Denali Guided Hikes
So worth it!
Northern Epics-Denali Naturalist
3 Hour Walking Tour
Hiking Level: Easy
Lush forests. Exotic wildlife. Abundant wildflowers. These are all staples of Denali’s boreal forest. But why? Denali is a frozen wasteland in the winter. Why is it so spectacular during the summer? That’s one of the many questions we answer on the Naturalist Walking Tour. “But helpful stranger,” I can hear you saying. “I’m not a hiker! I like walking, but I can’t climb a mountain!” Well, my lovely friend, guess what? You don’t have to be an avid hiker to enjoy this tour. You’ll be on well-maintained trails the entire time. The leisurely pace will let you take in the beauty of the National Park as you walk. Listen to the twittering birds. The chattering squirrels. Stop and smell the delicate wildflowers. Later in the season, enjoy a bounty of delicious berries. Cloudberries, crowberries, lingonberries, nagoonberries, bog bilberries, and more. I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard of many of those. Want to know what they taste like? You should. They’re delicious! The truth is, I can’t touch on everything that you’ll learn on the Naturalist Walking Tour. You’ll have to book it to find out. What I can promise you is this: Your fellow travelers will be shocked by your Denali knowledge after this tour. Don’t believe me? Just watch their face when you point to a clearing and tell them the depth of the permafrost there. The benefits of delving deeper in Denali don’t stop there. When you understand something, you appreciate it. Think about your favorite things in life. You understand them pretty well, right? The same goes for your vacation. You’re traveling thousands of miles to see Denali. Don’t let it be the cookie-cutter vacation that leaves so many feeling disappointed. Chances are, you’ll learn more on this tour than on the rest of your vacation combined. You’re the type of person who wants more than the average tourist experience. You’re here after all! That’s admirable. It’s what we’re here for too. Don’t just see Denali. Experience it. Understand it.
Hiking Level: Easy
Length: 3 Hours
Offered daily: 8am, 1pm, & 5pm
DBG-Guided Denali 3 Hr Walking Tour
HIKING LEVEL: Easy
Walking with an experienced local naturalist is really a great way to see the complicated connections of plants, animals, and people within the splendor of true wilderness in Alaska. Trails are best described as moderate, with tree roots, hills, and mud in places. This tour is not meant to be a workout, but it is three consecutive hours of walking on sometimes unimproved trails. Average pace is about one mile per hour with frequent stops. There is time for resting, drinking, conversing and even picking berries in season. The trail is not flat. Some up and down is required for the entire length of the tour. Expect to walk 3-4 miles with up to 800’ elevation gain.
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Bring your outdoor gear: sturdy walking shoes, water, snack for the trail, jacket and rain gear.
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Don’t forget your camera, and bring binoculars if you have them!
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Some basic equipment is available upon request, including rain gear, water, overboots and trekking poles.
Availability: May 12 - September 15
Times:
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7:40AM - 10:40AM
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5PM - 8PM
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8:30PM - 11:15PM (May, June & July only)
Duration: 3 hours / Moderate
NWA-Evening Stroll
Hiking Level: Easy
This well-traveled graded flat path is the best option for travelers with young children or folks looking for a less strenuous hike. High above the Nenana River, this 2-mile hike contours the west banks of the river so you can watch rafters brave the 36-degree rapids. Besides the river views, there are panorama vistas of Mt. Fellows, Sugarloaf Mountain and Mt. Healy as you weave through the spruce, aspen and birch forest. Halfway through the hike, you’ll reach a gravel bar where you can test the temperatures of the river … if you dare.
