Top Anchorage Outdoor Activities

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 complimentary snack, take in the view of Denali, and learn all about this timeless Alaskan tradition. (It’s the official Alaska state sport!)

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.

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.

The opportunities for adventure in Alaska are endless, so visitors on tight schedules might have difficulty fitting in everything. You'll paddle around icebergs in Spencer Glacier Lake and enjoy views of hanging glaciers, cascading waterfalls, and more on a train ride through Grandview, the most scenic section of the Alaska Railroad.

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.

This unique Alaskan experience is the only one like it 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 beautiful small stream within about an hour's drive of Anchorage. We'll provide hip waders so you can get your feet wet without getting your feet wet. We'll provide quality Orvis fly rods, and "normal gear" as an alternative. All you'll need is clothing appropriate to spend the day in the Alaska wilderness. 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!

Don’t let a lack of equipment prevent you from enjoying a day of fishing when in Anchorage. This fishing rental package includes chest waders, wading boots, wading belt, and heavy duty spinning rod, reel, and line. Staff will also make sure you know how to use the equipment and give you advice on where to go.

• Learn about Anchorage's rich history of dog mushing. • Run on the trail system of the Tozier Track, legendary race venue. • Your dogsled ride is guided by a third-generation musher Robert Redington. His family has been involved in sled dog racing in downtown Anchorage since the 1950s, carrying on a proud tradition in the sport. His grandfather is Joe Redington Sr. who is known as the "Father of the Iditarod". • Experience real Alaskan mushing without leaving Anchorage.

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.

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. The experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible, welcoming a wider range of travelers.

Don’t let Alaska’s best scenery pass you by from your car window. On this tour, you’ll follow your guide on e-bike, traveling the ultra-scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the nation. Taking it easy on your pedal-assisted cruiser, you’ll nab views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Mountains, downtown Anchorage, and so much more—including all the wildlife Alaska is known for.

Punchbowl Glacier is only accessible by helicopter—and combining an aerial approach with a dog sledding session on the snowfield below, plus the chance to drive the sled yourself, is an experience that can't be replicated independently. This tour covers the helicopter flight to the glacier, a sled dog run across the alpine snowfield, and a guide who covers the history of the Iditarod Trail throughout.

Transform your Seward-Anchorage transfer into yet another unforgettable Alaskan adventure. This intimate VIP tour—via luxury Mercedes Sprinter—showcases Alaska's finest: meet rescued wildlife at the Conservation Center, explore the majestic Byron Glacier, and spot Dall sheep at Beluga Point. Enjoy personalized guidance, optional lunch in Girdwood, and flexible drop-off, all while traveling in executive comfort.

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.

Busy travelers with only one day to spare can see the best of the Alaskan wilderness on a tour that combines a scenic train ride, river float, glacial lake paddle, and a visit to a wildlife conservation center. From taking photos with icebergs to seeing bears at the wildlife center, the mix of activities fulfills visitors’ Alaskan adventure dreams.

We make it easy to see it all in one day! Relax on the coach as you enjoy the beauty of Turnagain Arm. On the cruise get ready to view one of the largest concentration of glaciers in Alaska. Weather, ice conditions and wildlife activity changes daily and our captains may adjust the route to provide the best cruise experience while keeping your safety and comfort a top priority. We take pride in ensuring that your time with us is an enjoyable memory that becomes a favorite highlight of your Alaska vacation. We operate first-class catamarans. Due to their dual hull design, these powerful high-speed catamarans are extremely stable and able to smoothly navigate through the narrow fjords and passages that lead us to the face of massive glaciers. By operating safely and efficiently, Phillips Cruises & Tours provides a comfortable cruise and our No Seasickness Guarantee assures nervous cruisers the confidence that they will enjoy our cruise without any unpleasant effects.

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.

See the Portage Glacier on a small-group tour from Anchorage. Follow the scenic Seward Parkway through the breathtaking landscape of the Turnagain Arm waterway, stopping at Beluga Point and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge to look for wildlife. Take a cruise on Portage Lake to observe the Portage Glacier up close, then check out wild animals that are being rehabilitated at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Stop for provided light snacks and water in the town of Girdwood near Mt. Alyeska and take in the Chugach Mountains.

Increase your chances of viewing the magical aurora borealis on this guided tour in Anchorage. Enjoy expert photo instruction, portraits under the northern lights, and warm drinks while learning about the science behind the aurora. With snacks, hotel pickup, and forecasting services included, this unforgettable experience lets you witness nature’s most stunning light show.