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Image by McKayla Crump

Alaska

20

Backpacking in Alaska: America's Untamed Wilderness

Endless wilderness meets endless days (or nights, depending on the season) in Alaska’s great outdoors, a remote landscape filled with incredible backpacking and hiking trails. Glaciers, mountains, fjords, and rainforests await! Find your next trip with our guide for the best backpacking locations in Alaska, organized by weekend getaways, week-long adventures and gritty expeditions.

*Our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. Always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip.

Weekend Getaway

Weekend Getaways

Image by Zetong Li

Caines Head State Recreation Area/ Lowell Point State Recreation Site

Number of Miles of Trail: 14

Group Size Limit: 19

Best For: 1 night 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Image by Rich Manalang

Hatcher Pass East Management Area

Number of Miles of Trail: 29

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-3 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Image by Rod Long

Shuyak Island State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 15

Group Size Limit: 19

Best For: 1 night 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Week-Long Adventures

Anchor 1
Kachemak Bay State Park & Wilderness Par

Kachemak Bay State Park & Wilderness Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 58

Group Size Limit: 19

Best For: 1-7 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Image by Bryson Beaver

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 33

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-4 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Gritty Expeditions

Anchor 2
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.jpg

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Number of Miles of Trail: 19.6 million acres

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Chena River State Recreation Area.jpg

Chena River State Recreation Area

Number of Miles of Trail: 164

Group Size Limit: 20

Best For: 1-9 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Chugach National Forest.jpg

Chugach National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 500+

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Chugach State Park.jpg

Chugach State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 280+

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-10 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

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Denali National Park and Preserve.jpg

Denali National Park and Preserve

Number of Miles of Trail: 6 million acres

Group Size Limit: 6

Best For: 1-30 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Denali State Park.jpg

Denali State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 74

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-10 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Number of Miles of Trail: 3.3 million acres

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required

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Image by Danika Perkinson

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge

Number of Miles of Trail: 1.6 million acres

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Katmai National Park and Preserve.jpg

Katmai National Park and Preserve

Number of Miles of Trail: 4 million acres 

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.jpg

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Number of Miles of Trail: 110+

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Kobuk Valley National Park.jpg

Kobuk Valley National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 1.75 million acres

Group Size Limit: 11

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.jp

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Number of Miles of Trail: 4 million acres

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.jpg

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge

Number of Miles of Trail: 4.3 million acres 

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Tongass National Forest.jpg

Tongass National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 700+

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Wrangell – St Elias National Park and Pr

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Number of Miles of Trail: 13

million acres

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Don't see your favorite place? Found an error on the site? Let us know and help backpackers everywhere!

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