Anchorage, Alaska
Top Spots in and near Anchorage
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Anchorage, Alaska
Hike the Twin Peaks Trail
5.02.6 mi / 1800 ft gainThe lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains that host a variety of interesting wildlife. If you look closely, it is not uncommon to see a Dall's sheep or two on the mountain side. At the western edge of the lake, you will find the parking lot and trailhead. There are picnic tables and a bathh...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Hike Winner Creek Gorge
4.76 miMost people will start this trail behind the Hotel Alyeska and parking is available there if you're not a guest spending the night. This trail can be broken down into 3 segments and the first section is .75 miles along many sections of boardwalk. It's all very flat and keeps you dry when the su...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Mount Alyeska
4.11 mi / 1755 ft gainMount Alyeska is an out-and-back where you may see local wildlife located near Girdwood, Alaska.Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike the Pioneer Ridge-Austin Helmers Trail
5.09 mi / 5000 ft gainStarting at less than 200ft above sea level, the trail starts off steep and never lets up. It climbs through forest until you are at about 2000ft. The trail gets muddy as the ground thaws and becomes very slick. The vegetation thins out as the elevation increases and the trail begins to cut back ...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike Lazy Mountain
5.6 mi / 3000 ft gainMy sister and I with her dog did this great adventure after completing a Star Wars marathon and being pretty lazy on the couch. We wanted to get up and move our bodies, so we decided to check out this summit hike that ironically was named Lazy Mountain. This is a great hike for those that want a ...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Explore the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
5.0You'll see tons of animals including bald eagles, bears, moose, muskox, lynx, reindeer, and wolves! It's a conservation center so they have a great mission. It is located in Portage Valley and is surrounded by the Chugach Mountain Range and the Turnagain Arm Inlet. Open 7 days a week, 10 am t...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Explore Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass
4.71.5 miIf you've only got time to do a few things when in Alaska, make sure you visit Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass. It is open year round, and beautiful no matter the season. You can easily spend the entire day exploring the mine and surrounding area.The winter months fill the...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike to Alaska's Mint Hut
5.09 mi / 2500 ft gainStart your adventure by driving 1.5 hours north of Anchorage to the Gold Mint Trailhead about 20 mins away from the town of Palmer. Pay for parking, there is a day fee and a camping (choose either depending on your ambitions). This trail can be broken down in four (unequal) sections. The easy s...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike the Gold Mint Trail
16 miHiking through this valley really shows off the amazing landscape of Alaska.The trailhead starts at mile 13.7 on Hatcher Pass Rd. There is a big parking lot ($5 for a day pass). The trail has mile markers for the first 5 miles and is fairly well groomed, although you do have to do a little bushwh...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Winter Hike to Portage Glacier
6 miThis hike must be done in the deep of winter! Around February, Portage Lake is often frozen solid-solid enough to make walking safe. Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. This trail is appropriate for children. For younger children, ...Read more -
Anchorage, Alaska
Hike Byron Glacier
4.8To begin on this adventure, you first have to find the trailhead. Drive out on the highway to Girdwood, and turn left at the sign that says "Portage Glacier". Towards the end of the road, it Ys and you take a right, then another right. Follow this road, and the first parking lot on your right is ...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hike Reed Lakes, AK
5.018 mi / 1850 ft gainThe trail head starts at the small unpaved parking lot which is free, (it was very full though because of berry picking). The trail starts off wide and flat as you walk through a beautiful valley surrounded by trees and giant granite mountain peaks. The trail changes to an upward climb with lots...Read more -
Palmer, Alaska
Hut to Hut Across Alaska's Talkeetna Mountains
31 mi / 4800 ft gainCooling temps and changing colors often prompt us to squeeze in one more trip. And in the mountains of Alaska, it really is a squeeze. The time from peak fall colors to the first snow cover can be as short as a week. This autumn we chose to expand on a popular trek in the Talkeetna Mountains nort...Read more -
Whittier, Alaska
Hike to Portage Pass and Portage Lake
4 mi / 800 ft gainProbably one of the best bang-for-your buck hikes I've ever been on. Starting from the trailhead, which is just on the Whittier side of the Portage tunnel, you'll hike up 800ft in one mile on a mostly wide, rocky trail. In what seems like no time at all, you'll be at Portage Pass, with views of t...Read more