Top 10 outdoor activities in Alaska
With the Spring season being upon us, it’s time to start planning our next outdoor adventure. The warm and sunny weather invites us to spend some time in the outdoors and exploring its wonders. Visiting different places and cultures gives us the opportunity to broaden our horizons, free our mind and work our bodies.
Often, when we’re deciding on where to go, we forget about the Last Frontier. We tend to choose not to visit it because we think that it’s too far away, it’ll cost us too much money, and that it hasn’t got much to offer. But we’re wrong. There are plenty of cheap and quick ways to get to Alaska, and it has a huge amount to offer outdoor enthusiasts.
The place is full of natural beauty, vast landscapes, and breathtaking horizons. Every part of this natural world is completely astonishing, amazing and beautiful. There are loads of things to do, and places to explore while you are there.
Here is a list of top 10 outdoor activities you could do when you visit Americas Icebox. (Just in case you’re wondering, it’s not always icy, they have summer there as well)
1. Hiking
If you want to feel the soul of the State, you should take a walk across it. Although hiking in Alaska isn’t always an easy activity to do, there are plenty of options. There are many hiking trails that lead to astonishing and beautiful areas of the country. The most popular hiking trail is the Angel Rocks Trail, it’s in the Chena River State Recreation Area. You should definitely try it.
2. Dog musher
Since dog mushing is the official state sport of the country, you have to check it out. There are plenty of organized tours, or you can just find a musher to see how they operate. The experience is fantastic and eye-opening. If you want to check it out, you should go to Denali National Park and Preserve. They have organized daily tours for you to see how the mushing and kenneling work.
3. Tour in Denali National Park and Preserve
There are bus lines that go through the National Park that you should definitely take advantage of. Yes, that means that you’ll spend few hours on a bus, but it’s worth it. In a couple of hours you will see amazing sights, landscapes, and lots of natural beauty.
The chances of seeing a grizzly bear, moose, caribou, wolves, and other wild animals are good. On the ride into the park, you will be able to see a lot of Alaska’s wildlife.
4. Fishing an arctic grayling
If you find yourself near a river, you need to get your rod out and to try to catch an Arctic grayling. They are easy to catch, and there are plenty of them in the rivers. These fishes are distinguished by the slate gray color and big dorsal fins. To make thing more fun, try catching them with your hands. They are usually fairly cooperative, and they rise to dry flies.
5. Denali Highway
To experience a wild, pretty, and exciting drive, drive the Denali Highway. The 135-mile route has a lot to offer. Although the road is unpaved, you should definitely drive it. You might need to source your own car though as most of the rental companies don’t allow driving on the Denali Highway. I like the idea of doing it on a motorbike.
6. End of a road
One thing that Alaska is also famous for is the experiences of driving to the end of the road. There are plenty of roads in the country that come to a sudden end. Take the 130-mile Steese Highway, and you’ll end up in the Yukon River in Circle (Circle is a town of about 100 people).
Or you could drive the 55-mile Chena Hot Spring Road, and at the end take a soak in the springs. And if you want something more adventurous, take a drive on the 414-mile Dalton Highway. It will lead you to Deadhorse and the North Slope.
7. River floating
There’s nothing better than spending a day in the water, surrounded by green trees and fresh air. In Alaska, there are plenty of rivers that give you the opportunity to do just that. Take a leisure float on the Chena River, or try and run the Class IV rapids on the Nenana River. The touch of the fresh water, clean air, and vast landscapes are irreplaceable.
8. Find a moose
Going to Alaska and not seeing a Moose is like you haven’t been there. This amazing animal is the real symbol of Alaska, and it’s even more beautiful when you see it live. They are not very hard to find since there are plenty of them in the wild. Just keep an eye on the road, and you will see one. Just make sure that you don’t run into one, they can be huge.
9. Climb a dome
There are plenty of domes in Alaska, they are equivalent to a mountain in most other places. There are many domes in the country, all of them in different sizes and shapes. Climbing one will give you the opportunity to see astonishing sites and views. Some of them even have roads that will take you to the top, like the Ester Dome (2,323 feet) or Murphy Dome (2,930 feet). Also, you check the Chena Dom (4,421 feet); Donnelly Dome (3,910 feet); and may others.
10. Kill a mosquito
Unlike many other animals in Alaska, which are protected by the law, killing a mosquito is opposite of that. You can kill as many as you want. Since there are plenty of them all over the place, locals will encourage you to kill them.
So, the next time you wonder where to spend few days in nature, don’t hesitate. Go to Alaska, and be amazed at what it can offer. We guarantee that you’ll have a great time, lots of fun, and be able to immerse yourself in natural beauty.
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