Outdoor Adventures
Anchorage is your gateway to Alaska’s great outdoors. Find the best hiking trails, fishing spots, wildlife viewing areas, glacier tours, and backcountry adventures. See our full guide to things to do in Anchorage for how outdoor time fits into a broader trip.
Anchorage sits on the Pacific Flyway — Potter Marsh, Westchester Lagoon, and Cook Inlet deliver swans, bald eagles, shorebirds, and snowy owls.
Your 2026 guide to fat biking near Anchorage: top trails, groomed vs. ungroomed routes, bike rentals, cold-weather layering, and tire pressure for snow.
A complete guide to aurora borealis viewing near Anchorage — best spots, guided tours, self-chase tools, and what to wear for Alaska's winter nights.
Gold panning near Anchorage in 2026 — Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood and Hatcher Pass offer family-friendly Alaska gold rush adventures.
From riverside tent sites to full-hookup RV parks with mountain views, the best places to camp near Anchorage in 2026.
Moose, beluga whales, bald eagles, Dall sheep, and bears — Anchorage puts visitors inside wild Alaska. Here's where to find each species and when.
Six Mile Creek and the Matanuska River — Alaska's top whitewater — are both within 90 minutes of Anchorage. Guided trips from $100 per person.
A guide to ATV and off-road tours near Anchorage in 2026 — Girdwood valley rides, Hatcher Pass routes, pricing, gear tips, and combination tour options.
Sea kayaking near Anchorage in 2026: guided tours on Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords, flatwater paddling at Eklutna Lake, and what to skip.
Your guide to ice fishing near Anchorage in 2026: top frozen lakes, target species, safety rules, gear tips, and Alaska licensing information.