Top Alaska Hiking Tours

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.

Focus on the scenery of Tongass National Forest and Totem Park on this eco tour from Ketchikan. Traveling with a small group of just 11 people or fewer means you'll get personalized attention and plenty of time to ask questions of your guide. Follow your guide on a walk through the Alaskan rain forest and Totem Park, where you'll get views and photo ops of pristine creeks, ancient trees, and moss-covered ground. There's even a geo-caching scavenger hunt to keep kids interested and occupied.

Paddle across Mendenhall Lake, past icebergs and waterfalls, on this guided Alaskan adventure. Explore the Tongass National Forest and hike near Mendenhall Glacier with expert guides. Enjoy breathtaking views and experience wildlife up close. This small-group tour offers a unique and unforgettable wilderness experience.

Discover Alaska’s natural beauty—and take the guesswork out of exploring—on this hike around Beaver Lake in Sitka, designed for wildlife-spotting. Spend time in the wilderness, hike along a route rarely followed by visitors, and see picturesque scenery along the way. Learn about nature, pass by areas known for eagles, salmon, and other wildlife, and pick berries with your naturalist guide.

Few places on Earth rival the grandeur of Denali National Park. This 3-hour hike, led by a naturalist guide, is limited to just seven people for a more personalized experience. Perfect for the first-time visitor, the experience is offered in the morning, afternoon or under the midnight sun (twilight), allowing you to explore the boreal Alaska Range forest at a time that suits you best.

Hiking on glaciers can be intimidating, but by booking a guided tour you can explore the Exit Glacier with the security of a guide to lead the way. A trip for fit and adventurous hikers, this tour begins with a steep hike that gets you off-the-beaten-path and away from the hoards of tourists that flock to more accessible glaciers.

It’s not every day you get the chance to hike along the base of a 26-mile-long active glacier! Join the original guiding company on the Matanuska, founded over 35 years ago, and explore the awe-inspiring beauty of one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers on foot with NOVA’s new Family Glacier Tour—perfect for all ages! Our expert guides will tailor the experience to your abilities, ensuring that everyone from kids to grandparents enjoys a memorable and fun adventure on the Matanuska Glacier. This relaxed-paced tour offers the ideal way to share the beauty of Alaska’s glaciers with your whole family. You’ll be outfitted with the necessary gear and transported by vehicle to the glacier’s terminus at the edge of the park. From there, our guides will lead you through the rocky fields of the massive terminal moraine, all the way to the stunning 'Ice Falls.' Be sure to stop by the on-site coffee shop to warm up and unwind after your adventure.

Guided hiking tour in Sitka, Alaska. Experience the beauty of the Tongass National Forest and the wildflowers of the alpine. Choose from half-day hikes, full-day hikes, and hikes that end with a tour of our local brewery! Your local guide will show you the best that Sitka has to offer! Your guides will provide information on the local culture, flora and fauna, and history of this special place. You'll get to explore the best kept secrets of Sitka on foot!

Dicover the Chilkoot Trail by foot and water on this half-day hike and float shore excursion from Skagway. After a scenic van ride, embark on a moderate, 2-mile (3.2-kilomter) guided trek with just a small group. Then, climb aboard a rubber raft for a tranquil float down the Taiya River, all while learning more about local sights and history. Round-trip transport is included for your ease.

Discover hidden, hard-to-reach features away from the crowds! Join the original guiding company on the Matanuska Glacier, founded over 30 years ago, and experience the breathtaking beauty of one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers on foot with NOVA’s Adventure Trek. Outfitted with top-of-the-line gear, the Adventure Trek is personalized with a 1:4 guide-to-client ratio, ensuring a tailored experience based on the group’s physical abilities and preferences. This challenging adventure takes hikers beyond the popular ‘Ice Falls’ area, deep into the heart of the Matanuska Glacier!

This tour is strenuous due to climbing/hiking uphill in elevation, unimproved trails and off-trail hiking. It is designed for the more fit travelers. While still a narrated tour, the interpretive hike covers more ground, and explores the sub-alpine and alpine tundra as well as glacial topology in depth. The extra time on the ground gives the group a chance to see the forested area near the Nenana river, the brushy but wildlife rich sub-alpine tundra, and the gorgeous views and highly adapted vegetation of the taiga. Expect to cover 4-6 miles and climb up 1500-1800' in elevation. *Note, this tour often operates in areas just outside the National Park so we may explore the mountains off-trail and utilize locations that are more remote and have a wider variety of terrain to explore. We can drop you off at the train depot in time for the 12:30pm train departure.

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.

