Authentic Alaska: Mountains, Rivers and Coastlines
Fairbanks to Anchorage
Trip Highlights
- Stunning Hikes
- River Rafting
- Remote Cabin Experience
- Massive Glaciers
- Unique Alaskan Lodges
- Expert Alaskan Guides
Description
If you’re looking for a grand Alaska adventure that is as diverse as it is exciting and adventurous, then this trip is for you! Beginning in Fairbanks, and ending in Anchorage, we explore the wonders of Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula, stretching our journey all the way to Homer. Staying in authentically rustic and cozy Alaskan lodges, cabins and yurts, we will embark on invigorating hikes to dramatic viewpoints, ancient glaciers, braided rivers, wildlife habitat and other features of the grand northern wilderness. In addition to hiking, we spend parts of two days river rafting, and also catch several boat shuttles to take us to remote areas. The high point for many guests, literally and figuratively, is a two night stay in remote cabins on the shores of Halibut Bay which includes a hike to the stunning viewpoints of Grace Ridge.
Enjoy an all-inclusive, expert-led Alaskan adventure with unforgettable hikes and cozy, authentic accommodations. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to book your spot or learn more today!
$900 Single Supplement
The single supplement guarantees your own room. If you would like to forego the single supplement, you can request to be paired with a roommate of the same gender. If we are unsuccessful in pairing you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The majority of trails on this trip are well used and well maintained, but there are moderately rugged sections. Most days feature moderate hikes, with some longer hikes (up to 9 miles) significant elevation gain/loss of up to 3200 feet.
Hiking Distances:
Up to 9 miles
Backpack Weight:
8-12 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 3200 feet
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hike uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Alaska hiking tour a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time, with greater and lesser amounts of solitude throughout the tour.
PRIVATE TRIPS
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
PRIVATE RATES FOR THIS TRIP
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle: 2.5 hours
- Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1400 feet
Our authentic Alaska journey begins at the northernmost point of Alaska’s “rail corridor” in Fairbanks, where pick you up from your hotel. We’ll have a quick breakfast and then head south to Denali National Park. We’ll hike out to visit the park’s ‘canine rangers’ or working sled dogs that are a big part of early exploration in Alaska. After hiking we’ll raft the Nenana River at the eastern edge of the park, then head to our accommodations. After checking in, we’ll reconvene for a hot dinner before settling into our cozy cabins for the night.
Day 2
- Shuttle: 3.5 hours
- Hiking Distance: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1300 feet
This morning we’ll enjoy breakfast and check out of our lodge. Heading south from Denali National Park, we will embark on a classic ridge hike with gorgeous views of the Alaska Range. If the skies are clear we may be fortunate to have one of the best views of Denali that the state has to offer (this is not guaranteed, as Denali is often shrouded in clouds). After our invigorating hike we’ll continue south and settle in for the night, in a cozy lodge nestled at the edge of the Talkeetna Mountains.
Day 3
- Shuttle: 3 hours
- Hiking Distance: 7.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1100 feet
Continuing south to the coast, we will hike once again in the Chugach Range, where we will be reminded of the contrast between the salmon fed coastal forests and those of the interior. The trees will get bigger as we make our way to the Kenai Peninsula – nicknamed Alaska’s Playground. Our lodge this evening will again be nestled in a glacially carved valley, but the mountains will feel closer than ever as we experience the origins of what form a glacial fjord.
Day 4
- Shuttle: 3.5 hours
Today we’ll take a break from hiking and raft the famous, glacial-fed, turquoise waters of the Kenai River as we make our way across the Kenai Peninsula to Homer. Arriving at “the end of the road” on the Homer Spit, we will take a short water taxi across Kachemak Bay to our cabins on the shores of Halibut Cove. Far from the busy shops and crowds of tourists, we will enjoy two nights in this secluded spot with evenings on the beach and delicious, hot meals prepared by your guide.
Day 5
- Hiking Distance: 8 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 3200 feet
This morning after breakfast we’ll get picked up by a water taxi and dropped at our trailhead, with the possibility of seeing puffins, cormorants and thousands of sea birds from the water. Today is the crown jewel hike of our week, and also the biggest trek in terms of distance and elevation gain/loss. We’ll traverse the amazing Grace Ridge to a dramatic high point for breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers and bays. After a delicious picnic lunch at the top we’ll descend and return to our cabins on the bay via another scenic boat shuttle.
Day 6
- Shuttle: 3.5 hours
- Hiking Distance: 4 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
Before departing Kachemak Bay, we’ll hike out to Grewingk Glacier Lake for a closer look at one of the massive glaciers that makes this area a destination for people around the world. After, a quick water taxi back to Homer and a return drive across the peninsula, we’ll settle in at our last home for the trip: Seward and Resurrection Bay! We will settle in our lodge in the hills above Resurrection Bay where dinner awaits. For seafood lovers, this is a great opportunity to try the freshest halibut, salmon and crab anywhere in the world.
