Use our guide to the top Alaskan activities to plan your trip, including hiking, camping, and craft beer tastings.
Alaska is vast, untamed, and captivating. There are always things to do in Alaska, a state larger than the combined states of Texas, California, and Montana. The U.S. Last Frontier is a great place to do it all, whether your objective is to camp and see the enchanting Northern Lights or to venture outside and hike some of its peaks and glaciers.
The list of top activities in Alaska contradicts the perception that the 49th state is only for outdoor enthusiasts. You can just as easily go fishing or enjoy someone else's fresh catch while sipping a cold pint of locally brewed beer at a restaurant. There's only one thing to ask: how daring are you? Please mark your favorites from the list, which we have curated as usual but did not rank because we were unable to decide which ones to recommend.
1. National Park and Preserve of Denali
What's that? The park spans six million acres and includes the highest peak in North America, alpine ranges, glaciers, and river valleys. When the winter snow melts, the single road leading into Denali opens.
Why leave? This is the best area to witness wildlife in its natural habitat and the home of the harsh Mount Denali. You are not permitted to drive your own vehicle in this national park, at least not past mile 15. You'll have to take a tour bus or go on foot to continue your exploration after that.
2. Sled dog rides
What's that? To be pulled through the snow by a group of Alaskan Husky sled dogs, you don't have to travel to Alaska during the winter. All you need is a spirit of adventure.
Why leave? A group of enthusiastic Alaskan Huskies will greet thrill-seekers after they arrive by helicopter on a glacier. Before you get in a sleigh and start sledding through an enormous snowfield, educate yourself on the history of the sport. You'll get to interact and play with the cute dogs that drew you there afterward.
3. The Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield Trail
What's that? Harding Icefield, a vast area of meadows and forests, feeds into Exit Glacier, a massive wall of blue and white ice that cascades down the side of a mountain. It is one of the few locations in Alaska where it is possible to approach an active glacier without a guide.
Why leave? Head to Harding Icefield and take the short hike to the glacier, or continue walking to see more than 40. You'll have a full view of the ice field with just the occasional mountain visible on the horizon once you're above the tree line.
4. The glacier Mendenhall
What's that? A thirteen-mile ice river in Juneau. The majority of visitors opt to view the glacier from the visitor center, but if you're feeling particularly daring, you can go closer.
Why leave? Many travelers' bucket lists include seeing a glacier in person, and this one offers you multiple options for doing so. See waterfalls, salmon streams, black bears, moss-filled rainforests, and more on an independent hike. Alternatively, schedule a guided tour, put on some borrowed crampons, and scale the icy landscape.
5. The Brewing Company of 49th State
What's that? Located near the entrance of Denali National Park, 49th State is a brewery that offers small-batch, handcrafted ales and lagers along with hearty meals in a unique setting.
Why leave? Attend one of the brewery's many summertime festivals or set up camp in the nearby campground, which has a re-creation of the Magic Bus from the 2007 film Into the Wild. Please take a seat and explore the possibilities of life while traveling through the wilds of Alaska.
6. Aurora Borealis
What's that? The dancing lights of green, teal, and violet in the sky are a benefit of our long, dark winters. During the aurora season, which runs from September to April, travelers from all over the world travel to Alaska to see the celestial show.
Why leave? Few locations on Earth offer as clear a view of the Northern Lights as Fairbanks, Alaska, which is situated right beneath the zone with the highest aurora activity and minimal light pollution.
7. King Crab Shack Tracy
What's that? Established in 2006, this well-liked crab stand in Juneau, the far-flung capital of Alaska, is still a local favorite for delicious crab legs.
Why leave? These aren't the king crabs you typically find scattered throughout lower 48 buffets. From October through January, Tracy's serves succulent red king crab legs, the kind you see on Deadliest Catch, which is harvested from the waters surrounding Bristol Bay and Norton Sound. One leg alone can weigh almost one pound.
8. Fjord Tracy Arm
What's that? Sailing Tracy Arm Fjord is a true sensory experience that you won't soon forget, from the glacier-carved scenery to the waterfalls tumbling down mile-high rock walls to the sudden, unsettling silence as your ship slowly passes through the narrow inlet dotted with blue icebergs.
Why leave? In addition to taking in the breathtaking scenery, there's a chance you'll witness massive glacier icebergs shatter and fall into the ocean. The wildlife of summer is abundant and includes things like otters holding hands, whale pods, bears strolling along the shore, seals resting on ice, and eagles perched on trees.
9. Alaska Whittier
What's that? Known as "the strangest town in Alaska," Whittier makes up for its small size with eccentricity. The longest highway tunnel in North America, the Anton Anderson Tunnel, connects the small fishing village situated in a mountainous cove at the western edge of Prince William Sound. The village can be reached by boat.
Why leave? Although this off-the-beaten-path town lacks a bank, beauty salon, or stoplight, it does offer a glimpse into small-town Alaska. Here, time seems to pass more slowly; observe this.
10. Swiftwater Seafood Cafe Varly's
What's that? The freshest halibut, shrimp, Pacific cod, and rockfish are found here, just a short distance from Whittier Harbor. These seafood are caught directly from the frigid waters of Prince William Sound on Alaska's southern gulf coast.
Why leave? The popular beachside eatery, is well-known for its delectable clam chowder (a wintertime mainstay) and hand-battered fish and chips. You can't go wrong with the homemade bread pudding for dessert.
11. The Native Heritage Center of Alaska
What's that? This is a hands-on cultural experience featuring music, people, and art showcasing Alaska's native heritage, not just artifacts behind glass.
Why leave? Stroll around the charming Lake Tiulana and among the traditional homes. Discover how the diverse and frequently harsh climates of the state were adapted to by native communities, including those who settled in the windy Aleutian Islands, where the strong wind is unforgiving. Additionally, take in dances and songs that have been passed down orally.