Best of the Kenai Peninsula Adventure
Camping Hiking Tours
5 Days, 4 Nights 28MI / 45KM
Trip Highlights
This unique Alaskan adventure combines the features of a backpacking trip with the benefits of a basecamp-style or hut-to-hut trek. We hike with small day packs, yet spend two glorious nights backcountry camping on the shores of Resurrection Bay. The other two nights of this trip are in a backcountry cabin and yurts, where we soak up the magic of the Alaskan wilderness while reveling in cozy comforts like wood-burning stoves and a wood-fired sauna. This trip’s unforgettable hikes feature glacier views, World War II era historical sites, shorelines, wildlife, mountain summits, mountain lakes and more.
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Beach Camping
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Backcountry Yurt/Cabin
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Glacier Views
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Alaskan Wildlife
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Panoramic Views
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Wood-fired Sauna
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Amazing History
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View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Camping Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 8.5 miles -
Group Size
2-6 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip requires hiking with a day pack weighing 10-15 pounds. The terrain is rugged, with rocky, muddy, overgrown and possibly snow-covered sections. The hiking distances (up to 8.5 miles) and elevation gain/loss (up to 3,452 feet in a day) are moderately strenuous, but with only light day packs.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Shuttle: 3 hours 10 min
Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1922 feet
After picking you up at your hotel, and fueling up with a quick breakfast, we’ll depart Anchorage and head south along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet to the amazing Kenai Peninsula. Nicknamed “Alaskans’ Playground” for a reason, this dramatic landscape of coastlines, ridges, peaks, lakes, rivers, glaciers and wildlife is our home for the next 5 days. Our first hike at Crow Pass is an apt introduction, offering stunning views of the Chugach Mountains in all directions. After our hike we’ll enjoy some rest as we drive to board a water taxi to our backcountry beach camp for the next two nights. We’ll set up camp and enjoy our first delicious, backcountry dinner prepared by your guide while we watch for sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, whales and other marine wildlife.
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 4+ miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
After a tasty breakfast on the shores of Resurrection Bay we’ll explore the wonderful trails in the area. On the national register of historic places, Fort McGilvray is a short hike from the beach and will take us back in time to Alaska’s beginnings as a strategic location in World War II. If the skies are clear, and the group is up for it, we will continue hiking up to a number of alpine trails with views down onto the surrounding Kenai Mountains. We’ll relax for a second evening on the beach listening and looking out for humpback whales, sea lions and sea otters over a delicious dinner prepared by your guide.
Day 3
Shuttle: 1.5 hours
Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet
Our departure from the beach camp will be via scenic water taxi to Miller’s Landing, where we may spot more wildlife if we’re lucky. A short half hour drive will bring us to the charming town of Seward, where we’ll trek uphill to earn views of iconic Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.
This afternoon we leave the Seward area and drive to the heart of the Kenai Mountains. After hiking less than a mile from the trailhead we’ll arrive at our backcountry yurts and cabin that will be our home for the next two nights. We’ll get moved into the cozy yurts and convene for a hearty dinner and, conditions permitting, a welcome campfire.
Day 4
Shuttle: 1 hour
Hiking Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3452 feet
This morning will be an early start to make a short drive out to today’s trail at Hope Point, our longest and perhaps most challenging hike of the trip. As we wind up and up through dense forest, we’ll keep an eye out for wild blueberries to supplement our snacks for the journey. Once we get above tree line, we are rewarded with panoramic views of Resurrection Creek Valley, Fire Island, Cook Inlet, and our old friend Turnagain Arm. Tonight we return to our yurts and enjoy a final, well-earned dinner in the Alaska backcountry.
Day 5
Shuttle: 2 hours
Hiking Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1463 feet
After sitting down for a hot breakfast, packing up our things and hiking out from the yurts, we’ll enjoy a leisurely drive to one last hike before our return to Anchorage. While shorter than yesterday’s hike, it packs a punch with a few steep climbs to afford us views of mystical Portage Glacier, often shrouded in a moody mist. Its surrounding mountains and waterfalls make for incredible photo opportunities and an exciting end to our Kenai adventure. A peaceful drive back to Anchorage wraps up our amazing week in Alaska.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad, and day pack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
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Bear canisters for food storage
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Anchorage and back
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All entrance fees, permits and passes
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Tent Camping
2 Nights
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Yurts
2 Nights
We utilize backcountry yurts for two nights of this trip that offer a cozy, backcountry experience in a pristine setting. The yurts feature a wood burning stove, communal sleeping (4 people each) on bunk beds, a wood-fired sauna, pit toilets and a large campfire ring.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct an orientation meeting at 6:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. This will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Anchorage.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and its connecting flights from many major US cities make Anchorage very accessible. The major airlines that fly to Anchorage are Delta, United, American, Alaska Airlines and Sun Country. Direct flights are often available from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time during the pre-trip communication. Generally, you can expect it to be around 6 am, although the exact time will depend on several factors such as planned activities, current weather and road conditions. On the final day of the trip, you can expect a return to Anchorage around 6 pm, and your guide will drop you off at your hotel or the airport. Note: A variety of circumstances can influence our timeline on the final day of a trip, therefore Wildland Trekking does not guarantee return times.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Briana D
5 months agoAMAZING Trip
Alaska is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL and our guide, Beau, was incredible! This trip has a little bit of everything (hiking, kayaking, and sightseeing) with breath-taking beach camping + fun yurts! Our guide was super knowledgeable and really helped make the trip a positive memorable experience!
Elizabeth S
1 year agoIncredible Experience
This trip was amazing! My husband and I had a fantastic time. We loved how diverse this tour was. Every hike we did was a completely different experience and landscape. We loved that we got to do 2 nights in a tent and 2 nights in a yurt as well. We felt like we truly gained an appreciation for Alaskan outdoors and had an amazing week in the most beautiful locations. Lastly, we loved that we were able to experience not just hiking but also kayaking, glacier views, a ride on the Alaska railroad, and a raft ride all in one trip! 10/10 would recommend, it was our favorite vacation to-date!
Celestia H
1 year agoHighly recommend!
The Best of Kenai Pennisula was above expectations. The highlight was camping overlooking the sea and hiking around Resurrection Bay from North to South Beach. The views of the bay with snow dotted mountains were epic. Rafi and Beau were the most competent, patient, talented guides I have ever experienced. We had torrential rain for one of the days and they kept their cool, made safety decisions and modified plans throughout so we would stay dry (relatively). Highly recommend!
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