Winter Valley & Forest Hike

Experience Frozen Waterfalls and Forest Trails in Chugach State Park!

Location: Chugach State Park – Eagle River Nature Center and Barbara Falls

Tour Time: 10 am – 3 pm

Travel Time: 1 Hour (30 minutes one-way)
Hiking Time: 4 Hours

Distance & Elevation Gain: 4 miles and 500 feet (or 50 flights of stairs)

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ “Easy for some & moderate for most”

Age Recommendations: 8 & up

• Hike along the Chugach State Park’s glamorous Eagle River and see ice-covered Barbara Falls! 🧊
• Perfect for solo travelers, couples, and families with older children. 👩👨
• Enjoy breathtaking views of towering vistas. Amazing landscapes await your camera! 📷
• Learn about glaciated valleys and boreal forests from a skilled naturalist. 🌳
• Opportunity for wildlife sightings, including moose, hare, voles, and porcupine! 🦊
• Provisions include a prepacked snack and micro-spikes for icy terrain. 🍽

Description

If you have never been on a hike during the winter, you simply need to. Winter hiking is a blast! Plus, it’s great for both mind and body wellness, and helps to combat the long periods of dark and cold we experience during the season. This tour consists of two portions and is approximately 4 miles in length. The hiking isn’t too strenuous, so most people can participate. However, please note the experience suggestions before signing up!

The first portion takes you to the network of forested trails found at the Eagle River Nature Center, nestled deep along the north fork of the Chugach State Park’s massive Eagle River. FUN FACT! Our hike features a portion of the historic Iditarod dogsledding trail no longer in use. So, there won’t be any dogs giving us a ride on this adventure, just our own two feet! Onward, we’ll go through snow covered spruces while keeping an eye out for wildlife. We may see the “American Dipper” swimming in an unfrozen tributary warmed by geothermal heat. Or, we could see moose and small mammals like the snowshoe hare or red fox. Perhaps, even a porcupine! We also have the opportunity of hiking on top of Eagle River if it’s frozen, which is quite an experience!

For the second portion, we’ll take a short ride to the Chugach State Park’s best waterfall, Barbara Falls. What a sight to behold! This section is a short half mile walk that features incredible ice dams, shimmering snow crystals, and point-and-shoot photo opportunities around every corner. It’s super rewarding and a great way to conclude our tour. Need we say more? Join today!

Experience Suggestions

No experience required, but you should be able to walk at least 6 miles on flat pavement, or 5 miles of uneven rolling terrain over the course of 4 hours. You should also be able to balance well and feel comfortable walking in slippery conditions with the assistance of micro spikes. Some parts of the trail are steep and hilly, placing additional stress on areas of the body not impacted by level terrain. Not recommended for those with cardiac or respiratory issues/illness. May be difficult for those with joint issues.

Rates

Non-Private Rate Per Person: $159

Solo travelers are welcome to book, however please note that we have a 2 person minimum requirement for the tour to operate. In the event you are the only person on the hike, we will contact you within 24 hours prior to your tour, and provide you with the following options:

1. Move to another time & date.
2. Upgrade to a private hike for 1 ($318).
3. Cancel your booking for a full refund.

Private Party Rates:
Private rates start at $318 and are provided during booking.
You get the whole tour to yourself or your group, as well as hotel/AirBnb pick up.

Transportation

Non-Private Bookings: Pick-up is at the Egan Center on 5th Ave in Downtown Anchorage.

Private Parties: We will pick you up from where ever you are staying, as long as it is in Anchorage.

You are also welcome to meet us at the trailhead! Just let us know when checking out.

Are you ready to Explore Your Wild and experience the Alaskan wilderness? Reserve your spot now, and we guarantee you’ll have a blast!