"To the lover of pure wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world," wrote John Muir in 1879. Although the prospectors and traders of Muir's time have been replaced by adventurers sporting cameras and binoculars, Alaska's vibrant frontier spirit and overwhelming natural grandeur still have the power to enliven the senses. So bring your family and experience it firsthand. Marvel at the snow-clad immensity of the surrounding mountains, hike to an awe-inspiring glacier, pedal the Kenai Peninsula's wooded roads to a spectacular overlook and view marine life on Kachemak Bay. By bike, foot, boat and even dog sled, Alaska with Backroads is an unforgettable family destination.
Days 1-2 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 Hike verdant trails in the Chugach National Forest Experience the excitement of Iditarod racing in dog-powered sleds In Kenai Fjords National Park, kids discover the majesty of Exit Glacier with a Backroads leader Adults trek to incredible Harding Icefield - the hike of a lifetime!
Days 3-4 Witness salmon strive to swim upstream
Take to the water with expert guides on a float trip down the Kenai River and watch for moose, eagles and beavers In Anchor Point State Park, pedal to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Kachemak Bay, dramatic Grewingk Glacier, the Kenai Mountains and Homer, one of Alaskas's most beautifully situated towns.
Days 5-6 Circumnavigate Yukon Island,
a haven for otters, seals and nesting birds, and spend the day kayaking among its vast sheltered coves and lagoons Homer's shops and lively marina beckon you to browse and explore Enjoy a naturalist-led hike through fields of wildflowers, followed by a picnic at the Carl Wynn Nature Center, set on the bluff above Homer.
Trip Highlights
- Alaska's dramatic landscapes in one astonishing peninsula
- Hike Harding Icefield Trail, a spectacular route alongside Exit Glacier
- Get a feel for what's been called "The Last Great Race on Earth" and meet some of the four-legged competitors
- Watch for salmon swimming upstream during their annual migration
- Observe a variety of marine life while kayaking around Yukon Island
Deluxe Camping
Trail River Campground (3 nights): Spacious campsites set amid tall spruce trees on the shore of Lower Trail River.
Slidehole Campground (2 nights): Located just a short walk from the water, enjoy expansive views across Cook Inlet as bald eagles swoop overhead.
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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Biking | 10 | 200 | ||||||||
| Biking | 16 | 400 | |||||||||
| Walking | 5.0 | 400 | |||||||||
| 2 | Walking | 2.0 | 100 | 3.0 | 1500 | 8.0 | 3000 | ||||
| Walking | 4.0 | 2000 | |||||||||
| Kids | Visit to Alaska SeaLife Center (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Walking | 5.0 | 200 | ||||||||
| Rafting | On the Kenai River (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Biking | 10* | 300 | 23* | 500 | 33 | 1600 | ||||
| Kids | Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitor Center (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Kayaking | Around Kachemak Bay (all day) | |||||||||
| 6 | Walking | 2.0* | 0 | ||||||||
| Walking | 5.0 | 100 | |||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
- 7/7-12 Price: $2098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $100 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/28-8/2 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $100 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/18-23 Price: $2098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $100 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/25-30 Price: $2098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $100 for sgl. occ.)
Plus 6% Kenai Peninsula tax
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
- Minimum age restriction to kayak: 6 years
- Minimum age restriction to raft: 5 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping Trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty/restrictions of activities and route
- 9+ several long adult dinners; difficulty/restrictions of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
Wonderful. Activities were diverse, well coordinated, lots of fun, opportunities to make several activities more challenging. Sites, sounds, camping experience, food were fantastically outstanding. This trip in particular had many wonderful experiences: Biking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, more biking and more hiking (Harding Ice Field hike was awesome - it was challenging, but worth every ache and pain). Every day provided new opportunities to experience Alaska in a different way. The camping experience allows one to become immersed within the elements of nature associated with that particular micro environment. The evening campfire allowed everyone an opportunity to reflect on the day passed, and talk about how to prepare for the day ahead. The coordinated meals allow for enhanced group interactions, and as always, there was plenty of amazing food to be had.- North Wales, PA
It was the best vacation with my children I've ever had! The leaders were outstanding, and the camping accommodations were excellent. The overall experience exceeded my expectations.- Pasadena, CA
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