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 Dry Sauna
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Amazing History
Book This Trip
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.
Accommodations vary by location. Some cabins and yurts do not have running water, and bathroom and shower facilities may be shared with other guests.
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: 1,922 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: 5-7.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: from 1,000 up to 2,000 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: 2,000 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: 3,452 feet
This morning will be a short drive out to our next trail. Hope Point is the 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.
Day 5
Shuttle: 2 hrs 15 mins
Hiking Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,463 feet
After sitting down for a hot breakfast, we’ll enjoy a leisurely drive towards Whittier on our way back to Anchorage. While on the shorter side, today’s trail 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. After our hike, we will head back to Anchorage to wrap up our adventure and say our goodbyes.
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 safety equipment including bear spray canisters
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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
Delicious Backcountry Cuisine
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 Hyatt Place Anchorage Midtown, AK
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.
Pre and Post-Trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre-trip and post-trip lodging in Anchorage, AK as an optional add-on for guests of this trip.
This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
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 6:00 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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Mary Beth M
2 days agoAn exceptional experience
Alaska is amazing. Our guide made this trip spectacular. He knew exactly what we needed when we needed it. The meals were 5 star quality, the hikes were perfectly tailored, and the overall experience was exceptional. Beau deserves the world!!!
Mari L
2 days agoKnowledgeable Guide
Rafi was an amazing guide. She was caring, thoughtful, and fun in her approach to our time outdoors. She was very knowledgeable about Alaskan flora and fauna. She also made us delicious food! Would love to do another trip with her as the guide!
Lindy S
2 days agoA rich experience
Rafi, our guide was a superior guide in all manner. The trip offered all to make it a rich experience. The beauty of Alaska with a guide who knows the region. There were deep conversations threaded through with a lot of laughter.
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