Alaska Multisport
Biking, Hiking & Kayaking on the Kenai Peninsula
From land to water to ice. Alaska was made for multisport. You need all the tools you can get - a bike, a kayak, your hiking boots - to understand and experience the incredible terrain. Hike to an extraordinary ice field to get your feet wet. Bike into the interior on one of the area's few roads. Kayak on the coast amid a gorgeous jumble of volcanoes and glaciers. Move through the landscape quietly, and "the locals" may show their faces: eagles, moose, sea otters, bears. Even if they don't, you know they're there, and somehow that's enough.
- Alaska's dramatic landscapes in one astonishing peninsula
- Bike to Homer, one of Alaska's most beautiful towns
- Hike Harding Icefield Trail, a spectacular route alongside Exit Glacier
- Circumnavigate Yukon Island by kayak
- Watch for salmon swimming their annual migration upstream
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Alaska's dramatic landscapes in one astonishing peninsula 
Bike paths lead you out of Anchorage and onto the gently rolling Tony Knowles Coastal Trail - keep your eyes open for moose! Journey south to the Kenai Peninsula, a wonderland of rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords and lakes.
Days 2-3 Hike the spectacular Harding Icefield Trail alongside Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park Got your camera ready? Unrivaled vistas of vast Harding Icefield and the Resurrection River Valley await Hike the beautiful Ptarmigan Lake Trail through Sitka spruce forest and past crystal-clear Ptarmigan Creek, where red sockeye salmon spawn in summer.
Day 4 Bike to Homer, one of Alaska's most beautiful towns Take in spectacular views of the Cook Inlet, the volcanoes of the Alaska Range, the Grewingk Glacier and the Homer Spit, a narrow finger of land in picturesque Kachemak Bay Fruit wines made from local berries are yours for the tasting at the Bear Creek Winery Perhaps spot harbor seals and sea lions from our waterfront hotel.
Days 5-6 Circumnavigate Yukon Island by kayak, watching for bald eagles, harbor seals, porpoises and sea otters After our naturalist-led hike through fields of wildflowers, we sit down to a bounteous picnic at the Carl Wynn Nature Center, set on the bluffs above Homer.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
Family Casual Inns Family Deluxe Camping
Canadian Rockies Multisport Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon Multisport San Juan Islands MultisportOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
A recent article in The New York Times about traveling through the Kenai Peninsula captured the basic itinerary of this trip and the remarkable beauty of Alaska. It also became clear that Backroads knows a great deal more than did the author of the article about how to design an excellent trip, taking advantage of the best a region has to offer. The hikes to the Harding Icefield, to Ptarmigan Lake, and up the Heritage Trail were particularly fine and varied. The kayaking trip to Yukon Island was an exceptional experience. We saw more wildlife in six days than all our years of hiking put together, partially because of where Backroads took us.- Waban, MA More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.
Alaska Multisport
Casual Inns
Seward Windsong Lodge
Seward (2 nights) Nestled in the woods near Exit Glacier with expansive vistas of the striking Resurrection River Valley.
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
Cooper Landing (1 night) Bungalow-style rooms with wood-burning stoves, set in the lush Kenai River Valley.
Land's End Resort
Homer (2 nights) Commune with eagles, otters and seals, where land meets sea on Kachemak Bay.
Alaska Multisport
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1
2 Route Options Available
- Biking 10, 15 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 4, 6, 8 miles
- 1500 - 3200 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 7 miles
- 600 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 22, 32 miles
- 500 - 1600 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- All-day Sea Kayaking
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 2 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain