Activities Outside of Anchorage

This article is part of Anchorage Home Base: Work + Play in Alaska.

Surrounded by mountains, with waterways around and throughout, Anchorage is a great home base for outdoor activities! There’s plenty to do within the city limits (see my post Activities in and Around Anchorage for details), and if you want to take a drive, and trust me, the drive is worth the trip in and of itself, your adventure options are limitless.

Even though we were typically working/volunteering during the week, we were still able to fit in a lot of great activities during our month in Alaska. Hands down, our favorite adventure was the helicopter ride over (and onto!) the glaciers. It was spendy but something we’ve never done and totally worth the money. Not only was it a highlight of our trip, but it was one of the coolest things we’ve ever done.

We loved just about all of our adventures. I didn’t care for the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (see my reasons why below), and the North Face Trail at Alyeska was not my favorite. But everything else – hiking, rafting, kayaking – were all top notch and things I’d love to do again! Here’s my list, essentially in order, with my favorites listed first

Wow! What an experience! Talk about a bird’s eye view! Soaring over trees and rivers, floating icebergs and so many glaciers, not to mention a moose family…this helicopter ride (my first ever!) was amazing! I know, I’m using a zillion exclamation points, but trust me, this adventure was worth it! The 2-hour Grand Knik Tour with Alaska Helicopter Tours includes three landings and time to explore. We paid extra to make our tour private, which meant that we could choose where we wanted to land and how long we stayed (within the two-hour allotted time period). Totally worth the extra cost for this one-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our first landing was a glacier near the Alaska Helicopter Tours HQ and was a cool intro into glaciers. Afterwards, we flew over a river that two glaciers flowed into. Because of the nuances of the glaciers’ silt makeup (see photo in carousel above), you can see an obvious color delineation in the water. Our second and third landings were the highlights. For our second landing, we chose one at around 4,000 feet in elevation with a waterfall descending off the glacier. The view from that height was impressive, and I loved that we were the only ones around…except for the mountain goat, that is. Really, that was one of the best aspects of this adventure; though we could hear a helicopter or plane on occasion, we didn’t see another soul. Being able to experience this incredible beauty all by ourselves was magical!

Our final landing was on the glacial ice, right next to a bright blue glacial river. According to our pilot and guide Cameron, these rivers can pop up and disappear very quickly as the entire glacier is constantly changing. We were surprised to find the ice rough and very grippy on our feet, even without microspikes or crampons. The silence. The vast expanse of flowing ice. The beauty of the surrounding mountains. This helicopter tour was not only the highlight of our month in Alaska but one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The tour is not cheap, but it was absolutely worth every penny!

If you look closely at one of the photos (the one after the image with me in it), you’ll see a small plane flying over the glacier. This gives you an idea of the vastness of the ice!

This trail in Kenai Fjords National Park is one of my favorite hikes ever! You start in a forest, walking over small creeks and surrounded by lush foliage with periodic mountain views. Then the trail opens up and you’re surrounded by mountains, meadows and, finally, views of Exit Glacier. Continue hiking up this strenuous path and you’ll gain an ever greater perspective of the glacier, including nunataks, mountains poking up through the glacier. Once you reach the top, if you aren’t too exhausted, hike down on the other side a ways and you’ll have the place almost entirely to yourself. It’s as if you’re at the edge of the world up here. I’ve never aspired to be a mountaineer like my husband, but I’m glad to enjoy the awe-inspiring snowy glacier and mountain views he works so hard to see.
Hiking Stats: 9.73 miles, 5:33 hours, 4547 elevation gain, 2706 calories
Great Hiking Guide: EARTH TREKKERS

To access this trail, you need to take a water taxi (we used Mako’s) from Homer; but really, the boat ride is all part of the experience. Enjoy the wind on your face, watch sea otters floating on their backs in the water around you, and take in the views of the mountains as they getting closer and closer. This trail is a bit of a beast for a number of reasons. First off, it’s steep with few flat portions for rest. And secondly, at the time we hiked (early to mid-July) many parts of the trail were completely overgrown and full of devil’s club and cow parsnip, not to mention bear scat! Wade through the brush to make it above the tree line where you’ll be rewarded with 360 degree views of the surrounding water and mountains. The weather wasn’t super cooperative when we went – lots of clouds and some rain – but the views were still stunning. I can only imagine what we would see on a clear day!