Trip Time: 6:15pm
Hiking Time: 2 hours
Level: Easy
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
Northern Epics Wilderness Wonders Tour
Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate
Adventure. Authenticity. Exploration. This tour embodies these three ideas. Leave the trails and cookie-cutter tours behind. Venture off-trail through Denali’s magical boreal forest. Leave the navigation to your guide - they’re an expert. Put your present self into your future shoes for a moment. Your feet sink into the deep peat moss that carpets the forest floor. Your guide hands you a fistful of wild blueberries. They’re tastier than the ones you bought from the store. The complex flavors wash over your palette as your guide tells you about the nutritional benefits. Out of the corner of your eye you spot movement! A snowshoe hare. It hasn’t fully lost its ivory-white winter coat yet. Your guide decides to change course and follow the hare. Why not? You’re not on a trail after all. Now drag yourself back to the present. Did that sound like something you would like to experience on your Denali vacation? If so, the Wilderness Wonders Tour was designed for you. The best part? The scene I laid out for you isn’t an outlier. The magic begins when you leave the trail. The worst part? Due to the high skill level required to guide tours like this, most companies don’t offer them. You won’t get many chances to experience something like this. Don’t let the opportunity slip away. Availabilities are first-come-first-serve, so don’t wait for someone else to decide your vacation’s fate.
Hiking Level: Easy/Moderate
Length: 4 Hours
Offered daily: 8am, 1pm, & 5pm
NWA-Taiga & Tundra Trails
Hiking Level: Easy
Morning or Afternoon Hike:
Denali’s Nature Taiga & Tundra Trails
Trail Selection Based on Conditions
Start your day with an invigorating morning hike, perfect for those who want to greet the day surrounded by the pristine beauty of Denali. This moderate trek takes you along a gradual climb on a well-graded path, offering a perfect balance of adventure and comfort. In the Denali area, summer days seem endless, inviting you to step away from the hustle of tours and explore the raw beauty of the taiga and tundra on foot. This afternoon hike is a perfect way to experience Alaska’s wild landscape, with nothing but the sound of your footsteps and the rhythm of nature.
Trip Time: 8am & 1pm
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Level: Easy/Moderate
Distance: 2-7 miles (Depending on group)
Elevation Gain: 800-1250 feet
DBG-Denali Wilderness 4 Hour Hiking Tour
Hiking level: Strenuous
This tour is designed to be the same intensity as our 5-Hour Wilderness Hiking Tour and for more fit travelers. While still a narrated tour the Interpretive 4 hour Hike covers more ground but a little shorter in duration. Expect to cover 4-6 miles and climb up 1500-1800' in elevation.
*Note, this tour often operates in areas just outside the National Park so we may explore the mountains off-trail and utilize locations that are more remote and have a wider variety of terrain to explore. We can drop you off at the train depot in time for the 12:30pm train departure.
Hiking Level: Strenuous
Group size 3-7 travelers
Offered daily from 7:30am - 11:30am
Northern Epics-Into The Mountains Tour
Hiking Level: Strenuous.
Do you like jaw-dropping views? A good workout? Learning about Denali? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, stop reading now. This tour isn’t for you. If you’re still reading, then this might be exactly what you’re looking for. This is the tour that one satisfied customer (Alicia G.) said was “the best guided tour I have ever had.” Are you ready? Leave the buses and boardwalks behind. Hike high into the Alaska Range. Feel the wind in your hair and the rocks beneath your feet. As the views begin to unfold, you won’t be able to peel your eyes away. The rugged mountains rise around you like monolithic castles. The wide valleys stretch into the distance. The greens, reds, and blues of the tundra create a patchwork quilt unlike any other. Now pick your jaw back up! There’s more to see, and higher to go! Toil further up the steep ridge. Scramble over jagged rocks. Stroll along saddles filled with beautiful alpine wildflowers. Later in the season, enjoy the bounty of wild blueberries, lingonberries, currants, and more. Keep an eye out for the elusive Dall sheep. You’re in their domain now! Your guide will point out signs of them everywhere. Maybe they’ll even lead you along a sheep trail for a time. But sheep aren’t the only animal you might see. Our clients have seen moose, bear, ptarmigan, stoats, porcupines, and more on the Into the Mountains Tour. So what do you think? Will you continue with the buses and boardwalks of most people’s Denali vacations? Or will you embark with us on a grand adventure into the Alaska Range, gaining a vantage point normally reserved for the Dall sheep and golden eagles? The choice is yours.
Hiking Level: Strenuous
Length: 5 Hours