Wildlife in Alaska | Top 10 Natural Places to Set off on Adventure 

With its rugged terrain, glacier-carved fjords, and clear water, Alaska is teeming with different adventure opportunities. You could decide to watch bears feed on salmon, kayak while maneuvering icebergs, hike an icy trail, or simply fish. The dancing northern lights are also waiting. To have an idea of what awaits you on an Alaska tour, below are the top 10 natural places to see wildlife in Alaska and have a great adventure. 

This is a guest post by Firebird Tours, a tour company offering award-winning premium tours for private and small groups.

10 best places to see wildlife in Alaska

Denali

Located in south-central Alaska, Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. Its name translates into “the tall one” from Koyukon and is the central piece of the 6-million acres of Denali National Park.

Owing to unfavorable weather and steep slopes, climbing Denali is a daunting task. This challenge, nonetheless, does not stop mountain climbers and hikers, as hundreds of people attempt to climb it yearly.

Glacier Bay

A deep fjord, impressive glaciers, emerald-green forests, and snow-capped mountains make Glacier Bay special. Exotic animals like humpback whales, American peregrine falcons, eiders, and sea lions can be sighted here.

A wholesome range of flora is also present, although the landscape is mostly covered in ice. Most tourists at the bay come by on cruise ships to see the glaciers.

Chugach National Forest

Chugach is a biodiverse national forest with over 500 miles of trails open for hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking trips. You can fish anglers, salmon, and trout in the lakes and rivers in this national forest. 

Kayaking and boating opportunities are also available to explore the forest’s rugged coastline, waterfalls, and glaciers. 

You can also go glacier-viewing and spend the night under the stars in a camp tent. Chugach is the site for numerous outdoor activities in Alaska, and it is known as the outdoor playground for half of Alaska’s residents.

Inside Passage 

Bordered and shaped by gigantic glaciers millions of years ago, the Inside Passage is the most renowned route for cruise ships leaving Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Seattle from May to September. 

This waterway includes over 1000 islands with scenery that morphs from scenic shores to coastal towns. An adventurer can decide to visit these native villages along the Inside Passage to learn about Alaskan history and culture. You can enjoy glacier viewing, kayaking, and fishing upon a visit.

Nugget Falls

Sourced from the runoff of the Nugget Glacier, the Nugget falls is a gorgeous sight all year round, which freezes over during winter. 

This frozen waterfall is an impressive backdrop for hikers in winter, as the terrain surrounding the fall is an easy hike. After the two miles hike, if the temperature is low enough, the frozen waterfall – that empties into Mendenhall Lake – is ascended by climbers. You can have a quieter experience of the dazzling frozen waterfall during winter as fewer visitors come around those months.

Brooks Falls 

At Brook Falls, the view of grizzly bears feeding on salmon from Brooks lake will thrill you. You also see salmon acrobat over the 6-foot waterfall into Brooks lake for spawning. This waterfall is located in the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. 

Old artifacts have been discovered around the lake, and it is speculated that the first humans that migrated from Russia settled around the lake some 9,000 years ago. However, this waterfall and the lake it empties into are more famous for bear-viewing than these artifacts.

Turnagain Arm 

The Turnagain Arm is a waterway into the Gulf of Alaska. This waterway has the largest tides in the US – up to 40 feet – and the low tide renders it into a mud flat. On its side is the Seward Highway, which provides an avenue to watch the wildlife around the water body, engage in nature photography, or hike. The dramatic high tide of Turnagain Arm attracts surfers. Surfers target the tidal bore and have just a shot in the day and one at night to enjoy the waves in the waterway. This makes surfing here challenging.

Afognak Island 

Around Afognak Island is an ocean that provides a sight of humpback whales, fin whales, orcas, and minke whales. Sea lions, otters, seals, and beavers are also a common sight around this island. 

Fishing is enjoyable on this island due to the numerous lakes and streams and the abundance of fish. The island has impressive greenery and boasts abundant wildlife in Alaska. You can also decide to kayak along the clear waters or go camping.

Northern Lights 

Alaska is most famous for its aurora. The Aurora borealis, Northern Lights, are beautiful neon-green, red, and violet dancing lights in the sky. Mythologically, the appearance of the Northern Lights has been seen as both a positive and negative omen. 

These captivating lights appear because the magnetic energy in the atmosphere continuously reaches maximum disarray and snaps back to equilibrium. In all of this back and forth, solar particles collide with the atmosphere and birth this celestial beauty. The Northern Lights of Alaska are the holy grail of skywatching. It is near the top of your bucket list, right? Thus, wait no more and check the best Northern lights tours to fully immerse yourself in the magnificence of Scandinavia.

Chilkoot Pass 

The Chilkoot Pass is a trail to Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century. This trail is the dream of hikers. Winding through coastal rainforest, passing by a green valley, and through a sub-alpine forest, the pass features mountains and glaciers. The material remains from the Gold Rush can be sighted along the way. The most prominent part of the trail is the narrow 1500-step Golden Staircase carved in ice. The Chilkoot Summit is the international border between Canada and the US.

Nature is always beautiful and never exhaustible. Alaska is especially the magnet that draws nature lovers as there are so many activities to engage in all year round. Alaska is synonymous with adventure, and this is not limited to natural adventures; the beautiful Alaskan culture is also present for you to appreciate and experience.