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.
Alaska has the largest state park system in the US. Here's your complete guide to the best parks near Anchorage, how to camp them, and what to expect in 2026.
Plan a fly-in Alaska fishing lodge trip in 2026 — Bristol Bay, Iliamna, Kenai king salmon, costs, booking timeline, and what to pack for remote wilderness.
See critically endangered beluga whales for free — from a downtown fish ladder, a Seward Highway pullout, or a paved coastal trail. Complete 2026 guide to Cook Inlet beluga watching from Anchorage.
Alaska's largest lake near Anchorage sits inside Chugach State Park — hike the lakeside trail, rent a kayak, camp, and spot moose from the shore.
Lake Hood is the world's busiest floatplane base — and one of Anchorage's best free attractions. Here's where to watch, what you'll see, the Alaska Aviation Museum, and how to book a floatplane tour yourself.
Glacier calving — ice the size of buildings breaking into the sea — is one of Alaska's most dramatic spectacles. Here's where to watch it from Anchorage in 2026, from Kenai Fjords boat tours to Hubbard Glacier cruises.
Hatcher Pass and Turnagain Pass offer world-class backcountry skiing within two hours of Anchorage. Here is what you need before heading out.
See bears, bison, musk ox, moose & wolves at Alaska's premier wildlife sanctuary — just 50 miles from Anchorage in scenic Portage Valley.
Drive Alaska's most iconic road: 127 miles of fjords, glaciers, and wildlife along the Seward Highway. Complete 2026 guide with every stop, timing tips, and what not to miss.
Guide to Alaska State Parks near Anchorage: Chugach State Park trails, Eklutna Lake kayaking and biking, and Portage Valley day-trip options for 2026.