Alaska still offers vast wilderness areas which can be explored on foot. While hundreds of miles of developed trails can be found in southeast Alaska, around Anchorage, Fairbanks, and on the Kenai Penisula, much of the hiking in Alaska is done overland off established trails. Trails also exist in Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks.

The hiking trails of Alaska allow one to visit a variety of terrain including alpine, volcanic landscapes, rain forests and coastlines. Overland travel presents unique challenges as compared to more developed systems found in the lower 48 states. These challenges include river crossings, varied terrain, muskeg, thick brush and dense forests. Guide books often contain excellent background information and guiding can be of great assistance in making your trip more enjoyable.

Hiking and backpacking in Alaska provides great access for wildlife viewing, exploration of tundra and forests, mining ruins, glaciers and fishing. Peak season for hiking in Alaska remains June-August but the months of May and September provide an excellent time to visit with less encounters with other hikers especially in popular areas.

While we have enclosed an extensive publications list to help the traveler decide what area of Alaska they would like to visit, the AWRTA member companies offering hiking and backpacking can answer specific questions about the areas where they operate. Their guidance, interpretation and local knowledge can greatly enhance the visitors experience.

Recommended Publications...

1. Hiking Alaska. A Falcon Guide
   Dean Littlepage. A comprehensive guide to the entire state of Alaska, featuring 100 hikes with more than 200 optional side trips. Hikes for all ages and abilities. Photos, maps, and graphs and comparison tables.
   
   
2. The Alaska Wilderness Guide
   3000 Northup Way, Suite 200, Box 96043, Bellevue, WA 98008-9643. Access and visitor services for over 250 remote villages. Profiles of 50 parks and refuges. Details on public use cabins. Tips on finding the right guide. A good reference for those seeking a unique Alaskan experience.
   
   
3. Backpacking in Alaska - A Lonely Planet Walking Guide
   1995. Jim DuFresne. A practical guide to hiking and backpacking in Alaska. Covers topics on safety, equipment, planning and transportation and contains 43 detailed maps and 32 comprehensive trail descriptions.
   
   
4. Alaska on Foot
   1996. Erik Molvar. An excellent summary of cross country techniques for traveling the Alaska wilderness. The book covers map/compass skills, "Leave no Trace" camping practices, stream crossings, bear encounters and plant habitats and wildlife for different regions of the state.
   
   
5. Alaska: Adventures in Nature
   Paul Otteson. 1998. John Muir Publication. www.sfo.com/~ottoworks Provides comprehensive information on visiting Alaska's Parks, Preserves, Forests and Wildlife Refuges ; hiking, fishing, flightseeing and paddling destinations, what to see and do, and where to hike, in and around major cities and towns.
   
   
6. Alaska's Accessible Wilderness: A Traveler's Guide to Alaska's State Parks
   Bill Sherwonit. 1996. Alaska NW Books.
   
   
7. A Walk-About Guide to Alaska - A First Person Hiking Guide. Volume One: The Kenai Penisula & Turnagain Arm
   1997. Shawn Lyons. A frequent contributor on hiking to the Anchorage Daily News, the author describes some of the most accessible hikes and trails just south of Anchorage and on the Kenai Penisula.
   
   
8. Discover Southeast Alaska with Pack and Paddle
   Margaret Piggott. This trip planning guide covers 58 hikes from Ketchikan to Skagway describing each hike, area's wildlife, flora, weather and more. It also gives a 12 day paddle trip from Juneau to Angoon.
   
   
9. 55 Way to the Wilderness of Southcentral Alaska
   Nancy Simmerman. 1994. If you visit Anchorage, this book has maps and descriptions of how to enjoy walks and hikes from an hour to days in length.
   
   
10. Chilkoot Pass - A Hiker's Historical Guide
    Archie Satterfield. Describes the history of the famous Chilkoot Trail and details equipment to take, trail etquette and mile-by-mile trail information for hikers.
    
    
11. A Hikerês Guide to the Chilkoot Trail
    National Park Service/ANHA. Valuable reference and map for anyone considering a visit to the area. This 19"x11" map identifies and describes historic landmarks along the trail and provides hiking and camping information.
    
    
12. Kenai Pathways
    ANHA. Alaska's Kenai Penisula offers something for hikers of all abilities and skills, from easy scenic trails to high mountain adventures. This booklet is a hiker's companion to the Kenai, with detailed information on trail access, trail conditions, recreation opportunities and wildlife viewing for more than 30 trails.
    
    

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