We were dropped off at the South Grace Ridge spot and were picked up at Kayak Beach, so we only had to hike one way. We didn’t see any bears but did see plenty of fresh scat; and I’m thrilled to report that I saw my first porcupine in the wild! The porcupine was on the trail and slowly meandered until it found a spot where it could get off trail. It’s a wonder we didn’t get “quilled” walking through the brush that was so thick we couldn’t see our feet! Who knows how many porcupines were hiding under there! Definitely a strenuous hike, but a lovely one that was worth the effort, even on a cloudy day.
Hiking Stats: 9.54 miles, 6:16 hours, 4321 elevation gain, 2598 calories
MAP

So gorgeous! We got lucky and hiked this trail late June when the lake was half-full of snow still. We started early to avoid the crowds and were glad we did because they were filing in when we left. The trail is a fairly easy jaunt, with plenty of people bringing children and dogs. It was a bit muddy in places but we were able to avoid getting our feet wet. The lake at the top of the trail is so serene and absolutely stunning. I especially enjoyed admiring the reflections cast on the lake. After a snack and time soaking in the moment, we headed to Skyscraper Mountain, just down the road, for a more strenuous hike.
Hiking Stats: 2.36 miles, 1:41 hours, 1073 elevation gain, 523 calories

We hiked both Skyscraper and Gold Cord Lake trails on the same day, starting with Gold Cord since it tends to get busy, and we wanted to start before the crowds arrived. Skyscraper starts off on a steep scree field, that was a bit slippery and definitely a workout. You quickly hit the ridgeline and are afforded incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The trail is a bit exposed but never felt sketchy. Even the trek back down the scree field wasn’t nearly as nerve-wracking as I expected. Lovely views; steep but short hike. A great pairing with the easy Gold Cord Lake trail. After our work out, we headed to the Noisy Goose for a well-deserved late lunch.
Hiking Stats: 2.44 miles, 1:56 hours, 1283 elevation gain, 784 calories

If you’re on your way from Anchorage to Seward, Homer, Copper River or Whittier, you’ll likely travel the Seward Highway/AK-1 South. There are numerous spots to stop for photos and/or a picnic along the way, including Potter Marsh, Beluga Point, Bird Creek and Tern Lake. All four offer incredible scenery and, in my opinion, are worth a stop. Beluga Point is probably the most popular. To access the rocky outcropping, you’d have to cross the railroad tracks, which is now strongly discouraged, though certainly people ignore the rules frequently. Do make sure you don’t go out into the mud flats here; they act as quick sand and can be deadly. I consider the other three stops to be a higher priority, with Tern Lake and Potter Marsh being my favorites. They’re serene, and on a clear day, the reflections in the water are spectacular! See more photos of Potter Marsh: Activities in & Around Anchorage.

The Eagle River Nature Center is a short drive from Anchorage and is a lovely, well-maintained park. While we were there, we enjoyed talking with one of their volunteers who shared how the Alaska parks system has changed over the decades. The Albert Loop is well groomed; and it’s a nice stroll with periodic views of the marsh. We even saw a massive beaver den, but sadly no beaver sightings. We made our own trail that allowed us to walk along the Eagle River for a bit before getting back onto Albert Loop. The visitor center has interesting artifacts on display as well as a gift shop. We stopped by Sleepy Dog Coffee Co for drinks and a massive cinnamon roll (YUM!) as a reward. Best coffee shop experience in Alaska.
Hiking Stats: 3.53 miles, 1:43 hours, 276 elevation gain, 404 calories

We considered whitewater rafting Sixmile Creek in Hope but ultimately decided on a serene float down the Kenai River. Kenai Riverdog’s owner Kayce did all the work, steering us down the river, providing donuts and keeping us entertained with facts about the area. We unfortunately didn’t see any bears, but we were able to watch tons of adult and juvenile eagles. My husband and I sat at the front of the raft, where I’m pretty sure we enjoyed the best views out of all the seats and only got a little wet. In hindsight, I think we might have preferred the adventure of whitewater rafting over this gentle float, but it was relaxing and Kayce was a fantastic guide. It’s something pretty much every person, no matter their age, can enjoy.

