Perhaps no other state is as defined by terrain as Alaska. With 350 million acres of land and 6,640 miles of coastline making it the largest state in the USA, Alaska’s enormity also represents its significant history, myriad cultures, and abundant activities.
Understanding the unique features of the state is an important part of planning a trip to Alaska. From rainforests to glaciers, Alaska is distinctive, and adventures here are shaped through each of its different regions and the activities within them.
Alaska by Land
No matter your interest, Alaska has a land-based opportunity to whet your appetite. Whether taking a few days or several weeks to explore Alaska’s trails or highways, it’s a good idea to understand your options before determining an itinerary.
If you’re a hiker eager to lace up your boots, Alaska delivers – no matter your level of experience. Southeast Alaska has excellent options for day hikes where history, Alaska Native culture, and lush rainforests combine for a unique hiking experience within easy reach of a town.
If you’re looking for some serious elevation, state and federal lands near the Southcentral city of Anchorage provide stellar views from the heart of the Chugach mountains. Alternatively, drive toward Denali National Park, where hiking on the tundra means sharing space with the animals and birds of this popular preserve.
If you’re a backcountry explorer with experience navigating remote wilderness areas, head for Alaska’s less-traveled places on a multi-day backpacking trip. When ready to rough it in Alaska’s far north, the Arctic region offers a sense of grandeur unmatched by other places, especially the Brooks Range and Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.
Alaska’s biking scene has risen dramatically thanks to the vast availability of terrain. If you’re looking to take to the trails or paths on two wheels, plenty of options await you. The ski trails for winter use become stellar mountain bike routes in the summer and fall months, with single tracks also prevalent in communities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
If road biking is more your speed, you can rent bikes in Fairbanks or Anchorage for use on paved pathways popular with locals. To cover more miles and tackle steeper hills, consider an e-bike. Have a family in tow? Tagalong bikes and trailers for little ones are perfect for spending a few hours riding to parks and playgrounds. Fat tire biking is available on trails throughout the state, including the beautiful Knik Glacier, near Anchorage.
With more than five percent of Alaska covered in year-round ice, it’s a natural pastime to strap on crampons, grab an ice axe, and crunch along the glacial surface among towering pillars of blueish ice. It’s possible to embark upon a glacier hike in Juneau, Southcentral Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and amidst the peaks of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Alaska by Water
The shorelines of Alaska are seemingly endless, with the Pacific Ocean, coastal waterways, rivers, lakes, and streams available for nearly every sort of water-based recreation. If you’re a paddler, savor the quiet nooks and crannies of Southeast Alaska’s coves and bays aboard a kayak, or try a more adventurous trip along Southcentral’s Kenai Peninsula to explore areas near Seward or Homer.
Adrenaline junkies can drop into one of the Class II or IV rivers prevalent in Southcentral and Interior Alaska on a rafting trip, taking one day or several to test your mettle against the cold water and swift currents. For a new way to see Alaska’s wilderness, take a raft trip down more placid waters on the Kenai Peninsula or in the Southeast region.
Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage is one of the most popular ways to get a comprehensive view of the panhandle area. Larger ships set sail from Seattle or Vancouver, or you can choose to embark on a smaller vessel from Sitka, Juneau, or Ketchikan. The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are the locals’ preferred way to get from one coastal community to another, enjoying the scenery and laid-back atmosphere.
Alaska by Air
Aircraft have shaped Alaska transportation for decades, and the state’s reliance upon air travel is evident in nearly every community. An abundance of airborne options to explore Alaska are available, be it for transport to a remote lodge, spotting wildlife, or ogling Alaska’s expansive terrain from above.
To truly witness the grandeur of Alaska’s glaciers, there’s nothing quite like flightseeing for viewing these massive rivers of ice. Southeast, Southcentral, and Interior Alaska are perfect sites for both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft tours.
You’ll also need to travel by small planes or helicopters to access lesser-traveled sections of Alaska for hiking, biking, fishing, and dog mushing. In Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, helicopters can whisk visitors to secluded icefields for the chance to ride a dog sled, and during the winter, small planes provide a faster route to view stunning aurora borealis displays.
Alaska is a destination of superlatives, where you could spend years exploring the unique regions, activities, and wildlife in the Great Land. Dream it up, and it’s possible here, no matter how or where you travel.
