Top Anchorage Outdoor Activities

We make it easy to see it all in one day! Relax on the coach as the driver guide narrates while you enjoy the beauty of Turnagain Arm. In Whittier, the Glacier Quest Cruise cruises from the quaint seaside town to glacier-filled Blackstone Bay, a dramatic deep-water fjord where two tidewater glaciers and several alpine glaciers await. Keep an eye out for sea otters, Steller sea lions, bears, mountain goats, whales, and more! You will see several glaciers, including Tebenkof Glacier, named for Mikhail Demitrievich Tebenkof, an outstanding surveyor whose maps were the first charts of Alaska’s waters published in 1852. Northland Glacier rests majestically, clinging to the edge of the towering mountain. Blackstone and Beloit are tidewater glaciers that have carved a steep pathway to reach Prince William Sound’s saltwater. Cruise up close to these massive glaciers to watch for telltale signs of movement signaled by the distinct “pop” of glacier ice calving. Return to Anchorage by coach.

Explore the musk ox farm in Matanuska Valley on this small group tour from Anchorage. You’ll take a walk on the farm, learning about the history and importance of the animals and qiviut, its fine wool, as you go. You’ll have round-trip transfers from Anchorage, too, some lovely scenery along the way.

As a local guide and award-winning photographer, I use professional aurora-tracking tools and real-time weather data to give you the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights. If conditions aren’t favorable, I’ll let you know in advance and offer the option to cancel. I’ll help you capture stunning shots with your phone or camera, and share insights about Alaska’s landscapes, history, and wildlife during our aurora hunt.

Embark on a captivating journey along the Turnagain Arm scenic drive, where opportunities to spot Dall sheep and Beluga whales abound. Capture stunning photographs as you immerse yourself in the beauty of Alaska's landscape. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to encounter and learn about remarkable Alaskan wildlife. Continue to Portage Glacier Lake for additional scenic views and potential surprise stops for lunch. Conclude your adventure with a delightful wine tasting experience back in Anchorage before returning to your hotel. - Scenic drive featuring potential wildlife sightings along Turnagain Arm - Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for a close encounter with local wildlife - Photo opportunities at Portage Glacier Lake and surprise stops along the route - Tour duration is approximately 5-6 hours, with longer options for wildlife sightings

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.

If you've already seen the sights, try this one-of-a-kind tour from Anchorage or Talkeetna, which is unlike any other. In the company of a skilled forager, you'll spend time hiking, foraging for wild greens, fungi and berries and cooking your freshly-foraged ingredients backcountry style. Enjoy an ancient activity while learning new skills.

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.

Avoid the disappointment of returning from your Alaska vacation with sub-par photographs. This photo safari, led by a professional photographer, helps you to improve your photography by providing technical and creative tips and tricks as you explore Anchorage's wild surroundings under the summer sunset.

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.

Don’t bother spending hundreds of dollars on winter gear you might only use once. With this 3-piece cold-weather package—rated to -20ºF—you’ll stay warm with a down-insulated parka, snow pants (or bibs), and winter boots perfect for skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and more. Infant sizes to 5XL available; rent for however many days you need. For extra ease, choose delivery straight to your hotel.

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.

Experience the breathtaking landscape of the Turnagain Arm on a half-day tour with an informative guide. Ride along the scenic Seward Parkway to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and Beluga Point, stopping for photo ops and wildlife observation. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a large nature preserve where injured animals are rehabilitated. Continue to the town of Girdwood, then travel up into the Chugach Mountains for another great vantage point on the Turnagain Arm. Includes round-trip transportation from Anchorage.

Join us for an exploration of the stunning coastal and mountain landscapes as we explore the Turnagain Arm, for sightseers and photographers alike. No photography experience needed! Your itinerary includes Turnagain Arm, Chugach National Forest, and Chugach State Park, with the opportunity to photograph streams, waterfalls, coastal areas, glaciers, and mountains. Depending on the season, wildlife opportunities may include bears, moose, Dall sheep, Bald eagles, and Beluga whale. Unlike other Turnagain Arm tours available in Anchorage, our tour does not go to well-known, crowded locations. Our objective is to take you off the beaten path to explore unique photo locations that provide great photo opportunities. Throughout the tour, you’ll be offered creative and technical support by your Alaska Photo Treks guide. It’s a great way to see the sights while honing your photography skills. Book it at the start of your Alaska trip and you’ll take home your best travel photos yet!

The Seward Highway ranks among America’s most breathtaking drives. On this self-guided driving tour, you’ll go beyond landscapes that embody Alaska’s rugged character and natural beauty. You’ll follow a historic route that echoes the pioneering spirit of the Last Frontier, where each mile holds stories of those who carved a path through untamed wilderness. The tour begins at Potter Marsh on the outskirts of Anchorage and ends in downtown Seward, next to Resurrection Bay’s shoreline. Along the way, Jan and Stan, longtime Alaska residents, will bring the highway’s history to life, sharing fascinating tales of this historic route that connects Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. You’ll take in breathtaking views of Turnagain Arm while learning about its dramatic bore tides and the endangered beluga whales that navigate these silty waters. Along the Seward Highway, you’ll have the chance to spot dall sheep on the cliffs, the only place in Alaska where they’re regularly seen near sea level.

