Planning a trip to Alaska and curious about the best places to visit? Alaska, one of the most remote states in America, offers a unique destination due to its isolation. This state boasts the largest wilderness area in the United States, featuring world-class national parks, breathtaking landscapes, glaciers, towering mountains, and abundant wildlife. So, how do you organize a trip to this vast, beautiful place? Start by exploring some of the top spots in Alaska mentioned below.
One of the best places to witness Alaska’s spectacular wildlife is Denali National Park and Preserve. The park is named after its centerpiece, Mount Denali, which rises to 6,190 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in North America. Denali also ranks as the third most prominent and isolated peak on Earth. The park features diverse landscapes, including forests and taiga at lower elevations, tundra in the middle, and glaciers at the highest points.
Next, there’s Kenai Fjords National Park, a mesmerizing destination on the Kenai Peninsula. Home to the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the U.S., the park features around 40 glaciers descending from this massive ice field. Named for its many fjords carved by glacial movement, Kenai Fjords National Park is also rich in wildlife. Visitors might spot moose, black and brown bears, beavers, coyotes, river otters, lynx, marmots, porcupines, and more. Bear Glacier is the largest within the park, but Exit Glacier is one of the most accessible in all of Alaska.
Anchorage, the most populous city in Alaska, is home to about 40% of the state’s population. While the city itself offers a variety of activities, it also serves as a gateway to nearby parks and mountains. Popular attractions in the Anchorage area include Alyeska Ski Resort, Churchgate State Park, and Portage Glacier. However, the most visited spot is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, about 50 miles from Anchorage. This sanctuary is dedicated to conservation, research, and animal care, providing a home for orphaned or injured wildlife and temporarily housing animals born in captivity.
Katmai National Park, located on the Alaska Peninsula, spans an area of 16,564 km²—a bit larger than Montenegro. It is named after Mount Katmai, a stratovolcano with a summit crater lake. The park is renowned for the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, known for its stunning, otherworldly landscapes. This unique valley was even used by NASA and the USGS to train Apollo astronauts. Additionally, Katmai National Park is famous for its brown bears, especially those seen fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls.
Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, is notable for having no roads connecting it to the rest of the state. Highlights in Juneau include the Mount Roberts Aerial Tram, which offers beautiful views of the city from an elevation of 1,164 meters. For hiking enthusiasts, the Mount Roberts Trail provides a scenic route to the top. Ziplining on Douglas Island, with its several lines, platforms, and a suspension bridge, is another thrilling activity. Don’t miss the 21-km long Mendenhall Glacier and the frozen Mendenhall Lake, considered some of the best places to visit in Alaska. Explore Tracy Arm Fjord, a narrow inlet with stunning glaciers and floating ice, via local boat tours. Juneau also serves as a gateway to whale-watching spots in Southeast Alaska.
Lastly, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the U.S., covering an area equal to six Yellowstones. The park encompasses several of North America’s highest mountains and volcanoes, including the 5,489-meter tall Mount Saint Elias. It also holds the Malaspina Glacier, the largest piedmont glacier in North America, and Hubbard Glacier, the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska. Nabesna Glacier, the longest valley glacier in North America, is also found here. Due to its immense size and fascinating landscapes, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a top destination in Alaska.