Best Alaska

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a volcanic landscape located within Katmai National Park and Preserve on the Alaska Peninsula. It was formed during the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, which covered the former river valley in a deep layer of ash and pumice. In the immediate aftermath, thousands of f...

Katmai National Park and Preserve protects a vast area of southwestern Alaska encompassing volcanic landscapes and abundant salmon runs. The park’s significance stems primarily from its exceptional brown bear populations, particularly at Brooks Falls where bears actively catch salmon. Established in...

Glacier Bay National Park encompasses a dramatic bay within southeastern Alaska. It’s notable as one of the fastest-retreating areas of tidewater glacier activity on Earth. The park features extensive fjords carved by massive glaciers and is recognized globally for its unique glacial landscapes. Gla...

Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain peak in North America with a summit elevation of 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level. Located in the Alaska Range of interior Alaska, USA, the mountain is officially named Denali, a word derived from the indigenous Koyukon language. I...

Moonflower Buttress presents a challenging alpine big wall climb on Mount Hunter, Alaska. This route is notable for its severe difficulty and significant avalanche hazards, having been first completed in 1983. It’s suited for experienced climbers with extensive big-wall experience and those comforta...

Tongass National Forest is a large protected area covering approximately 68,000 square kilometers in southeastern Alaska. Established in the early 20th century, it is the largest national forest in the United States. The landscape encompasses a significant portion of the world's remaining intact tem...

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve protects a unique Alaskan landscape shaped by massive glaciers. Located within Southeast Alaska, it features dramatic fjords, calving tidewater glaciers, and significant cultural importance to the Huna Tlingit people. The park is primarily for scientists studyi...

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve encompasses nearly 13.2 million acres in southeastern Alaska. It is the nation’s largest national park, renowned for its vast, untouched wilderness dominated by towering mountains and extensive glaciers. The park offers opportunities for backcountry expl...

The Ruth Amphitheater is a significant geological formation within Denali National Park, Alaska. It’s a large glacial cirque carved by the Ruth Glacier, characterized by towering granite cliffs and substantial ice formations. This natural amphitheater provides a unique setting for scientific observa...

Kenai Fjords National Park protects a dramatic Alaskan landscape featuring active tidewater glaciers and deep fjords within the Kenai Peninsula. The park showcases significant glacial activity including the Harding Icefield—one of North America’s largest. It is primarily for visitors interested in e...

Located on the Alaska Peninsula in the United States, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge protects a vast expanse of coastal wetlands and tundra. Its most significant feature is Izembek Lagoon, which contains one of the largest eelgrass beds in the world. This habitat is a critical stopover site for mi...

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a vast protected coastal wetland in southwestern Alaska, United States, encompassing the delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. Covering approximately 19.6 million acres, it is one of the largest national wildlife refuges in North America. The refuge pro...

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is a massive river delta situated along the coast of western Alaska. Covering approximately 130,000 square kilometers, it is one of the largest river deltas in North America. The landscape is dominated by extensive wetlands, tundra, and numerous lakes that freeze over durin...

The Infinite Spur is a challenging six-pitch climbing route located on Mount Foraker in Alaska. It’s notable for its demanding combination of rock and ice climbing, requiring technical skill and experience. First completed in 1977 by George Lowe and Michael Kennedy, the route presents significant ex...

Cassin Ridge is an iconic Grade 5 climbing route on Denali’s South Summit in Alaska. First completed in 1961 by Riccardo Cassin, it represents a significant technical challenge for experienced alpine climbers seeking to summit the highest peak in North America. The route demands considerable skill a...

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve encompasses nearly a million acres of wilderness in Southwest Alaska. It’s notable for its remarkably intact ecosystem featuring active volcanic peaks, productive salmon streams vital to numerous species, and expansive tundra landscapes. The park provides critic...

Yakutat Bay is a large inlet located on the southeastern coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, opening into the Gulf of Alaska. It is a prominent glacial fjord system that serves as the ocean terminus for several major glaciers, most notably the Hubbard Glacier. Hubbard is North America's largest activ...

Red King Crab is a large benthic crustacean belonging to the Lithodidae family. It’s native to the cold waters surrounding the Bering Sea and known for its substantial size, making it a commercially significant species. Primarily harvested in Alaska, this crab provides a valuable food source and is...

The Steller’s Eider is a sea-duck native to the Arctic regions of Russia and Alaska. It’s notable for its small size among eiders and possesses distinctive black and white plumage on males. This species faces threats due to habitat loss and population declines. Researchers, conservationists, and bir...

The Copper River Delta is an extensive coastal wetland located in southcentral Alaska, where the Copper River empties into the Gulf of Alaska. Covering an area of roughly 700,000 acres, it constitutes one of the largest contiguous wetlands along the Pacific Coast of North America. The delta's divers...

Bristol Bay is a large arm of the Bering Sea extending into the southwestern coast of Alaska in the United States. It is renowned for supporting one of the world's largest wild sockeye salmon fisheries, with annual runs yielding tens of millions of fish. The watershed feeding into the bay consists l...

The Slovak Direct is a demanding modern alpine climb located on Denali’s south face in Alaska. This route, pioneered by a Czech-Slovak expedition in 1984, represents one of the most direct ascents of the mountain's main summit. It requires significant technical skill and experience due to its steep...

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve protects a vast, remote area within the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. Established in 1980, it’s notable for being America's least visited national park offering unparalleled wilderness experiences. The park features rugged mountain terrain, expansive...

Kachemak Bay is a large, fjord-like inlet located off the southern coast of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, United States. It is separated from the Gulf of Alaska by the Kenai Mountains and the Homer Spit, a prominent glacial moraine. The bay is designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve due...

Mount Saint Elias, at 5,489 m (18,009 ft), is the second-highest peak in both the United States and Canada, straddling the border between Alaska and Yukon. Located in the Saint Elias Mountains, the peak was first summited in 1897 by an Italian expedition led by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruz...

The Spectacled Eider is a sea duck found in Arctic regions, particularly coastal Alaska. Its distinctive pale green eye patches are unique among eiders and make it easily identifiable. This species faces significant threats due to habitat loss and population decline. Scientists and researchers study...

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes represents an extraordinary geological feature in Alaska’s Katmai region. It is a massive deposit of ash created by the 1912 Novarupta eruption, notable for its extensive network of persistent fumaroles—steam and gas vents. This field offers scientists valuable insi...

Endicott Arm is a deep, narrow fjord carved by glacial activity in southeastern Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The waterway is characterized by the presence of Dawes Glacier, a substantial tidewater glacier, and frequent iceberg sightings. It serves as an important habitat for harbor seals and provi...

George Plafker was a geologist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) who specialized in earthquake geology and tectonics. He is most famous for his extensive field investigations immediately following the 1964 Alaska Good Friday earthquake, where he meticulously mapped the dramatic vertica...