A hiker stands atop Alaska's Adak Island.
Alaska, known for its multitude of lakes, extensive coastline, and defining mountain peaks and glaciers, is the largest state in the U.S. northwest. Beside's Alaska's meandering coastline, the Alaska interior is marked by rivers such as the Yukon River, as well as arctic tundra land and shorelines.
Alaska is home to popular national parks and backpacking destinations like Denali National Park -- home to Denali, formerly Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet -- as well as others such as Kenai Fjords and Wrangell - St. Elias.
The editors at Backpacker have created an extensive collection of popular trails and trips in Alaska.
Thanks to COVID-19, big-name national parks are drawing larger crowds than normal this year, leading to busy trails and hard-to-get permits. So skip ‘em and set your sights on these sleeper alternatives instead. Not only will you still nab beauty to rival any national park, but there’s a good chance your social distancing will extend for miles and miles.
Hit up one of these 7 hikes for a late-season color show.
Long days and big views make this a trip you'll never forget.
Ditch the heavy pack and crowded trails for a day on the water.
Spot some bruins and sample the goods at these Bearpacker Magazine-approved destinations.
From coast to coast, spring is the season to catch wildlife in motion.
At these creekside, shorefront, and mountaintop spots, the views are so gorgeous that you may never want to go to sleep.
Head into the wilderness without the hassle of a four-season tent
Ten trails. Ten unmatched miles each. Get maximum bang for each boot step on hikes that our most-traveled contributors call their all-time favorites.
These ten point-to-point treks pack the payoffs of a thru-hike, but they're hikeable in a week.
This is your year. Start planning one of these life-list hikes and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Whether it’s big elevation changes, big miles, or big moves, these 23 routes prove that the best hikes are often the hardest.
These 9 difficult hikes will challenge even the toughest backpackers.
Maples and aspens are nice, but you better look down if you want to see fall's best color show.
As a gateway to the Chugach National Forest, a trip to Cordova is a primer in hiking southern Alaska
Explore Alaska's bear HQ with the best viewing sites and remote backpacking routes.
From climate change to drilling and mining, various threats promise to wipe out what’s best about America’s 12 most endangered trails.
Strap on your pack, grab your camera, and hit one of these ten trails where bruins roam free.
Basecamp the right way: at this 1971 cabin on the edge of a bowl overlooking Alaska’s Talkeetnas.
Leave it to Alaska to bundle life-list scenery and challenge into what amounts to a neighborhood ramble in an Anchorage exurb.
Follow in the footsteps of presidents, pioneers and prospectors on these hikes. Just don’t get snowed in and eat your friends.
See migrating whales, caribou, seabirds, and more on these four hikes ar
Looking for proof of climate change? Just head up to America’s largest state, where park managers, scientists, and climbers say they’re already dealing with the effects of a warming Earth.