Travel north from Anchorage through the MatSu Valley to the mushing capital of the world and go for a sled dog ride! Take in the sights while you let us do the driving en route to Willow, AK where you’ll experience a real Iditarod musher’s home kennel and witness their enthusiastic canine athletes. Go for an exhilarating overland sled dog ride powered by a team of authentic Alaska Huskies, and learn all about the sport of mushing and the world famous 1000-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You’ll go for a dog-powered ride in a specially designed 2-person cart with your own personal musher and the chance to pet some friendly fluffy Alaska huskies! This 5.5 hour round-trip adventure will be one you won’t forget. Approximately 1.5 hour drive each way with 1.5+ hours at the kennel. Wheeled carts are used in summer (June-Sept.) & sleds in winter when there is sufficient snow on the ground. HOTEL PICKUP AVAILABLE IN WINTER ONLY; CONTACT TO ARRANGE. GROUPS OF 6< CONTACT FRONTIER TOURS TO BOOK.

Explore the natural beauty of the Turnagain Arm, Portage Valley and city of Anchorage on a customized full-day private tour with an informative guide. You can ride a tram to the top of Mt Alyeska, explore the town of Girdwood, and gaze at the Portage Glacier on an optional cruise on Portage Lake. You'll also have the chance to view Alaska's majestic wildlife at scenic viewpoints.

New in 2023! This full-day tour transverses a glacier feed river as it meanders through a glacier-carved valley. It is not uncommon to see a whole host of wildlife that frequents the river system as we paddle our way through the rivers meandering course. You will find salmon swimming under your paddle craft as they migrate to their spawning grounds. Also, expect to see ducks and eagles fly overhead and maybe even find a moose standing in the water eating a meal. This tour starts by paddling across Jim Lake and then a short overland portage into Jim Creek. Finally, exit on the beach of the Knik River that flows from the Knik Glacier, and while there get some pictures with the glacier in the background. The Knik Glacier is the headwaters of the Knik River and is the largest glacier in Southcentral Alaska. From there we will continue downriver to the mouth of the Knik arm of the Cook Inlet.

Anchorage has one of the best urban trail systems in the United States, with hundreds of miles of paved and multi-use trails connecting our city. Our three main multi-use trails—the Chester Creek Trail, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and the Campbell Creek Trail—can be connected to form a 30-mile bike loop, an almost-complete urban greenway that is, when viewed on a map, in the shape of a moose! You will be off the beaten path, spending the day like a local with a local! This urban greenbelt has ample opportunities to spot wildlife like moose, black bears, bald eagles, and occasionally even a beluga whale! If you love to bike, there is no better way to experience Anchorage than by joining us to bike the "Moose Loop" (the route makes the outline of a moose head on a map).

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.

Discover the best of Anchorage with a self-guided scavenger hunt for an out-of-the-box sightseeing experience. Discover the city's rich history and hidden treasures at your own pace—perfect for tourists, locals, and newcomers alike. Lace up your walking shoes, snap photos, race against the clock, and navigate the city in a unique and enjoyable way.

Turn your Anchorage trip into a worry-free day of adventure into Alaskan nature with this private half-day tour. Picked up by your personal driver, you’ll head for the famous Turnagain Arm, driving down one of Alaska’s most famous scenic roads. You’ll spot wildlife and glaciers, get views of Chugach State Park, and—since this is your trip—spend your time as you choose.

See the best of Alaska's backcountry from the air as your helicopter pilot takes you on an epic flying adventure past mountains and over dramatic glacial features & braided rivers. Experience unobstructed, bird’s eye views of stunning mountain peaks, local wildlife, towering waterfalls, dramatic glacial terrain, iceberg filled lakes and the beauty that is unique to Alaska. Choose your flight path based on your bucket list items to see and let your pilot show you what you would be missing if you stayed on the ground. Look for wildlife and ask your pilot where their favorite secret spot is. After an hour flying in the chopper and you will have a new favorite mode of transport!

See the Chugach Range & Knik River Valley from the air as your helicopter pilot takes you on an epic flying adventure. Experience exceptional, unobstructed views of the Alaska wilderness from the air. Fly over stunning mountain peaks, spot wildlife, towering waterfalls, dramatic glacial terrain & beauty that is unique to Alaska before exploring your 3 landing locations! Experience custom flight paths and landings based on your bucket list items. Step foot on the exposed ice of a glacier in the Knik Valley and trek with your pilot to explore the many facets of the glacial surface (Moulins, blue pools, and deep crevasses), choose a high alpine landing to take in large, sweeping sights of glaciers and rocky ridgelines, land on the shoreline of a massive glacial lake filled with giant floating icebergs, a rocky beach at the face of a dramatic ice wall or let your pilot take you to their favorite landing location!

Exploring Anchorage and its spectacular environs—like Turnagain Arm—is spectacularly easy with this full-day private tour. Starting in the city, your driver will show you Anchorage’s highlights before embarking out into Alaskan nature. You’ll take a scenic drive along one of the country’s most beautiful highways, ride the tram up Mt. Alyeska to a mountaintop meal, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and more.