Top Anchorage Outdoor Activities

Willow, Alaska is famed for its association with the Iditarod. This tour gives you a taste of life on the trail, without the hard work. At the family-owned and operated kennel, you'll meet the huskies and enjoy views of Denali as a musher leads your pack along private trails.

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).

Explore the wilderness outside Anchorage with a local guide who knows where to spot wildlife and gain the best views throughout the year. Enter the Chugach National Forest to search for moose, bear, and other native wildlife. You’ll also visit Glacier Valley, home to several “hanging” glaciers and a lake of pure glacier water.

No need to bundle up in the snow to experience dog sledding—on this private tour, you’ll zip through the Alaskan forest on a two-person dog sled, exploring private trails the pups use for their Iditarod training. Afterward, interact with the champion dogs, ask questions, enjoy a snack, take in the view of Denali, and learn all about this timeless Alaskan tradition. (It’s the official Alaska state sport!)

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.

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.

Easily as beautiful as any national park, Chugach State Park is a must-see for any Alaskan visitor—and Barbara Falls is one of its crown jewels. In winter, the crowds dissipate and the cascade freezes up, making for an incredible winter-wonderland experience (and spectacular photos). Just minutes away from the trailhead, this experience is suitable for all hikers, children, and anyone who can bundle up and appreciate Alaska’s great outdoors.

Meet the animals of Alaska on a half-day tour from Anchorage. Travel down the gorgeous Seward Parkway along the Turnagain Arm waterway to viewpoints including Bird Point and Beluga Point. Take in the breathtaking scenery, then continue to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Go inside the sprawling nature preserve for injured animals to view large land animals, such as fox, lynx, grizzly bear, caribou, wood bison and more up close.

See the Chugach Range from the air as your helicopter flight takes you over snow capped mountain peaks and braided river valleys to land on over 300 feet of glacial ice thousands of years old! Experience majestic blue pools, stunning, swirling moulins, deep crevasses and dramatic ice formations that continue to fascinate and attract the explorer in all of us when you step foot and trek around the surface of the Knik Glacier. The mighty Knik, one of the largest glaciers left in Southcentral Alaska, is 26 miles in length and 6 miles across at its toe and is just one of several glaciers in the ancient river valley. In addition to spotting wildlife from the air (moose, dall sheep, spawning salmon, and bears), you’ll have an eagle’s eye view of towering waterfalls, glacial iceberg-filled lakes, and the untouched wilderness of the Alaska backcountry. Enjoy a once in a lifetime Glacier Plunge in the summer months at no additional cost! Approx. 40 mins flight time w/ 45 mins on glacier.

The Knik Glacier off-roading and hiking tour stands out because it combines two adventures in one—an exciting ride through true Alaskan wilderness in a specially modified Jeep, followed by an up-close hike to one of the state’s most dynamic and impressive glaciers. Unlike crowded trails elsewhere, the Knik area is remote, quiet, and constantly changing, with shifting icebergs, bright blue melt pools, and dramatic mountain views that make every visit unique. Guests get the thrill of rugged off-road travel, the beauty of glacier trekking, and unforgettable photo opportunities—all without needing technical skills—creating an authentic, immersive Alaska experience you won’t find on other tours.

Travel along the Turnagain Arm on a round-trip journey from Anchorage to Seward aboard the Coastal Classic Train. Make the most of your chance to admire the rugged coastline, Chugach Mountains, river canyons, glaciers, waterfalls, and backcountry wilderness on one of the Alaska Railroad's most scenic sections. Enjoy free time in Seward before the return ride in the evening.

The Matanuska Glacier is Alaska's largest glacier accessible by road, and offers the most accessible areas to walk on of any glacier in Alaska. If you don't want to tackle the winter drive yourself, this guided tour can take you there and lead you on a trek across the ice.  Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Nature lovers can spend the day exploring the Matanuska Glacier on a hiking tour that traverses the glacier’s picturesque terrain. Along the way, your guide teaches you about the dynamic glacial features including seracs, moulons, and crevasses. While it is easy to get views of the glacier on your own, a guided hike on the glacier itself provides a completely different perspective of the otherworldly landscape.

