The 7 Best Trails for Backpacking and Hiking in Alaska

Starting in the coastal lowlands near Skagway and ending at the shores of Bennett Lake in British Columbia, the Chilkoot Trail follows the route of the 1897-1899 Klondike Gold Rush. The only long-distance traverse in southeast Alaska, the trail passes through a coastal rainforest, high-mountain basins, and alpine terrain with views above treeline. 

Along the way, you’ll see relics from the gold-rush era when prospectors had to ferry a year’s worth of provisions across the pass. You’ll need camping gear and food for a few days for this Skagway hike, along with warm layers and rain-appropriate clothes. The weather can change in a snap. There are designated places to camp with separate cook shelters and caches to keep your food safe from bears.

What to expect on the popular multi-day Skagway trail

This is one of the most regulated trails in Alaska. You’ll need to secure a permit (a certain amount is set aside each day for walk-ins, but most are for reservations). Chilkoot Trail also crosses an international boundary, so you’ll want to be up to date on the current requirements for checking in with either Canadian or U.S. customs, depending on which direction you go. The trail is also rather popular. Despite the permit requirements, you’re not likely to have it to yourself, especially during peak season. On the other hand, it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow hikers from around the world.

The Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield hikes give adventurers of all ability (and ambition) a few different choices to see one of Alaska’s most easily-reached glaciers. You’ll also get to experience the Kenai Fjords National Park. The two trails also share a trailhead at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. The Glacier View Loop trail is a fully accessible, paved trail featuring views of the glacier’s face and outwash plain. The short Edge of the Glacier overlook trail features steps to help negotiate a brief climb to a vantage point above the foot of the glacier. It’s a brilliant opportunity to see how a forest develops as a glacier recedes. Signposts along the access road and the trail show just how far the ice used to extend.

Head to Harding Icefield for views of surrounding peaks and fjords

If you’re an ambitious hiker, you can make a day out of it and follow the switchbacks up to Harding Icefield. This 500-square-mile frozen mass feeds almost three dozen glaciers, including Exit. The trail is well developed but steep with nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain. After climbing above the forest and through the low brush and alpine meadows, the trail gets rocky. The view out over the expanse of ice and the jagged gray peaks surrounding it is worth the effort – even if it’s cloudy like it was for our visit.

The Reed Lakes Trail  is one of the most popular trails in the Hatcher Pass Management Area, and possibly one of the most popular hiking trails in Anchorage. The trail gives you a sample of interior Alaska hiking terrain only 1.5 hours from Anchorage (and even closer to Palmer and Wasilla). I tried to visit as many different trails as I could when I lived in the state, but this is one of the few I made a point to visit again. 

Reed Lakes trail starts relatively flat and clearly defined for the first 1.5 miles or so. As the climb begins to get steeper, the trail gets more rugged. You’ll encounter a couple of stretches of boulder travel that would be a challenge for smaller children and some dogs. If you’re like me, though, you’ll think it’s all worth it when you catch sight of the lower lake glowing like a turquoise jewel. The meadows around the lower lake are also popular for camping, which often leads to unexpected crowds, evoking the best Joshua Tree hikes.

Hike to Upper Reed Lake to see an abandoned plane wreckage

The trail continues, passing cascading waterfalls that feed the lower lake from the upper one. If it’s early enough in the day, and you can manage the steep ascent through rock and scree, you can continue up past the upper lake. Here you’ll find the wreckage of an Air Force bomber that crashed in the 1950s on aptly-named Bomber Glacier. Some people make this Anchorage hiking trail part of a multi-day traverse that includes the Gold Mint Trail the next valley over. This involves stretches of ice travel that should only be attempted by people with the proper training and equipment. 

If you want to get close to a glacier but can’t fit Seward into your itinerary, Mendenhall Glacier is practically in Juneau’s backyard. The trailhead is minutes away from downtown’s cruise ship terminals, the airport and the state ferry dock. There’s even a city bus stop a mile from the trailhead!

