Top Anchorage Outdoor Activities

The Turnagain Arm boasts abundant Alaskan wildlife within easy access of the city of Anchorage. Learn about the local ecosystem from a guide with extensive knowledge about the area as you drive down the peninsula, with opportunities to spot wild animals in their natural environment as you go. A visit to the animals at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a drive past the glaciers on Portage Glacier Road are also included.

Nature lovers can spend the day exploring the Matanuska Glacier on a hiking tour that traverses the glacier’s picturesque terrain. Along the way, your guide teaches you about the dynamic glacial features including seracs, moulons, and crevasses. While it is easy to get views of the glacier on your own, a guided hike on the glacier itself provides a completely different perspective of the otherworldly landscape.

Combine a sightseeing tour and a glacier cruise into one full-day itinerary with this excursion from Anchorage. Climb aboard a comfortable coach for a narrated journey along Turnagain Arm Drive. Continue the tour on a catamaran for a smooth, scenic cruise that navigates through narrow fjords and right up to the face of massive glaciers. Admire views of Prince William Sound during the tour.

Prince William Sound is one of Alaska’s most beautiful areas to see the state’s massive, icy glaciers, but the best way to see them is by boat. Skip renting a boat yourself and travel safely on the sound during this Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise. Spend an afternoon with others as you take in views of the glaciers and Alaskan wildlife, too.

Go on an outdoor adventure in Alaska with this small-group helicopter tour with glacier landing. Take off on a scenic flight and admire views of the Knik River, Great Gorge, and Whiteout Glacier. Land directly on the glacier and get the experience of drinking glacial water. Set out on a guided glacier hike before the return flight. Keep an eye out for wildlife like moose, bears, and mountain goats.

Willow, Alaska is famed for its association with the Iditarod. This private tour gives you a taste of life on the trail, without the hard work. At the family-owned and operated kennel, you'll meet the huskies, help harness the team and enjoy views of Denali as a musher leads your pack along private trails.

If you don't have the time, or the expertise required, to go on a glacier expedition on foot, a helicopter tour is a great way to see the glaciers surrounding Anchorage. This tour takes you over spectacular scenery and makes three landings—one alpine, one on an ice wall, and one in the middle of Knik Glacier—where you can get out and explore with your guide. You also have the possibility of seeing mountain goats, Dall sheep, moose, and, in the summer months, bears and wolves. Note: in winter, the helicopter lands next to the glacier.

Set out on a nocturnal adventure to see the Northern Lights with this photography-focused tour departing from Anchorage. Get picked up at your hotel and go in search of Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, with a small-group tour. Learn new photography skills and try your hand at capturing the dazzling light show of the Northern Lights with your camera.

Let an insider lead the way around Anchorage on this half-day tour of the city, featuring stops at must-see attractions like Ship Creek and Alaska Wild Berry Products. Gain a deeper understanding of local culture as you learn the history and folklore behind key Anchorage attractions on this joint walking and driving tour of the city.

For a stress-free, see-it-all day, look no further than this small-group tour. Picked up from your Anchorage hotel, you’ll go for a scenic drive down the famous Turnagain Arm, stop at Explorer and Middle glaciers, cruise on Portage Lake, and finally explore the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where you’ll see lynx, wolves, reindeer, and more. You’ll get whisked back to Anchorage down the Seward Highway for one last adventure.

Take a comfy seat aboard a cable car for this 1-hour Anchorage tour by trolley. As you roll along in the city, delight in sights like moose (safely) crossing the road and seaplanes descending on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard. Gain unique into the local history and culture of Alaska's most populous city from guides with generational ties to the region. Trolleys run regularly and your wallet-friendly outing comes with a complimentary coupon booklet with some $200 in travel savings.

Discover the beautiful scenery of Alaska's North Anchorage area during this helicopter and dogsled tour. Soar over the Church Range and Knik Glacier in a helicopter as you make your way to the Troublesome Glacier. Here, a team of sled dogs is waiting to transport you across the glacier for a true Alaskan experience. Keep an eye out for native animals such as moose and mountain goats throughout your tour.

You don't have to travel far from the city to see abundant Alaskan wildlife. On this tour to Turnagain Arm, you'll earn about the local ecosystem while looking out for wild animals in their natural environment. A visit to the animals at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a cruise to Portage Glacier are also included.

Experience the natural wonder of Alaska's Matanuska Glacier with our full-day guided tour. Beginning with a convenient pickup from downtown Anchorage, you'll embark on a scenic two-hour journey, driving through landscapes of towering mountains. Along the way, we'll stop at local eateries, offering you the chance to purchase lunch. Upon reaching the glacier, a seasoned guide will equip you with crampons, making glacier navigation safe and manageable. Then, an all-terrain vehicle will transport you to the glacier's base. Here, you'll set off on foot to explore the glacier's icy expanse, discovering fascinating ice formations and gaining insight into the glacier's natural history from your knowledgeable guide. After this unforgettable experience, we'll journey back to Anchorage, ensuring a comfortable drop-off in downtown. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, education, and scenic beauty, offering an in-depth encounter with one of Alaska's most impressive glaciers.

