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.
Explore via ferrata in the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage — guided fixed-cable climbing for all skill levels, from beginner to expert, in 2026.
Hot air ballooning is back near Anchorage in 2026. Mat-Su Valley flights with Denali views, early morning departures, and Alaska's wide open skies.
Heli-skiing near Anchorage taps into Chugach and Tordrillo mountain powder via helicopter. Expert-guided backcountry skiing from $850/day — 2026 guide.
Resurrection Pass Trail connects Hope to Cooper Landing through 38 miles of Chugach National Forest, with USFS cabins, wildlife, and alpine tundra views.
Anchorage Curling Club runs learn-to-curl sessions with all equipment provided — no experience needed, and a post-match social tradition worth staying for.
Experience Anchorage's legendary midnight sun with 22+ hours of daylight. Complete guide to photography, late-night fishing, extended hiking, and seasonal events.
Hovercraft tours near Anchorage glide over glacial rivers where no boat can follow. SeaCraft Hover Tours: 90 min to 4 hours from $190 — 2026 guide.
Hatcher Pass day trip from Anchorage: Independence Mine gold rush history, wildflower meadows, and serious hiking just 90 minutes from the city.
Get your Alaska fishing license for visitors in 2026 — non-resident costs, 1-day to annual options, king salmon stamp, and where to buy in Anchorage.
Alaska is home to 32 caribou herds totaling nearly 750,000 animals — and the Western Arctic herd's migration is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. Here's your 2026 guide to viewing caribou at Denali, along the Dalton Highway, and what it looks and sounds like when a herd moves across the tundra.