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- Denali National Park and Preserve
The giant centerpiece—Mt. Denali—and the surrounding tundra and boreal forests feel like nowhere else. Shuttle buses into the park give you real backcountry chances to see caribou, Dall sheep, moose and wolves, and the scale of the mountains and open space is the Alaskan experience people dream about. - Kenai Fjords National Park (Exit Glacier & boat tours)
A sharp contrast to the interior: tidewater glaciers calving into the sea, abundant marine life, and steep fjords. Drive to Exit Glacier for a hands-on short hike, or take a boat trip from Seward to see whales, sea otters and big tidewater glaciers up close. - Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau)
An easy, jaw-dropping glacier visit just outside Juneau—walk trails to viewpoints and Nugget Falls, or kayak the ice-choked
- Denali National Park and Preserve
The giant centerpiece—Mt. Denali—and the surrounding tundra and boreal forests feel like nowhere else. Shuttle buses into the park give you real backcountry chances to see caribou, Dall sheep, moose and wolves, and the scale of the mountains and open space is the Alaskan experience people dream about. - Kenai Fjords National Park (Exit Glacier & boat tours)
A sharp contrast to the interior: tidewater glaciers calving into the sea, abundant marine life, and steep fjords. Drive to Exit Glacier for a hands-on short hike, or take a boat trip from Seward to see whales, sea otters and big tidewater glaciers up close. - Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau)
An easy, jaw-dropping glacier visit just outside Juneau—walk trails to viewpoints and Nugget Falls, or kayak the ice-choked lake. It’s one of the more accessible big-glacier experiences in Alaska and still feels epic because the ice meets temperate rainforest. - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: Kennicott & McCarthy
Hidden gem — a real old mining town sitting at the foot of massive icefields. Ride the historic copper-town tram, walk the Root Glacier, and stay in McCarthy for simple frontier vibes; it’s remote but walkable and uniquely Alaskan (personal favorite). - Talkeetna
Hidden gem — a tiny, quirky town that’s the jumping-off point for Denali flightseeing and mountain culture. The main street is full of local bars, guide shops and stories; it’s a great low-key place to meet climbers, take a glacier flight, or just soak up small-town Alaska. - Katmai National Park — Brooks Camp / Brooks Falls
One of the few places where bears gather on salmon streams right in front of viewing platforms—spectacular wildlife theater you won’t forget. It’s a seasonal pilgrimage (book ahead) and the combination of brown bears, salmon, and wild rivers is uniquely Alaskan. - Matanuska Glacier (drive-up glacier)
Hidden gem — one of the rare “drive-to” glaciers where you can walk right onto the ice with a guide or do short self-guided walks nearby. It’s a practical, wallet-friendly glacier taste without having to fly out to remote parks. - Sitka National Historical Park (Totem Park)
A living reminder of Tlingit culture: old totem poles, shoreline trails, and interpretive outdoor spaces where Indigenous history and Russian-American colonial history intersect. Quiet, walkable, and deeply rooted in the local culture—Sitka has a calmness you won’t find in the bigger tourist hubs. - Haines & the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
In late fall and winter, tens of thousands of bald eagles gather where the Chilkat River flows—an unmatched wildlife spectacle. Haines also has fishing, Tlingit culture, and straightforward access (ferry or drive), making it a great spot for outdoor experiences without the crowds. - Dalton Highway & Arctic Circle drive
For the classic remote-Alaska road trip: tundra, boreal forest giving way to open arctic landscapes, and the chance to cross the Arctic Circle by road. It’s raw and simple—truckers, cold rivers, and big skies—nothing like a comfortable national-park loop and absolutely unique to Alaska.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.