This panoramic tour provides you a comfortable ride in a small tour bus to all the scenic waterfall destinations located in and around Skagway. As you leave Skagway you will make your way to scenic viewing platforms for great photo opportunities. We provide a friendly, knowledgeable local guide who will give informative commentary, history, and descriptions of each waterfall destination. Your stops include Pitchfork Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, where you can put your hands under the water, International Falls, the Welcome to Alaska Sign, with a special stop at the Gold Rush Cemetery which includes a hike through the temperate rain forest to Reid Falls. A moderate level of walking ability is required for this hike. Please note the trail is not paved and is on uneven surfaces. This very special excursion affords you the chance to interact with these waterfalls and scenic stops in one tour making for a very exclusive nature experience like no other.

Explore Wrangell’s wild beauty on this 4-hour guided e-bike and hike adventure. Ride quiet forest roads by e-bike to the Rainbow Falls trailhead, then hike through lush temperate rainforest to a stunning waterfall surrounded by moss-covered trees. Along the way, your guide shares local knowledge about the landscape, wildlife, and culture. This active yet relaxed tour offers a perfect mix of scenic riding and peaceful hiking in Alaska’s untouched wilderness.

Experience Alaska’s forests and tundra from the only zipline course in the Denali National Park region. Soar over the trees during a half-day ziplining experience just outside the national park. Guides lead you along a course with six suspension bridges and seven ziplines. Remember to pause and admire the landscape on this memorable tour that promises exhilarating thrills, incredible scenery, and a fun challenge.

Ride an electric bike to the end of Ketchikan's 'road to nowhere' and then hike thorough a wildlife-rich rain forest on this combo eco-tour. Pedal from the marina to the end of the island's paved road system on a battery-powered bike, and then dismount to trek through the wilderness of the Tongass National Forest, following a trail that passes an active salmon-spawning stream, a waterfall, beach views, and dense foliage that's home to an array of native Alaskan wildlife.

Discover the thrill of Backcountry Ice Climbing with NOVA’s expert guides! Whether you're a beginner or looking to try something new, our introductory ice climbing experience offers an accessible and exciting way to challenge yourself in the stunning surroundings of the Matanuska Glacier. No prior experience is necessary—just a sense of adventure and a willingness to learn! Join the original guiding company on the Matanuska Glacier, founded over 30 years ago, and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. You’ll be outfitted with top-of-the-line gear, and our expert guides will provide all the instruction you need to safely learn the fundamentals of ice climbing. Explore the glacier’s frozen landscape as you climb its ice walls, gaining new skills while taking in breathtaking views of this natural wonder. Let’s go—reach new heights and experience the thrill of ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier!

Make the most of your time in port in Ketchikan and discover Alaska’s natural wonders and cultural heritage on this half-day small-group tour. Enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest, stopping to admire a waterfall and native flora. And visit a Totem Park: learn about the ancient Alaskan tradition, the cultural heritage of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people, and explore a magnificently carved clan house.

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.

Your trip to the Laughton Glacier combines a scenic train ride aboard the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway with a wilderness hike to the magnificent Laughton Glacier where you have an opportunity to HIKE ON A GLACIER! This is an out-and-back trail through the Tongass National Forest. The hiking speed of each tour determines the length of the hike, typically the whole hike is 6-8 miles. For 33 Years Packer Expeditions has been Skagway's premiere Eco Tourism Agency! We've grown alongside Alaska's robust tourism and cruise community and have dialed in our services to be THE BEST Eco tour, ANYWHERE in the world! The Laughton Glacier trail is world-class, not only because of the hard work and dedication of the Juneau Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest but also because Packer Expeditions has invested countless days into trail improvements and maintenance. This trail exists as a testament to the care and love that our guides have poured in over 3 decades of tours!

Join us for an easygoing nature walk with breathtaking views, right in the heart of Alaska's Chugach State Park, at the Eagle River Nature Center. Experience the real Alaska without the strenuous work to get there.

Kayak on TWO amazing glacial lakes! This adventure begins with a paddle across Trail Lake in Historic Moose Pass. Our guides bring this small Alaskan town’s history to life. The stories of locals like Alaska Nellie, the ghost of gold miner Al and the famed Iditarod Trail provide plenty to ponder as you paddle along the shores of Trail Lake. After a short paddle south, glide to shore for a hike along a section of the Iditarod National Historic Trail as we head up and over the ridge to the stunning, emerald waters of Grant Lake. While moderately rated in regard to the terrain, there's no denying we're in wild Alaska along this route due to the rapid growth of the vegetation in the spring and summer along the trail. The feelings while staring out across Grant Lake are hard to describe and the views are breathtaking. We'll take some time to have lunch here, then we'll set out on kayaks once again to experience this area from the water before hiking back down the trail toward Moose Pass.

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.