Top 10 Things to do Adventurous in Girdwood, Alaska (AK)

May 14, 2022 Hana Mouser

Discover the best top things to do in Girdwood, United States including Alpine Air Alaska, Alaska Backcountry Access, Chugach Adventures, Ascending Path, Alaska Wild Guides, Girdwood Mushing Company, Crow Creek Mine, Alyeska Aerial Tram, Glacier City Snowmobile Tours, Winner Creek Trail Hand Tram.
Restaurants in Girdwood

1. Alpine Air Alaska

Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 889 reviews

Alpine Air Alaska

Alpine Air Alaska is a helicopter tour company in Girdwood, Alaska. We offer scenic flightseeing, glacier landings, and glacier dog sledding in the Summer!

2. Alaska Backcountry Access

Excellent
87%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 95 reviews

Alaska Backcountry Access

Alaska Backcountry Access is a multi-sport adventure company dedicated to providing unique adventure activities in the Chugach National Forest and around Alaska. Access to the remote lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, rivers and trails is key to exploring the mountains surrounding this remarkable glaciated area. Finding the real Alaska is difficult so let the guides at Alaska Backcountry Access share their backyard with you. Get away from the crowds, off the beaten path and into world class backcountry adventure! Specializing in jetboating, canyoneering, rafting, gold panning, hiking, kayaking, ski trekking, snowshoeing, sled dog mushing, Iditarod and snowmobiling.

3. Chugach Adventures

Excellent
86%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 154 reviews

Chugach Adventures

Welcome to Chugach Adventures. We offer trips for all adventure levels, all ages & all abilities. Rafting, Iceberg Kayaking, Glacier Salmon Bakes, Helicopter Alpine Hikes, Camping Trips, Hiking Trips, & Wildlife Tours. Join us for a Bears, Trains, & Icebergs Tour for one of the best full day adventure tours from Anchorage, Girdwood, Portage, or Whittier. Visit Spencer Glacier- one of the most easily accessible terminus glacier lakes in Southcentral Alaska.

4. Ascending Path

Excellent
96%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 307 reviews

Ascending Path

Visit and experience a unique Alaskan wilderness on our authentic glacier adventures. Within an hour of Anchorage we can have you on a glacier, and enjoying real Alaska on a spectacular guided hike. An amazing train ride gets us to the Spencer Whistle Stop which offers excellent Iceberg viewing and Glacier hiking. Your family can even paddle a Tandem Sea Kayak past icebergs and ride a Heli to climb on the Spencer Glacier itself.

5. Alaska Wild Guides

Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 89 reviews

Alaska Wild Guides

Wilderness adventure tours with snowmobiles in winter, sailing sea kayaks and jet ski tours in the summer months.

6. Girdwood Mushing Company

Excellent
97%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 124 reviews

Girdwood Mushing Company

An 8 mile journey in our open air 6x6 Pinzgauers takes you from sea level to an elevation of 1200 feet on the historical Iditarod trail. At this elevation the mountains open up to one of the most scenic landscapes in all of Alaska. Here you will meet one of our Alaskan Iditarod Mushers and their amazing sled dogs, who are incredible athletes. Observe dog handling techniques and interact with the dogs that ran 1049 miles from Anchorage to Nome―truly incredible athletes. This experience is “HANDS ON !!”Experience the excitement and energy of these athletes as you feel the raw power of these sled dogs as you ride through trails high up in the Alaska mountains. It’s an experience you will never forget. After your cart ride, you will visit our beautiful puppy pavilion. This is your chance to cuddle and play with future Alaska Iditarod Puppies. Check out authentic race memorabilia & hear stories from the trails from an Iditarod musher.

