Alaska Family Multisport
- 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
Biking, Hiking & Kayaking on the Majestic Kenai Peninsula
Once upon a time, there was an outdoor-loving family seeking an action-packed vacation. A clever bunch, they decided on Alaska. And no sooner did they arrive and witness the dramatic peaks of the Alaska Range, they knew they’d chosen wisely. The kids hiked to the face of Exit Glacier; parents ascended to the Harding Icefield. They all raced through the woods on a thrilling dogsled ride, spotted moose and eagles during a river float trip, and watched salmon swimming upstream. And to this day, they all agree: it was the best family vacation ever.
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 trek 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 dogsleds.
Day 3 Watch salmon defy gravity as they leap up a waterfall on the Russian River 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.
Day 4 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 A scenic bike ride leads to a viewpoint overlooking Homer, Grewingk Glacier and Homer Spit, a narrow finger of land in beautiful Kachemak Bay Stop at a local winery specializing in non-grape fruit wines, and 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.
Guests Reviews 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
This was an awesome family trip. We loved every minute of it. Traveling with Backroads is always perfect. This was our 6th Backroads trip and we can't wait to plan our next one.- Wellington, FL
Our Alaska vacation was all that we hoped for and more! All of the leaders were friendly, courteous, professional, fun, engaging and very accommodating! They all contributed in their own unique ways to making this vacation one that my son and I will both remember for the rest of our lives. For a family trip, there was just the right amount of activity for the kids. We met many fun, interesting and friendly people, and we took home with us many wonderful memories. I am already recommending Backroads to all of my family and friends back home. We will definitely be traveling with Backroads again!- Georgetown, MA
Casual Inns
Seward Windsong Lodge
Seward (2 nights) Nestled in the woods 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. (spa)
Montana: Glacier Multisport
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Washington: San Juan Islands Multisport
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Wyoming: Yellowstone & Tetons Multisport New!
Wildlife, Geysers & Good Times in Wyoming's Wilderness
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
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 | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
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
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Biking 9 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- Walking/Hiking 1.5, 4, 6, 8 miles
- 100 - 3200 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- Walking/Hiking 5 miles
- 230 feet elevation gain
- Float Trip 2 hours
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 10, 23, 33 miles
- 300 - 1600 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- All-day Sea Kayaking
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking/Hiking 5 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain
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For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Alaska tour experts. See our award-winning USA multisport tours, USA biking tours and USA walking and hiking tours.
