Guest Post by Catherine Wiley
Alaska is sparsely populated, which gives it global appeal. Famous for its rivers, mountains, and wildlife, Alaska is an excellent destination for adventurous activities such as skiing, kayaking, and hiking.
In other words, Alaska is a beautiful place for people of all interests and ages who can cherish the best of mother-nature. Here are the 8 best places to hike in Alaska.
8. Exit Glacier
In Alaska, has many glaciers, but its Exit Glacier is truly unique. The journey to the Exit Glacier is relatively flat with a slightly forested area which is directly next to the glacier. For an average hiker, the Upper Trail to the Icefield has a great view of the mountains and the Exit Glacier itself. Hiking in the Exit Glacier is for the fit because the terrain is both steep and long.
7. Winner Creek Trail
The winner creek trail is about 45 minutes from the south of Anchorage. It lives up to its name because it is close to the city and has a bridge crossing the Winner Creek Gorge. It has trails which offer the best hiking in Alaska with its lower trail running 8 miles. The upper trail runs 18 miles. These trails are undoubtedly one of the best destinations for tourism in Alaska.
6. Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier is located in southeast Alaska about 12 miles from downtown Juneau. This glacier is a place abundant with wildlife such as black bears, porcupines, and beavers. During the winter, the presence of iceberg-dotted waters makes its trails venture along the shore to Nugget Falls. This creates an impressive scenery, especially by the ice masses. To avoid unnecessary ailments, one should know how to dress for hiking in Alaska. Lastly, rafting and kayaking trips are some of the activities that contribute to having the best time in Alaska.
5. Resurrection Pass
This particular destination is one of the best sites for tourism in Alaska. It has an average level trail that is 38 miles long, and remains mostly in the valley, offering gorgeous scenery of the Kenai mountains. Running through the breathtaking national forest of Chugach is something to look forward to as it is one of the loveliest places to visit in Alaska. Having 19 campsites and eight public use cabins, Resurrection Pass is not only a beautiful place but also accommodative.
4. Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy, having a 4.6-mile span can be hiked from whichever end. There is a traditional route which is on the left and leads an individual to the back of the mountain and is considered to be less steep. In this destination, the view of the nearby valleys and mountains is fantastic, especially for those who appreciate mother-nature.
3. Flattop Mountain
This destination is within Anchorage. Therefore, it is one of the most highly traveled trails. There are wooden steps. The walk is not too steep, and it has an area that’s flat where you can take time to rest before the summit. With an overlook that offers lovely views of the Anchorage and surrounding parts, this destination is among the best for hiking.
To reach the top peak, one must climb upwards; something that requires quite some effort, but is worth your while because you will get to see the Cook Inlet, the Chugach Mountains, and the Turnagain Arm waterway. There is a parking fee of $5.
2. Kenai River Trail
Located in Cooper Landing, the trail follows the Kenai River. June is ideal for hiking and walking for all levels of hikers. Due to this, the trail is moderately busy; hence, rule out the feeling of seclusion. The Kenai River Trail is rich with the presence of birds. One should bring binoculars to spot them.
1. Lost Lake Trail
This trail offers some of the most incredible scenery because it has less traffic as compared to other mountain trails. One can catch the sight of majestic surrounding mountains, several lakes, rushing streams, and two glaciers since it leads through the rainforest. The path is 15 miles long with beautiful scenery makes it one of the places recommended for one to camp.
Bonus: Crow Pass
In the Chugach mountains, this trail offers the best of average-to-hard level hikes. It was once part of the historic Iditarod Trail and is 21 miles long hence taking most people some days to finish hiking it. In this trail, you are offered a great deal of historical and beautiful scenery such as the Raven Glacier that has enormous cascades, the old mines, Crystal Lake and finally the Raven Gorge. As one hikes in the Crow Pass trail, there is a likelihood to come across bears hence making it one of the dangers of hiking in Alaska.
Conclusion
Alaska is well known for its fantastic scenery, abundant wildlife (no wonder everyone wants to go hiking there). It offers people experiences that are beyond their wildest dreams. However one can be caught up about the best places to visit in this state, so there you go with some incredible places that offer you a chance of endless fun and happiness in Alaska whenever you want to go hiking with your loved ones.
Most importantly, as you go to scout these breathtaking places, be sure to ask for the best hiking gear. All in all, do know of the best time to visit Alaska? Are you aware of other sites that can offer a great deal of fun and joy for all ages and interests in hiking? By all means feel free to share with us.
About the author: Catherine Wiley is a traveler by day and writer by night. She hikes all over Alaska, including the Denali and Fjords National Parks. Catherine is intending to start her own blog where she will be sharing tips and tricks about solo hiking all over the world.