This Juneau hiking trail starts well-defined and not particularly steep with only 250 feet of elevation gain in the one mile it takes to get to the first overlook. Here, you get a beautiful view of the glacier and lake at its base, as well as Nugget Creek Falls on the far side. The first section of the trail is an excellent option for those short on time or not interested in the steeper climb later on. 

Continue hiking to take in views of Mendenhall Glacier 

If you keep following the West Glacier Trail path, you’ll eventually climb out of the young forest and find yourself following cairns across bare rock. After cresting a rock shoulder, you come right to the edge of the glacier.  When we did this Juneau hiking trip, the air noticeably cooled as we neared the ice. We appreciated the temperature dip as it was a warm afternoon for late May!

You can get right up to the ice and take in the varying shades of white and blue. Keep in mind, extended travel on the glacier is for those with the proper experience (or guides!) and equipment.  Commercial outfits in Juneau offer guided glacier explorations and even the chance to explore ice caves within the glacier!

Deer Mountain is a popular Ketchikan hiking trail for locals but not as well known outside Alaska as the Chilkoot Trail. Although it lacks Chilkoot’s historical legacy, the Deer Mountain Trail offers fantastic views of the islands, fjords, and channels that make up southeast Alaska. Like many of Alaska’s trails, you’ll get to experience forests, climb through meadows and alpine basins, and hike past mountains that hold snow well into the summer.

Traverse Deer Mountain trail for a variety of views and alpine

The Deer Mountain Trail starts steep shortly after leaving the parking area. You happen upon viewpoints at both the one- and two-mile marks. At 2.5 miles, a short spur runs up to the top of Deer Mountain itself. The main trail continues past a shelter available for camping on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also take shelter at Blue Lake, and the basin between Mahoney and John Mountains is suitable for tent camping. You can also find plenty of water along the way, as long as you filter or treat it first.

If you traverse the entirety of this Ketchikan hiking tour, you’ll be crossing the mountainous spine of Revillagigedo Island. Here winter comes early and stays late. You might want to consider having an ice ax with you, even in the summer. If the weather or snow conditions seem questionable, play it safe and turn back at Blue Lake

Spanning a staggering 6-million acres, Denali National Park and Preserve offers an entire world of hiking opportunities all by itself. You won’t follow many established trails, though, which is a conscious decision by park management to preserve as much wilderness for visitors as possible. For many who enjoy backpacking in Denali, this is the biggest draw.

Fortunately, however, for those who aren’t quite ready for route finding and unprepared surfaces, you can explore a handful of Denali hiking trails marked for ease of use, like the beautiful area around Savage River. Most are near the park entrance, but you can find a few marked trails farther inside the park. 

Getting deeper into the park requires riding one of the busses. Limited vehicle traffic is also part of the effort to minimize human impact. 

Hike the steep face of Thoro Ridge to gain impressive views of Denali

By the time you reach the Eielson Visitor’s Center, you might be ready to stretch your legs a bit, and the Eielson Alpine Trail will do the trick! Even when clouds obscure Denali itself – which was the case for us – the view across the valleys to the west is panoramic. 

It’s a short but steep trail, climbing the ridge across the Park Road from the Visitor’s Center in a series of switchbacks. When we embarked on our Denali National Park hiking trip, marmots seemed quite fascinated with watching humans make their way up and quite happy to pose for pictures. The ridge is broad where the trail reaches the top, and you can easily walk a bit west and take in the expansive valley to the north. This view of Mount Galen and the distant hills is completely hidden from those who never stray from the busses. 

Most people return the way they came, though you could continue west and descend back to the highway about a mile or so west of the Visitor’s Center. More ambitious hikers could head east and make the steep trek up 5,629-foot to Thoro Peak. You won’t regret taking more time for hiking in Denali. 

