's 10 Best. The only concierge-level private land tour in Sitka — max 7–11 guests, picked up directly at the cruise terminal or downtown. No shuttle lines, no stress, guaranteed on-time return to your ship. In mid-July through August, we walk the banks of the Indian River to witness the salmon run — the only Sitka tour that takes you there on foot with a fully guided trail through the ancient Tongass rainforest, where you'll discover native plants, their medicinal uses, and their role in Tlingit culture. Included: ✅ Fortress of the Bear — skip-the-line, admission & private guided visit ✅ Alaska Raptor Center — skip-the-line, admission & fully guided visit ✅ Guided trail walk & salmon run viewing (mid-July–August) ✅ Silver Bay scenic overlook ✅ Scenic coastal highway & downtown orientation drive ✅ Optional multi-course lunch from Misfit Island Cafe Private bookings welcome. Customizable routes available.

Follow the story of the Mat-Su Valley from mountain pass to hometown streets on this relaxed heritage day trip. Travel from Anchorage into Hatcher Pass to explore the preserved Independence Mine and hear how mining and early settlement shaped the region. Then return to downtown Palmer to slow down over lunch at Palmer Alehouse, with an included tasting flight (or a non-alcoholic option). With scenic views throughout and time to enjoy each stop, this tour blends history, landscape, and local flavor in one easy day.

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

Go kayaking with humpback whales during this small-group paddling adventure from Juneau. Climb aboard a boat and travel up the Inside Passage to reach rich feeding grounds for humpback whales. Admire views of glaciers, forest, and snow-capped mountains during the journey then set out in kayaks in search of whales and other wildlife.

Experience Mendenhall Glacier on this small-group shore excursion from Juneau. Travel by land and water on a combo adventure with canoeing and a short hike. Soak up views of icebergs, waterfalls, and cliffs as you paddle around Mendenhall Lake toward the glacier. Afterwards, get a close-up view on a short hike.

A scenic tour from Seward to Anchorage reveals the stunning landscapes of Alaska, including glaciers, mountains, and coastal vistas. Departing from Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, this journey includes visits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Beluga Point, showcasing the region's natural beauty and wildlife. Knowledgeable guides provide engaging commentary, enhancing your cultural experience throughout the tour. Perfect for nature lovers and those seeking to explore Alaska’s rich wilderness. - Journey from Seward to Anchorage with breathtaking scenery - Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Beluga Point - Learn from knowledgeable guides about Alaska's nature and culture - Ideal for nature enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Alaska

Explore beyond Fairbanks city limits—and enjoy an exciting but relaxing array of activities at the Chena Hot Springs Resort—on this small-group tour. Admire ice sculptures at the Aurora Ice Museum, unwind in the resort’s hot mineral springs, and upgrade to enjoy drinks or a meal on site. If the conditions are right, you can then cap off the experience with a northern lights viewing before returning to your hotel.

While visiting Fairbanks, take part in two great Alaska activities: ice fishing and aurora borealis viewing on this small-group tour. Travel outside the city into the mountains to go ice fishing and seek out the elusive northern lights. Your home base is a cozy heated cabin where you can sip hot cocoa and snack on grilled fresh fish that you catch, or reindeer sausage. Hope to get a good look at the aurora borealis (northern lights) on a tour that includes use of fishing gear, refreshments, and guide.

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.

Enjoy a unique perspective on Alaskan nature on this day trip. Venture deep into the Alaskan wilderness to a protected wildlife site, which has the world's highest concentration of brown bears. This guided day trip to Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area includes a floatplane flight over Tongass National Forest and kayaking (available June 20 to July 20). The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area issues a limited number of visitation permits, which need to be purchased separately from your tour operator.