Journeys

Backpacking in Alaska Itinerary

Day 1. Tok, AK. The tour begins in Whitehorse, which is just a short 2-hour drive from Kluane NP. We travel west along the Alaska Highway and through Kluane National Park, reaching the Sheep Mountain trailhead in the late morning. Here your guide will lead you on a half-day hike up Sheep Mountain, which provides great views of the area and is often, a place for spotting wildlife. In the late afternoon we continue our drive to Tok, where we set up camp for the night.

Day 2, 3 & 4. McCarthy, St-Elias – Wrangell, AK.

We reach the town of McCarthy via a gravel road that was once an old railway bed. Along route we make a number of picture stops including the abandoned super structures of railway bridges. After we set up camp we head out to explore the village of McCarthy. On Day 3 you have the option to go for a guided glacier ice-walk on the Root Glacier or for the more adventurous you may want to try ice climbing. On day 4 we explore the old copper mine of Kennicott and go for a hike on one of the numerous trails to be found in the Wrangell-St.Elias Preserve. Grizzly bears are often seen in this area.

Day 5 & 6. Valdez, AK. Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deepwater fjord in Prince William Sound. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. The Richardson Highway, Alaska's first road, passes through the magnificent scenery of the Chugach Mountains. On route we visit Keystone Canyon. On day 6 travellers have the opportunity to do a cruise out into Prince William Sound or to try some great sea-kayaking among the glaciers and “iceberg bits” known as “burgies”.

Day 7, 8 & 9. Denali National Park, AK. We drive the scenic Denali Highway. This single lane, gravel road parallels two spectacular mountain ranges, the Chugach and Alaskan. Sweeping glaciers, vast tundra and abundant wildlife are all to be seen on this drive. We stop at McClaren Summit (1,245m) and Tangle Lakes for hiking and picnic stops, optional canoe rentals are available. Later we visit the information centre at Denali National Park and pick up our park and bus tickets. Our tour leader orientates the group to the park area. On Day 8 we spend a full day in the park. This tour includes bus tickets to Eielson visitor centre. From here we can explore the vastness and true wilderness of Denali National Park. On Day 9 we spend the day white water rafting one of the areas great rivers.

Day 10. Delta Junction, AK Leaving Denali National Park we make our way to Fairbanks where we visit downtown and the University of Alaska. After touring Fairbanks we drive east to Delta Junction, the official ending of the Alaska Highway.

Day 11&12. Dawson City, YT. After the descent from the Top of the World Highway we reach the Klondike gold rush boomtown of Dawson City. Our camp overlooks the Yukon River and Dawson City. In Dawson City passengers have the option to visit the abandoned Gold Dredge #4, pan for gold and enjoy the nightlife at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Saloon. Free time is given to explore local hiking trails, a sternwheeler graveyard, the Palace Grand Hotel, Gaslight Follies and the Klondike Goldrush Museum.

Day 13. Whitehorse, YT. We leave Dawson City to make our way south to Whitehorse. At Moose Creek Lodge, an original roadhouse built during the gold rush years, we visit an authentic trapper's cabin. We also stop at Five Finger Rapids for a short hike down to the Yukon River, where dangerous rapids made it difficult for the sternwheelers to plough the waters. We arrive in Whitehorse at approximately 5:00 PM.