Day 7
- Shuttle: 30 minutes
- Hiking Distance: 5-9 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1100-1700 feet
To beat the tides we’ll make an early start at our hiking destination on the south side of Seward, just a few minutes away. We will hike along the coast to the historic site of Fort McGilvray, where we will learn about a big piece of Alaska’s history as a strategic military location for the United States. Next we’ll enjoy lunch on the beach and watch for Humpback Whales, sea otters and bald eagles. Because the tides will be too high for us to return on the trail that brought us here, we will return to our trailhead at Miller’s Landing with a short water taxi boat ride.
Day 8
- Shuttle: 3 hours
- Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet
Today will be our closest experience with a glacier yet. As we approach the coastal town of Seward, we will head back up into the mountains and enter Kenai Fjords National Park. Here will hike along the lateral moraine of Exit Glacier, the only glacier in the park that is accessible by foot trail. We’ll hike to the top of the cliffs adjacent to the Exit Glacier for unparalleled views of Alaska’s most famous glacier. After our hike we’ll continue to Anchorage and the conclusion of our Alaska adventure – what a week it’s been!
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- 7 nights of double occupancy lodging (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Top-of-the-line daypack and trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- 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.
- Transportation for the duration of the tour, beginning in Fairbanks and ending in Anchorage
- Entrance fees and national park permits
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray canisters
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to the national parks
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
We provide all your meals from breakfast the first day through lunch the last day. Your guide will prepare breakfasts and lunches with a variety of hot and cold meals that are appropriate for the day’s activities. Feel free to tell us about your food preferences, as we’re more than happy to tailor the menu to your needs/desires. For dinners, we’ll enjoy a combination of restaurant and guide-prepared meals.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Bear spray canisters
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group at 6PM at the Springhill Suites by Marriott Fairbanks the evening before your trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days in advance to coordinate the rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Fairbanks, AK
Fairbanks International Airport and its connecting flights from many major US cities make Fairbanks very accessible. The major airlines that fly to Fairbanks are Delta, United, American, Alaska Airlines and Sun Country.
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 between 6 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day no later than 7 PM.
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
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
Weather in Alaska
This trip covers a dramatic diversity of terrain from coastal areas to mountains and tundra to glaciers. The weather will be largely dependent on which ecosystem you’re at the moment hiking in, so it’s best to be prepared for a range of temperatures and conditions. Read below for average high and low temperatures in different parts of the Alaska:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Denali
|
Kenai
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
June
|
53°
|
41°
|
2.42 in
|
58°
|
46°
|
5.2 in
|
||
|
July
|
56°
|
45°
|
3.12 in
|
61°
|
50°
|
7.1 in
|
||
|
August
|
51°
|
41°
|
3.01 in
|
61°
|
55°
|
8.8 in
|
||
|
September
|
41°
|
31°
|
1.74 in
|
55°
|
49°
|
13.3 in
|
||
Accommodations
Denali Lakeview Inn
0-1 Night
Denali Lakeview Inn is a family owned, local mountain retreat on the shores of pristine Otto Lake. Through the windows of your individually decorated rooms, enjoy breathtaking views of Otto Lake, Mount Healy and Mount Dora. Guests can enjoy the lunch, grassy lawn and soak up the views of the lake and mountains, or dip your feet in the lake.
McKinley Creekside Cabins
0-1 Night
The McKinley Creekside Cabins establishment is a boutique, locally owned and operated Alaskan lodge, restaurant and bakery located on the shores of a pristine mountain creek flowing down from the alpine ridges above. Just 15 minutes from Denali National Park, this lodge provides a perfect blend of modern comfort and immersion in the natural landscapes of Alaska.
Mat-Su Resort
1 Night
Mat-Su Resort is a boutique hotel on the shores of a gorgeous lake with sweeping views of the Chugach Mountain Range, one of Alaska’s most famous ranges. It has 12 rooms, all with modern amenities and either a balcony view or a front veranda so you can soak up the beauty of Alaska.
Bear Creek Lodge
1 Night
Bear Creek Lodge is a cozy, rustic, very authentic retreat in the wilds of Alaska. We enjoy their private cabins with backcountry feel and their majestic property for only one night, but we wish it could be more. The rustic cabins are nestled between a majestic pond and rushing mountain stream, and the on sight restaurant is a guest favorite. Please note this lodge does not have private bathrooms and showers, but the communal area is very clean. (shared bathrooms and showers, wifi in the restaurant, cell service, sauna)
3 Moose Cabins
2 Nights
At these remote cabins, that we catch a water taxi to access, you can step off your front covered porch into 70 miles of hiking trails through iconic Alaskan wilderness. On the shores of Halibut Cove, this is a warm, cozy eco-lodge co-existing in harmony with nature. From your cabin, watch for sea otters, eagles, and even bears and whales. All rooms have private bathrooms with flushing toilets, sinks, and hot showers.
Nauti Otter Yurt Village
2 Nights
The Nauti Otter offers a true Alaskan glamping experience, where we stay in their brand new yurts, nestled in the vibrant forests of the Kenai Peninsula. The yurts are cozy accommodations that bring us closer to nature while still having modern amenities like heaters, fans and access to wifi. Bathrooms and showers are communal at the Nauti Otter.
*These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used
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