Denali National Park Hiking

Lush forests. Exotic wildlife. Abundant wildflowers. These are all staples of Denali’s boreal forest. But why? Denali is a frozen wasteland in the winter. Why is it so spectacular during the summer? That’s one of the many questions we answer on the Naturalist Walking Tour. “But helpful stranger,” I can hear you saying. “I’m not a hiker! I like walking, but I can’t climb a mountain!” Well, my lovely friend, guess what? You don’t have to be an avid hiker to enjoy this tour. You’ll be on well-maintained trails the entire time. The leisurely pace will let you take in the beauty of the National Park as you walk. Listen to the twittering birds. The chattering squirrels. Stop and smell the delicate wildflowers. Later in the season, enjoy a bounty of delicious berries. Cloudberries, crowberries, lingonberries, nagoonberries, bog bilberries, and more. I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard of many of those. Want to know what they taste like? You should. They’re delicious! The truth is, I can’t touch on everything that you’ll learn on the Naturalist Walking Tour. You’ll have to book it to find out. What I can promise you is this: Your fellow travelers will be shocked by your Denali knowledge after this tour. Don’t believe me? Just watch their face when you point to a clearing and tell them the depth of the permafrost there. The benefits of delving deeper in Denali don’t stop there. When you understand something, you appreciate it. Think about your favorite things in life. You understand them pretty well, right? The same goes for your vacation. You’re traveling thousands of miles to see Denali. Don’t let it be the cookie-cutter vacation that leaves so many feeling disappointed. Chances are, you’ll learn more on this tour than on the rest of your vacation combined. You’re the type of person who wants more than the average tourist experience. You’re here after all! That’s admirable. It’s what we’re here for too. Don’t just see Denali. Experience it. Understand it.×

Your Denali zipline adventure tour begins with a three mile trail ride through the scenic Alaskan wilderness. After gearing up, certified guides will lead you along 6 sky bridges and 7 thrilling zip lines, including the dual racer finale!×

After an orientation at our home in Talkeetna, we will fly out to one of our destination lakes in the Talkeetna Mountains and set up a base camp with tents and a cooking shelter. Your guide will lead you off to a nearby glassing point where you will survey the surrounding countryside in search for Bears, Wolves, Caribou, and other species that inhabit the alpine zones. You'll witness a long and splendid sunset before heading back to a warm meal and excited discussions of the day's discoveries.×

Days begin 8-9 am and end 8-9 pm, with a little flexibility. Travel is at a comfortable pace with several stops along the way. In some locations, optional activities can be arranged for a further personalized experience.×

An exclusive multi-sport, full day of adventure combining hiking and river rafting in the Denali area.×

Our Alaska Family Adventure is a quintessential Alaska journey that features the major biotic regions and multi-sport activities that Alaska is world renowned for.×

For the active traveler, a Denali Wilderness Hike is the perfect way to discover this amazing place. This hike usually involves substantial elevation gain, getting you up to the big views above tree line. The trail is not steep or difficult, but a long, steady climb makes this trip fairly strenuous.×

Our Classic Alaska Tour is a quintessential Alaska journey that features the major biotic regions and multi-sport activities that Alaska is world renowned for. Explore Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the richest marine environments in the world, encompassing the largest icefield (700 sq. miles) contained entirely within the United States. Hike with crampons on the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska's largest accessible glacier. Explore the crown jewel of the National Park system, Denali National Park and Preserve and observe Alaska's famed terrestrial mammals, and if you're lucky, Mt Denali- tallest mountain in North America.×

Our most comprehensive adventure, the Alaska Grand Adventure features stays at all three of Alaska Wildland Adventures' deluxe wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula, showing travelers the full beauty of riverside, backcountry and seacoast Alaska.×

A guided hike in Alaska with a bit more intensity for the avid adventurer. This hiking tour often happens in areas just outside the National Park which may led to some off-trail and remote exploration. Terrain of the trail is varied (not always flat) and at four hours in length, we cover a lot of ground! You won't want to forget a camera for this incredible Denali tour and adventure - the scenery is absolutely breathtaking!×

What comes to mind when you think of Alaska? Is it gift shops, boardwalks, and buses? Maybe commercialized tours where you’re driven along like cattle? Or is it rugged mountains, rugged people, and independent survivalists? If you answered yes to this last question, you’re just like me. Sadly, most travelers settle for the first two. I want to give you something better. Something more authentic. I want to take you off the beaten path of Denali. And I mean that literally. Our survival tour is entirely off-trail. That means you get the REAL Denali experience. Come with me on a mental field trip to Denali. Feel the peat moss sink beneath your feet. You’re walking on a lush green cloud. In some places, you sink nearly a foot with every step. As you stare in wonder at the unfamiliar forest around you, your guide hands you a wild berry. You taste it. It’s good! It tastes exactly like banana cream. Your guide tells you it’s a cloudberry, and teaches you how to identify it. By the end of the tour, you know how to identify dozens of edible plants and berries. But it doesn’t end there! Your guide walks through the forest with you until they reach a suitable place to stop. You sit down in the lush moss. It absorbs you while your guide gives you a passionate lesson on authentic Alaskan survival skills. You learn how the indigenous Athabaskans refrigerated their food. You learn how to build a shelter that will keep you warm, even in the harsh climate of Denali. Your guide tells you stories of the many survivalists who’ve come to Denali. You hear about Chris McCandless, who met his unfortunate end just miles away from where you now sit. By the time you’re done with your tour, you’re a different traveler. When you look at the forest, you see more than the trees. You see where the permafrost is lower. You recognize moose signs. At a glance, you pick out the best places to build a shelter. You spot game trails, and think about what animal might have made them. You’re no longer observing Denali. You’re experiencing it! Does that sound better than the cookie-cutter tours everyone else offers? If it does, don’t wait to book. These tours are limited, and getting booked fast. If you decide to change times or cancel, you can do it for free until 24 hours before your departure. Don't lose your spot. The only risk is waiting too long.×