A fully narrated tour by a local guide along Turnagain Arm offers stunning views of rugged mountains, glaciers, and Alaska flora and fauna (i.e., wildflowers, bald eagles, Dall sheep, beluga whales). We will stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), where visitors can get up-close viewings and pictures of Alaska's most iconic animals, including brown bears, moose, caribou, and muskox. From there, the tour will continue down the scenic Portage Valley, where visitors can take in spectacular views of towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, the beautiful Portage Lake, and numerous glaciers, including the Explorer and Byron Glaciers. On the return trip, visitors will enjoy a provided lunch in Girdwood, a quaint town surrounded by the northernmost temperate rainforest. Overall, a tour of Turnagain Arm, the AWCC, and Portage Valley is a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Alaska and to learn about the history and culture of this incredible state.

The Seward to Anchorage VIP Tour and Transfer is a tour that has been curated to offer the best and most unique experiences for you for your family or group. We love to provide top-shelf personalized service and experiences so that you can see Alaska your way! With room for up to 12 guests, you'll travel in comfort and style in a fully equipped new Mercedes Sprinter Van, complete with your very own Experienced Alaskan driver-guide. We will pick you up in Seward, and begin the tour to Anchorage. Included is a guided tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with over 250 acres of all the Alaska animals. Short break at Girdwood Station with a stop for optional lunch. We'll spend time in the stunning Portage Valley with a short walk up to Byron Glacier and stop at the Portage Glacier Lodge. A final stop at Beluga Point for photos and watch for Dall Sheep and other wildlife. End with Anchorage's best spots and drop off at your hotel, airport, or place of choice!

Get the inside scoop on Anchorage’s beer culture and brewery history on this half-day tour. An in-the-know guide whisks you around the city to sample six tasty offerings at three venues, including three classic breweries that you are sure to enjoy. Pair the hoppy happiness with light snacks, chat it up with locals and take with you a renewed perspective on Anchorage’s stand-out beer scene.

Some of Alaska's most beautiful landscapes lie right on Anchorage's doorstep, but many visitors miss out due to transportation concerns. This guided tour departs from downtown Anchorage and takes you to Chugach State Park for a walk in nature. You'll see Barbara Falls, cross South Fork Eagle River and learn about plants and animals along the way.

Travel along the Turnagain Arm on a round-trip journey from Anchorage to Seward aboard the Coastal Classic Train. You'll have the chance to admire the rugged coastline, Chugach Mountains, river canyons, glaciers, waterfalls, and backcountry wilderness on one of the Alaska Railroad's most scenic sections. Enjoy free time in Seward before the return ride in the evening.

Don’t let Alaska’s best scenery pass you by from your car window. On this tour, you’ll follow your guide on e-bike, traveling the ultra-scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the nation. Taking it easy on your pedal-assisted cruiser, you’ll nab views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Mountains, downtown Anchorage, and so much more—including all the wildlife Alaska is known for.

A stroll along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a great Anchorage outdoors activity, but you can cover much more ground on a bicycle. This small-group guided bicycle tour begins at Kincaid Park and shows you the beauty of the Cook Inlet, with views of Denali and, possibly, moose along the way.

Meet the animals of Alaska on a 4-hour tour from Anchorage. Travel down the gorgeous Seward Parkway along the Turnagain Arm waterway to viewpoints including the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, Bird Point and Beluga Point. Take in the breathtaking scenery and look for wildlife, then continue to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, situated at the edge of Portage Valley. Go inside the sprawling nature preserve for injured animals to view large land animals up close. You can see critters such as fox, lynx, grizzly bear, caribou, wood bison and more.

Our Private Glacier Walk and Wildlife Adventure Tour is the perfect way to experience the unique beauty, views and experiences in just a day trip from Anchorage. We curated this tour from of favorite local experiences and guests alike- The accessibility to be able to walk just a short distance, along a beautiful river, to get up close to a Glacier is awe inspiring for locals and guests alike. *** ( Please note- during the winter months, we choose a shorter walking point because of ice/snow) We also include a guided experience at the Wildlife Conservation Center. It's guaranteed wildlife viewing of bears, elk, Moose, Wolves and more, plus it supports a great cause. At Welcome Anchorage Tours, we prioritize your comfort and satisfaction, which is why our private tours are led only by knowledgeable local Alaskan tour guides. To ensure your comfort and a personalized experience, we provide modern SUVs, specifically Suburbans, as the mode of transportation for the duration of the tour.