The Best Hiking Trails in Alaska

Horseshoe Lake is a classic day hike in Denali National Park known for its abundance of wildlife and spectacular wildflowers in the spring and early summer. The hike begins by going slightly downhill to a commanding overview of the lake, complete with a bench so that you can relax and enjoy the view....

The Savage River Loop Trail is a spectacular short hike in Denali NP worth planning a day trip around. It's the most remote trailhead accessible by private vehicle, with shuttle busses as the only option available for heading further into the park....

The Tundra Loop is a short must-do hike at the Eielson Visitor Center, deep in the heart of Denali National Park. With an average trail time of just 15 minutes, this is the perfect way to stretch out after a long bus ride and to soak in the unadulterated views of the stunning terrain....

The McKinley Station Trail is a historical interpretive pathway connecting the Visitor Center to Riley Creek Campground. "Highlights include historic building remains, geological features, the railroad trestle, and Riley Creek," according to the park....

This spot along the Kobuk River is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Arctic, and also an important cultural site to Native Alaskans. It’s a place where the caribou herds predictably cross the river on their migrations, becoming vulnerable targets in the water....

If you're looking for a mellow hike in the utterly massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park that still lets you gain stunning glacier views, the West Kennecott Glacier Trail is just the ticket! The trail begins from an easily-accessible trailhead and skirts around a residence by climbing over a small hill....

In any collection of photos from Eagle River, you'll probably notice a wooden deck over a blue creek, against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. This is the classic image from Eagle River Nature Center, and you can find it with just a short walk on Rodak Trail....

This is the best trail for nature viewing at Eagle River Nature Center, as it covers a lot more ground than the 3/4-mile Rodak Trail. On Albert Loop you'll walk through lush temperate forest, full of wildflowers all summer long and changing colors in the fall....

Byron Glacier Trail is a casual hike to see ice formations and watch ecological succession in action, in the wake of a receding glacier. Byron glacier extended much farther down the valley just decades ago, but its retreat has left barren ground for plants to reclaim....

If you want to dip your toes in the frigid waves lapping at the shores of Anchorage, there aren't many places where you can easily reach the waterline. At low tide, expansive tidal flats open up in many spots between the shore and the water....

The Chena River Greenway is a beautiful paved path that winds along the eponymous river through the heart of Fairbanks, Alaska. This mellow trail is a great way to experience Alaska's second-largest city, which is one of the northernmost cities in the world....

Ester Dome is one of the premier trail systems in Fairbanks, Alaska. This tightly-wound trail network was machine built from the ground up by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers, but it has proven quite popular with hikers and trail runners as well....

The Mountain Vista Loop is one of the best spots to catch views of Denali on a clear day. This short, easy circuit traverses a wide gravel path leaving from a large parking lot....

Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park is famous as one of the best places on earth to view grizzly bears. "Every July, when the salmon make their annual run, this part of the Brooks River is packed with bears, making it one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in the US national parks," writes Julie on [EarthTrekkers....

Only in Alaska does the main street of a small town naturally transform into a hiking trail… and not just any hiking trail, but one of the most majestic hikes in the United States! The Root Glacier Trail provides stupendous views of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers, with sweeping vistas of the Wrangell Mountains that surround the valley....

The Rock Creek Trail links Denali's main visitor center to the sled dog kennels and park headquarters two miles west. To form a loop, it's commonly paired with the Roadside Trail to create the 4....

Most visitors to Kobuk Valley come to see the sand dunes, and most of them arrive by plane. In this nearly trackless wilderness, the next best mode of transportation is not a road or trail, but the Kobuk River....

The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are the main attraction of Kobuk Valley National Park. More reminiscent of the Sahara than the Arctic, these vast dunes are made of wind-blown glacial sediments that accumulated after the last Ice Age....

This figure-8 loop combines two relatively easy trails in the national park, Glacier View Loop and Exit Glacier Overlook. You’ll hike through lush temperate rainforest and over glacially-churned rocks to gaze upon a huge ribbon of ice and the river that emanates from it....

Tanalian Falls plummets nearly 30 feet onto hardened lava rock. The hike to reach the falls on one of Lake Clark National Park's few maintained trails is naturally one of the park's classic day hikes....