Flattop was one of the first hikes I did after moving to Anchorage. The Glen Alps Trailhead is right at the edge of town and easy to reach. You could even take a taxi or Uber if you happen to be in town without a rental car. Flattop Trail is short enough to enjoy time in nature without investing an entire day. The views of the water, mountains, and skyline are more than worth the minimal effort to reach this Anchorage hiking trail. On a clear day, you can even see Denali in the distance, where adventurers are probably attempting the West Buttress climb.

Climbing the popular but worthwhile Flattop Trail

The Flattop trail is a well developed and easy to follow Anchorage hike. Most of the hike is relatively easy, aside from a steep final pitch that’ll get your heart rate up. The last climb is on a north-facing aspect and can retain snow well into summer, which can make things slippery. When I went on a late May afternoon, I found hard-packed steps in the snow left by an endless stream of previous hikers. The top is a broad flat expanse (hence the name) where you can also camp overnight. Flattop is also the site of an annual summer solstice celebration where hikers get to take advantage of almost 20 hours of daylight. 

Hikers with an appetite for more hikes near Anchorage can follow the ridge to the southeast to bag two more peaks. Here you’ll find the less creatively named Peak 2 and Peak 3 in the front range of the Chugach mountains. 

When is the best time to hike in Alaska?

Alaskans, or at least some that work in outdoor equipment stores, offer similar logic as fellow locals in cold, damp climates: There’s no such thing as bad weather, only poor preparation. Even though you could explore many of the trails listed here in snowshoes in the wintertime, most people will prefer to hike them in the summer. Daylight lasts longer in the summer, so you won’t get caught in the dark and many of these areas are prone to avalanche with winter snows. 

Because of the latitude and elevations involved, you might still encounter snow on some of these trails as late as June or July. It’s never a bad idea to check on conditions for each location before setting out.

Permits and fees

Fees involved vary depending on the agency managing the trail. Chilkoot Trail is the only Alaska hiking trail I feature in this article that requires a permit. You can visit the rest by paying modest parking or park entrance fees. Some even offer free entry! 

Overnight camping rules 

Rules for camping also vary depending on the agency, so it’s best to check ahead if you think your trip might involve overnight camping. National parks tend to have more restrictions. Chilkoot Trail only allows camping at designated spots, and Denali has regulations governing how far from the road to make camp.  State-managed lands tend to be more permissive. You can pitch your tent right on top of Flattop, for example.

Safety tips for encountering wildlife while hiking 

Alaska isn’t necessarily a dangerous place to explore, but backpack through the remote corners of Denali or take a tour of Lake Clark National Park and you’ll immediately understand how wild vast portions of it are. This is all bear country. If you’re in a wooded area where you can’t see very far ahead, make noise to prevent any surprise encounters. Consider hiking in a group, which deters aggressive bears, and carrying bear spray—just make sure you know how to use it safely.

Also, be prepared to encounter moose along the trail. They are known to be aggressive, and a mother moose with calves to protect is the most dangerous. Despite their beauty, they’re best viewed from a distance and aren’t tolerable of close-up photo ops. If you find one enjoying lunch in the middle of the trail (which happened to me!), it’s best to turn back or wait for the animal to go on about its business. Again, be aware and cautious when it comes to wildlife on the trail. 

Do your research or hire a guide before hiking in Alaska

Alaska’s rough terrain can pose its own risk, so if you’re not accustomed to the outdoors, make sure to check out our essential tips for beginner hikers. Many of these trails involve stretches of bare rock, which can be slippery during and after rain. Boots with good tread are in order and trekking poles can help you keep your balance. Pack for weather events and bring a GPS, especially if you’re headed into remote areas. And regardless of the terrain or weather, make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you expect to be back.

Check out some other National Parks hikes

Looking to cross some more big names off your bucket list? Try the best hikes in Yellowstone for geothermal wonders and extraordinary wildlife. The best hikes in Grand Teton will have you exploring the largest intact ecosystem in the Lower 48, while the hikes in Yosemite promise larger-than-life adventures among granite monoliths, towering sequoias, and waterfall-filled valleys.