Apart from being one of the sparsely populated states in the US, Alaska is possibly the most breathtaking and popular hiking destination in the country. Featuring open spaces, rugged mountains, bountiful wildlife gorgeous lakes, and above all exciting and enthralling trails, Alaska makes for a great destination for all the adventure enthusiasts that are looking to seek thrilling and adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities such as skiing, kayaking, challenging hikes, and many more. The vast number of tourist attractions and activities make the choosing process a little overwhelming as every other thing in Alaska is worth experiencing and exploring. No matter if you fancy enthralling outdoor activities or the beautiful and scenic locations that add to the beauty of Alaska, either way, it’s a place that is sure to leave you awestruck and completely in love.
Listed below are some of the best destinations you can visit in Alaska for an unforgettable and enthralling experience.
Kenai fjords national park
To witness some of the best sightseeing in Alaska, the Kenai fjords national parks is possibly your safest bet as it offers the stunning view of the Harding ice field trail found at the exit glacier area. The park is also home to giant brown bears that feed on fat-rich salmon. The half of the park remains engulfed in snow throughout the year and that’s exactly what adds to the beauty of this scenic location and makes it seem more breathtaking. The trail of this national park stretches at a length of 8.2 miles which can be completed in a single day, however, the trail is very demanding hence, it requires a person who is fit and capable of hiking.
Denali national park and reserve
Featuring North America’s largest mountain, Denali national park is one of the largest parks in the United States. Apart from that, it’s also one of the most popular tourist attraction in the country that feature some of the amazing wildlife including grizzly bears, reindeer, elks, wolves, and many other species. The park is also some to a vast range of bird species that are found here in a large number. Besides the wildlife, the glacier draped mountains, river valleys and high alpine ranges are some of the best highlights of this national park.
Iditarod national historic trail
Wildlife, landscape, mountains, and glacier, Iditarod national historic trail (Alaska’s only national scenic trail) offers a little bit of everything. It consists of a network of trails that totals up to 2,300 miles between Nome on the Bering Strait and Seward near Anchorage. The trail was originally used by the ancient hunters as well as gold prospectors but now it can also be accessed by the public. This trail is best known for its sled dog race that takes place on its trail only.
Mendenhall Glacier
This is possibly one of the best places in Alaska that you should never skip on visiting. It is sure to give you an experience that is not only unforgettable and but once in a lifetime as well. Mendenhall Glacier is easily accessible by the road and is situated 12 miles from downtown Juneau. This giant glacier separates into its own adjacent lake that is dotted with floating icebergs. Also, don’t miss the opportunity of floating among the icebergs by either going for rafting or kayaking. You may also spot a few of the animal species such as porcupines, black bears, and beavers as they are commonly found there.
University of Alaska Museum of the north
This is yet another one of the top-rated tourist destinations in Alaska. The museum displays a huge collection of historical artifacts and several natural history pieces. The collection displayed in the museum mostly includes a fine arts collection focusing on Alaskan art, ethnological items made and used by the native groups, paleontology specimens, a bird collection, and archaeological finds from prehistoric culture. The building itself is definitely worth checking out as it was designed to resemble the Alaskan landscape.