Lake Clark National Park, with its immense rain forest, tundra, and volcanoes, is accessible only by boat or air taxi. With this tour, take a plane ride from Anchorage directly to the park’s best places to see bears. Land near the bears and spend several hours safely observing them. Then, hike through the wilderness for a picnic lunch on a secluded beach.

Set out on a nocturnal adventure in search of the elusive northern lights with this photography-focused tour departing from Anchorage. Get picked up at your hotel and go in search of the aurora borealis with a small group. Learn new photography skills and try your hand at capturing the dazzling light show of the northern lights with your camera.

Alaskans have been snowshoeing for millennia—try the sport when you’re here, and you’ll be a part of tradition. Your naturalist guide will meet you in Chugach State Park, showing you just how easy and rewarding snowshoeing can be. With unbelievable views of Cook Inlet, Anchorage Bowl, and likely wildlife sightings along the way, you’ll float above the snow in the park’s Glen Alps, a snowshoe lover in the making.

A stroll along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a great Anchorage outdoors activity, but you can cover much more ground on a bicycle. This small-group guided bicycle tour begins at Kincaid Park and shows you the beauty of the Cook Inlet, with views of Denali and, possibly, moose along the way.

Enjoy the opportunity that not many people get - to walk on ancient ice. This experience starts with a helicopter flight over the Chugach Mountains, one of the most heavily glaciated regions in North America. State-of-the-art aircraft with large windows guarantee excellent sightseeing from the air. Then, land and walk around on a glacier.

This unique Alaskan experience is the only one of its kind offered in the Anchorage area.  Get out and enjoy the beauty of Alaska!  On a clear day we'll see as many as four mountain ranges in Southcentral Alaska, We'll spend our time on a small frozen lake in the Anchorage area.  Using the latest electric ice auger, guests can help drill through anywhere between 6 inches to 3 feet thick ice.  At times we'll see fish swimming below, either while looking through an 8-inch hole in the ice, or using technology to watch fish move below on sonar images on a depth finder.  At times we may fish with jigs or spoons, at other times, hooks, bait and a bobber.  We'll often see moose in the woods around town or at the edge of the lake.  Bald eagles often watch from the trees nearby, looking for a free meal.  Relax and enjoy the fishing, we'll take care of all the messy work and heavy lifting - except perhaps lifting the heaviest fish of the day from the water!

See the best of Anchorage's highlights in one efficient morning or afternoon tour. Learn more about the city's culture, history, and wildlife, without missing the surrounding viewpoints and scenic photo ops. Your guide knows all the best places to visit and all the most interesting things to see, leading your small-group on a concise route around the local area. Keep your eyes peeled for moose and other native wildlife species.

Be awed by supersized glaciers and the hardy wildlife of the tundra on this full-day tour through the rugged Alaskan wilderness. Departing from Anchorage, drive along a scenic byway to the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, framed by the dramatic Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges. Cruise on the lake that laps against the ancient blue ice of Portage Glacier, stop for lunch at a cozy lodge, and get an up-close look at Alaskan wildlife such as caribou, musk ox, and lynk at a conservation center.

Step into Alaska’s frozen heart on the Matanuska Glacier Adventure Tour—a full-day journey that’s as breathtaking as it is unforgettable. Travel in comfort in our new Mercedes Sprinter Vans from Anchorage along the scenic Glenn Highway, where every mile reveals towering peaks and sweeping valley views. Stop in the charming town of Palmer before arriving at the crown jewel of the trip—the mighty Matanuska Glacier. Guided by local experts, you’ll walk across ancient ice, explore glittering blue crevasses, and capture once-in-a-lifetime photos. This moderate adventure blends Alaska’s raw beauty with the thrill of exploration, offering a perfect mix of comfort, discovery, and awe. For travelers who want to feel Alaska—not just see it.