We asked all of our followers where they wanted to see trail guides, and Alaska was one of them! Our Explorer Family, @brenda.h.ak, shared her favourite family-friendly trails in Alaska. You can click on her name to view her Instagram! Brenda is a mom of 2, exploring all that Alaska has to offer. Fueled by coffee, Brenda constantly inspires us with the epic adventures she takes her kids on! Here is what she had to say:
Curry Ridge
Curry Ridge is about 2.5 hrs north of Anchorage. It’s a 6.5-mile out-and-back trail with amazing views of Denali (the tallest mountain in North America) almost the whole way. With an incline of about 1,100 ft, it makes for a great day hike with kids and an even better backpacking trip!
Bodenburg Butte (West Butte Trail)
The Butte is a great introductory hike for beginner hikers with views of Palmer and the Knik Glacier! It’s about 874ft elevation gain in about 1.5 miles. It offers a series of 505 steps to reach the summit. A great short/easy hike for new hikers!
Eklutna Lakeside Trail
About 30 minutes from Anchorage, Eklutna Lake offers two amazing hikes. The lakeside trail is fairly flat and goes along the lake for about 12 miles, suitable for hiking, biking, or skiing in the winter. We typically go in about 3-4 miles and turn around. There are public-use cabins around the trail as well.
The second trail I love to hike with my kids is the Twin Peaks trail (to the first bench). It’s a little over 1,000ft elevation gain in about 2 miles. Once on the first bench, it offers amazing views of Eklutna Lake (the source of Anchorage’s drinking water). Also, look out for an old abandoned car a little more than halfway up the trail.
Portage Pass Trail
Before you even start the hike, you get to drive through the Anton Anderson Memorial, aka the Whittier Tunnel. It’s the longest tunnel in North America for both vehicles and trains, which takes you into the unique town of Whittier.
This trail is a little more of a challenge for little legs, but it is so worth it! My 3-year-old backpacked it this summer on his own two feet with the help of a bag of gummy worms. It’s about 4.5 miles RT, with about 1400 ft elevation gain. Even going halfway (the first mile is all uphill) is worth the incredible views of Portage Glacier. Enjoy blueberries and salmon berries along the trail during prime berry season!
Enjoy These Family-Friendly Trails In Alaska!
Thank you for reading this week's blog post about family-friendly trails in Alaska. If you have any more suggestions for Alaska, or would like to contribute to any other destination, send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook! We can't wait to see all the amazing adventures you go on! Happy Exploring! Don't forget to tag us @KidsWhoExplore and use hashtags #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE to share your adventures and for your chance to be featured on our Instagram!
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