Alaska Family Multisport
The Majestic Kenai Peninsula
Alaska's vibrant frontier spirit and overwhelming natural grandeur have the power to stagger the senses. Colossal mountains, sparkling glaciers, abundant wildlife, expansive tundra and wildflower-filled meadows all challenge your sense of scale. Hike through the Chugach National Forest, pedal beneath glacier-carved peaks, paddle in the sheltered coves and lagoons off Yukon Island, float down the Kenai River and walk on an enormous ice field. Wildlife abounds on land and at sea.
- Mushing! An exhilarating dog sled ride through the forest
- Bike to Homer, one of Alaska's most beautiful towns
- Hike right up to the face of a glacier
- A float trip on the Kenai River
- The chance to spot moose, eagles, dall sheep and even salmon swimming upstream
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Alaska's dramatic landscapes on a single 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.
Day 2 In Kenai Fjords National Park, kids hike to the face of Exit Glacier while adults embark on a once-in-a-lifetime hike with spectacular views of the vast Harding Icefield Meet some of the famed Iditarod race's canine participants and experience the excitement of racing on comfortable wheeled dog sleds.
Day 3 Watch salmon strive to swim upstream Got your camera ready? During a leisurely float trip on the glacial waters of the Kenai River, you stand a good chance of seeing a variety of waterfowl, eagles and larger creatures including moose and dall sheep A pleasant hike along the Russian River brings you to a dramatic waterfall, where you can view salmon attempting to return to the spot where they were born.
Day 4 Bike to Homer, one of Alaska's most beautifully situated towns Take in spectacular views of Cook Inlet and the volcanoes of the Alaska Range during a picnic lunch Bike a scenic route to a viewpoint overlooking the town of Homer, the Grewingk Glacier and the Homer Spit, a narrow finger of land in beautiful Kachemak Bay Stop at a local winery specializing in non-grape fruit wines, and also featuring a circular swing for the kids.
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 bluff above Homer.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- 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:
Glacier Multisport Canadian Rockies Multisport Crater Lake MultisportOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
We had an absolutely wonderful time - the fabulous trip leaders made the trip extraordinary. Our children will remember this trip for the rest of their lives. In addition to just being great companions, examples of their extra effort were they secured a fantastic behind the scenes tour of the sea life center for the kids, gave my (substantial) 6 year old a mile + long piggy back when she refused to continue walking, and Allan literally took baby steps with me on the walk up to Harding Ice Field - as a result I made it to the top! We have told many friends about the trip and we plan to do another one soon.- Westport, CT 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 Family Multisport
Casual Inns
Seward Windsong Lodge
Seward (2 nights) Nestled in the woods near the Exit Glacier with expansive views 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 Family 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 |
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 10, 15 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
- Hiking 1.5, 4, 6, 8 miles
- 100 - 3200 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 5 miles
- 230 feet elevation gain
- Float Trip 2 hours
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 9, 22, 32, miles
- 300 - 1600 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- All-day Kayaking
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 2 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain
Please note: On this Family Trip, our routes follow rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.