Lifetime Adventures has a rental shop located at Eklutna Lake, so you don’t have to worry about transporting rented kayaks. Just reserve online, grab a kayak (after a safety briefing) and your gear, and head out on the water. We didn’t see any wildlife but did enjoy a two-hour glide across the lake. You can rent bikes from Lifetime Adventures to ride around the lake (Eklutna Lakeside Trail), but be aware that ATV’s (and other motorized vehicles) are allowed on the trail Sunday through Wednesday. There are also several hiking trails in the area.

I have to be honest, this is definitely not a hike I enjoyed. I was dealing with blood sugar issues that day, so I know that taints my perspective, but seriously, this trail is basically straight up for almost three miles! The views were OK, but it was cloudy when we were there so presumably they are better than what we experienced. There was an interesting bridge crossing where the two halves of the bridge actually met at an angle IN the creek (not sure if it was broken or intentionally built that way) and a sweet meadow with wildflowers. Unfortunately, the meadow was overrun by annoying flies and mosquitos.

Eventually, we came to signs on our left that said something about not being a maintained trail or proceed at your own risk. I can’t remember exactly, but the trail goes straight up (again) and is directly under the tram lines. We finally made it to the tram building, our end goal, and after enjoying the views, we had a mediocre lunch at the deli. Then we took the tram back to Alyeska resort. Given the tram’s cost of almost $50 per person, I’m glad we hiked up and took the tram down, which was free. However, this was definitely not an enjoyable hike for me, the views from the top of the tram line were nice but not spectacular, and the food was blah. The resort is lovely, but if I could go back in time, I would spend my day doing something else.
Hiking Stats: 2.81 miles, 1:44 hours, 2264 elevation gain, 726 calories
Mountain Report (camera, trail closures, weather, map)

I have very mixed emotions about wild animals living in captivity while large amounts of people ogle them. The Conservation Center doesn’t do a very good job explaining the work they’re doing (apart from their breeding efforts to reinstate the wood bison), but according to the information I’ve found online, the organization does take in injured and orphaned wildlife, which I greatly appreciate. I don’t know enough about wildlife to understand if the Center is meeting their needs or if any of these animals could have been released back into the wild. Based on the limited information I found online, it appears elk were introduced from Washington, Oregon and Yukon (Canada) as a hunting source. Since those populations are stable, AWCC chooses not to release the elk on their property back into the wild but instead to keep them in captivity, presumably for educational purposes. Based on what I can find, which isn’t much, it appears that AWCC allows breeding in captivity, which I don’t agree with. With all that being said, I can really only comment on my experience touring the Center.

A gravel/dirt road with very large potholes filled with water from the recent (and ongoing) rain winds through the animal enclosures. Visitors have the option of walking or driving their vehicle to observe the animals. Imagine hoards of people trying to navigate the massive puddles while dodging vehicles, whose drivers are only partially paying attention, in order to walk from one enclosure to the next. There are no sidewalks; no safe place for pedestrians to walk separately from the vehicles. Large tour busses amble by, and occasionally huge numbers of tourists come pouring out, particularly to watch the bears. It was a frustrating, chaotic mess. As for the animals themselves, we witnessed several animals showing what appeared to be signs of stress – pacing at the fence over and over and over, always on the far side of the humans. The Center feeds the black bears by the fence so that the bears will be encouraged to spend time where people can see them. One bear looked pretty despondent while munching, and eventually it finished eating and walked away from the crowds. The grizzlies had a nice enclosure and seemed to be pretty content, and the bison had lots of room to roam. The muskox and the black bear that was in a temporary enclosure seemed to be the most stressed.

The organization strives to educate people about the animal species at the facility, which will hopefully lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of those animals. While I’ve been blessed to see many of these animals in the wild, I know that many of the Center’s guests are seeing these animals for the first time. And I’m sure that the group relies on entrance fees to support their work. Nevertheless, I have been to conservation centers that control the number of people touring in order to minimize the stress on the animals and to do a much better job educating guests. All things considered, I was disappointed in my experience and don’t recommend visiting.
Sources: Alaska.org, AWCC Facebook, NextAvenue

Check out Activities in and Around Anchorage.