Our Alaska hiking trip assembles in Anchorage on Day 1 where we will begin our drive south to the fishing town of Seward – gateway to the Kenai Peninsula. Besides the incredible scenery we pass on the drive, we will have an opportunity to venture into the wilderness for an introductory hike to a stunning water fall. Then it is on to town where we will spend two nights on the edge of Resurrection Bay.
Day 2. is devoted to the ultimate scenic boat cruise in Resurrection Bay, touring the shorelines of glaciers and fjords that jab into the wilderness, offering exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities that can include seals, whales and puffins.
Our visit to Kenai Fjords Park continues on Day 3. We’ll hike the Harding Trail along Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield, one of the largest icefields in North America. The icefield is 35 miles long and 20 miles wide, and is the source of the glaciers of Kenai Fjords. From the side of the glacier we can only imagine the immensity of the Icefield.
For our last morning in Seward, on Day 4, we’ll have the opportunity to visit Alaska’s premier public aquarium – the Alaskan Sea Life Center. This afternoon we transfer to Girdwood for our final 2 nights at the luxurious Alyeska Resort. On the way there, we stop for a hike on the Johnson Pass trail in the lush valley of Bench Creek.
On Day 5 we explore the historic Iditarod Trail that provided access to the gold fields near Crow Pass during the early years of the 20th century. We’ll climb moderately along the upper reaches of Crow Creek passing the remains of the Monarch Mine, a hard-rock gold mine that ceased operations in 1948. Nearby Crystal Lake lies nestled beneath a steep mountain wall and then it’s on to the Raven Glacier overlook before descending to the trail head.
Our final Day 6 includes a hike up Winner Creek to the Winner Creek Gorge. The trail starts right from the resort and gives a wonderful fairwell to the Alaskan wilderness. We shuttle back to Anchorage for our walking tour conclusion.