7. Crow Creek Mine

Crow Creek Road, Girdwood, Anchorage, AK 99587 +1 907-229-3105 [email protected] http://www.crowcreekmine.com
Excellent
52%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 299 reviews

Crow Creek Mine

Crow Creek Mine is a family owned and operated Historical and Recreational Gold Mine. Nestled in a very beautiful mountain setting, Crow Creek Mine offers the oldest buildings in the Anchorage area, 1898, as well as some of the most popular recreational Gold Mining in all of Alaska. You will find everyone from your first time miner just hoping for a few flecks, up to actual gold miners who have been working these grounds on a very serious level. For those not intersted in the panning or sluicing experience, the property is very scenic for pictures and is a very popular wedding destination, it is even fun to just sit and watch some of the more experienced crews of miners as they work. While most visitors coming in for sightseeing or panning don't need reservations, we do offer private guided tours for those of you wanting a bit more out of your experience. Not only do you learn more about the property and gold in general, but the gold mining experience of our staff and knowledge of the property is always a big help in having a succesful outing!!! Feel free to contact us for any questions regarding our business or the Girdwood area in general. Girdwood makes for great day trips from anchorage and is on the way for anyone headed to Portage, Seward, Kenai, or Homer. Our road is a bit bumpy and unmaintained between October and May, but come June 1st every year the state does a great job of fixing it, you can always contact us for road conditions if concerned. Thanks for viewing our business, we look forward to meeting you soon,

Reviewed By V3760EQannm

This was one of the top activities on my fiancé's to do list on our Alaskan vacation. Although he didn't find as much gold as he had hoped it was still a great day for him. Unlike some other gold places this is the real deal. They don't give you a prefilled bag of dirt to pan. For a fee of $25 you are given tools, some instructions and told how to find the creek to do authentic panning. Nice place if this is your type of thing.

8. Alyeska Aerial Tram

1000 Arlberg Ave Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Anchorage, AK 99587 +1 907-754-2275 http://www.alyeskaresort.com/resort/about-aerial-tram.aspx
Excellent
64%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,352 reviews

Alyeska Aerial Tram

The Alyeska Aerial Tram is a three-to-seven minute scenic ride from The Hotel Alyeska to 2,300 ft in elevation and the top of Mt. Alyeska. From the Tram, you can see for miles in all directions – including views of the Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers, and endless peaks deep into the Chugach Mountain range. Don’t forget to look down! In the summer months, moose and bear sightings are common on our aerial tram rides, too. At the Mountain Station, there is an observation deck providing even more breath-taking panoramic views of majestic mountains, hanging glaciers, sparkling streams, towering spruce, and an array of wildlife. Conde Nast Traveler rated Alyeska ~ "Best view of any U.S. ski resort." The observation deck is a perfect place to enjoy a relaxed lunch or a beautiful evening sunset. Telescopes are also available along the deck.

Reviewed By 412stuc - Vineland, United States

Took the tram ride up today, using the ride & dine option. Super neat place with great views of the 7 glaciers. Plenty of hiking trails if you want and with the ride & dine ticket, you get a $20 certificate for the restaurant where you can have a good lunch in a dining room with a great view. Well worth the drive.

9. Glacier City Snowmobile Tours

Excellent
78%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
5%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 59 reviews

Glacier City Snowmobile Tours

Snowmobiling tours in Alaska are a worthwhile endeavor for a wide range of people, as we find that everyone from tourists to adventure seekers enjoy roaming through the picturesque trails. Regardless of whether you join us for a Real Deal Tour or the Scenic Mountain Tour you will be treated to a unique day outdoors. Not to mention, the inner photographer in you will want to come out to snap photographs of all the beautiful areas, as your tour leader will stop at key places along the way for great photo opportunities!

10. Winner Creek Trail Hand Tram

Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood, Anchorage, AK http://www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Documents/GWSummerTrlMap.pdf
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 249 reviews

Winner Creek Trail Hand Tram

Reviewed By HBSnowFlower - Huntington Beach, United States

This gentle dirt and boardwalk trail through the forest is easy for the whole family. Starting from behind the Alyeska resort hotel, the trail winds through lush rain forest, dotted with blueberries and the red, inedible devil’s club, and portions of the Iditarod trail. Be sure to stop and listen to the birdsong along the way. Cross a walking bridge over the creek and continue to the gorge where hikers line up to pull themselves in a vertical metal phone-booth size basket suspended above Glacier Creek. As they often stop the tram midway to take selfies, the line can get rather long. (Be safe – there was a recent accident where somebody was standing on top of the safety net instead of behind the railing next to the tram and fell out!) The trail continues a few more miles for a loop trail — or you can take the Alyeska resort shuttle back if you continue a mile further to the Crow Creek Mine trailhead. Check the shuttle schedule if you are interested in this option, or get back in line for the hand tram to return the way you came, making a 3-mile round-trip.

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