Those who have never stood in the vast open, quiet wilderness of Alaska simply can’t understand how this special place reconnects you with nature. Our wilderness trips offer a unique bond with the land — journeys to captivating places few people ever visit. Where paddling provides the only access and camping the only lodging for hundreds of miles around.
For a detailed trip overview, click the name of any underlined destination.
Chulitna River
Whitewater Canoeing and Hiking
Originating between the Alaska and Talkeetna Mountain ranges in southcentral Alaska, the Chulitna flows through parts of the Denali National Park & Preserve and the Denali State Park. This trip includes seven days of Class I and II whitewater canoeing, wilderness hiking, panning for gold, and observing spectacular sights—Mt. McKinley, glaciers and arctic wildlife including eagles, black bears, and grizzly bears. Previous whitewater paddling experience is required.
Kachemak Bay
Sea Kayaking
Kachemak Bay State Park—with a quarter-million acres of fjords, glaciers, lagoons, coves and beaches— is our destination for this seven-day sea kayak camping trip. Just traveling to the bay, we will drive through mountains, near glaciers, and by volcanos. After arriving, several days await for exploring tide pools and viewing marine life, puffins at Gull Island, sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles and other wildlife species in this northern temperate rainforest. The trip includes opportunities for hiking, nature study, photography, beachcombing and collecting blue mussels for dinner-time snacks.
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Flatwater Paddling
The lowland spruce-birch forests of the Kenai Peninsula are our destination for this seven-day, flatwater canoe camping trip in southcentral Alaska. We will canoe and camp along lakes, marshes and the Moose River in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Along the way, we will see Turnagain Arm, Portage Glacier and two mountain ranges. In addition to the spectacular scenery, we will likely see Dall sheep, swans, moose, black bears, bald eagles, loons and waterfowl. There is plenty of time for nature study, reading, relaxing and fishing.
Nenana River
Whitewater Padding and Denali Tour
The wide-open interior of Alaska is featured on this seven-day whitewater canoe trip on the Nenana River. Traveling north from Anchorage, we will see spectacular rivers, valleys and mountains; if it is clear, we will see the south face of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. Our trip includes canoe camping, whitewater paddling, hiking and observing nature, including grizzly bears, caribou, moose and wolf in Denali National Park. Time is set aside for nature study, reading and relaxing. Previous whitewater paddling experience is required.
Prince William Sound
Sea Kayaking
The majesty and incomparable beauty of Alaska awaits us in this sea kayak camping trip to Prince William Sound. Beginning in Anchorage, we will travel by train and chartered boat along the mountains and sea, into the passages, bays and fjords of Prince William Sound. Spectacular sights include rugged mountains, rain forests, cascading waterfalls, tidewater glaciers and icebergs. Along the way, we will search for sea otters, porpoise and seals. Orca, minke and humpback whales also pass through this part of the sound. Eagles, gulls, oystercatchers, terns and cormorants are common here. The trip includes ample opportunities for hiking, nature study, photography, beachcombing, reading and relaxing. Temperatures can range between the upper 30s in the morning and the low 70s in the afternoon.
Wrangell-St. Elias
Camping and Hiking
At more than 13 million acres, the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park covers a massive region where the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias mountain ranges converge, and provides striking vistas, extensive wildlife and unparalleled high-country hiking. Among the sights: many peaks above 16,000 feet, including the 18,008-foot Mt. St. Elias, the second-highest peak in the United States. Part of the “Mountain Kingdom of North America,” the park is home to Caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, wolves, golden eagles and ptarmigan. Our trip also includes one day exploring the historic town of McCarthy, where raucous miners once extracted ore from the Kennicot Copper Mine. This nine-day journey includes plenty of time for you to pursue your own interests in this exceptional wilderness setting.
Yukon River
Canoeing
Flowing across Alaska is the Yukon River, a river of legend and subsistence for native Alaskans. This ten-day canoe adventure begins on a bush plane over the wilderness to historic Eagle, a town near the Canadian border. Over the next nine days, we will paddle to another historic town, Circle. Incredible vistas, striking land and extraordinary wildlife will fill our days. The trip includes time to pan for gold, observe the subsistence lifestyle of native Alaskans, hike valleys and ridges, watch Arctic wildlife and take photos. The trip ends at the famed springs in Circle Hot Springs and then to Fairbanks.