Alaska Salmon Run 20 Days

Highlights

• Denali National Park wildlife buses to Toklat River and Eielsen Visitor Center (2 days)
• Maclaren Lodge/Wilderness Glacier camp
• Boat and canoe trips Maclaren River
• Hiking in Denali NP, Wrangell/St. Elias NP, Seward and Valdez
• Full Day Kenai Fjords National Park wildlife cruise and calving glacier – Resurrection Bay Tour
• Two-night stay at Adventure Luxury Camp – lodging and all meals including salmon dinner
• Half Day Sea Kayaking at the Adventure Camp
• Admission to National Parks and Monuments
• Pre-departure meeting to welcome and provide you with a good understanding of the trip ahead

Itinerary

Day 1 – ANCHORAGE

Arrive for Group Meeting and Dinner. Start off your vacation flying into stunning scenery overlooking the Chugach, Alaskan, Kenai, and Talkeetna mountain ranges. Although Mt. Denali is only visible 20% of the year, there’s a chance you could even catch a glimpse. Anchorage is Alaska’s most populated area yet it’s shared with the likes of bears, moose, and wolves. After your flight into this urban wilderness, make your way to our accommodations for the 6 pm pre-departure meeting followed by a group meal. Take this evening to get to know your fellow travelers and guides. (H)

Day 2-4 – SEWARD

Located on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula and Resurrection Bay, Seward is known as the “Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.” Seward is about half day drive from Anchorage. In the afternoon you will have some free time to explore the scenic waterfront of Seward. The following morning we will experience the national park by boat, cruising among the glaciers and wildlife. After hopefully spotting as much wildlife as possible we will be seeing a calving glacier!

A visit to Seward would not be complete without hiking alongside the picturesque Exit Glacier with a probability seeing a few of the local black bear feeding on some berries. The 8.2-mile round trip up to the Harding Icefield is a spectacular day hike. Starting on the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes though heather filled meadows and ultimately climbs well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Harding Icefield. The top of the trail is a window to past ice ages – a horizon of ice and snow that stretches as far as the eye can see! If you don’t feel prepared to do the full 8.2-mile roundtrip, there are shorter options with equally breathtaking views available. (C)

Included Activities: Kenai National Park Entrance, Kenai Fjords National Park Wildlife cruise and Calving Glaciers, Hiking Exit Glacier
Optional Activity: Karaoke $ free (well maybe a few drinks first!), Kayaking $300 pp, Fishing $180 pp.

Day 5 – HOMER

Located on the western side of the Kenai Peninsula and Kachemak Bay, Homer is the launching point for our two-night Adventure Camp. But, don’t overlook this artist inspired town with its many galleries along the spit. You will have some time to explore the picturesque town and it’s fishermen culture. For example, the Salty Dawg Saloon’s lighthouse is a great place to sit belly-up to the bar along with posting your dollar bill on the ceiling or wall so that your friend, who will be by later, will have a drink on you.

On the way to Homer there will be enough time for some scenic photo stops and short walks. Depending on the time of the year we might stop to watch the Salmon Running up Russian River or visit one of the orthodox churches overlooking the volcanoes on the other side of the bay.

Included Activities: Exploring the picturesque town of Homer and its fishermen culture
Optional Activities: “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World”, Bear Viewing Katmai or Lake Clark**Following morning** $625 pp

Day 6-7: ADVENTURE CAMP

Take a boat ride from Homer to Seldovia, landing on this lovely and relatively untouched beach of the peninsula. Camping is done in canvas tents with beds and all the amenities you’ll need. There is a beautiful main house where meals, comfortable chairs, coffee, and tea are always on tap. From there venture out and comb the beaches for eagles and other aquatic wildlife or walk to
find some hidden coves and viewpoints. The next day you’ll have a half-day of sea kayaking around Jacklof Bay, frequently visited by sea otters and harbor seals and watched overhead by bald and golden eagles. One of the evenings the owner Tony will be serving their famous salmon dinner for us!

Included Activities: Water Taxi from and to Homer (1/2 Hour ride) | 2-night stay at the Adventure Camp | canvas tents with beds | luxurious main house | half-day sea kayaking Seldovia Bay | all meals cooked and served by Adventure Camp
Optional Activity: Anchorage Museum, Heritage Center, Bike Coastal Trail $125 pp 2 hours.

Day 8 – HOPE

In the morning we will take the water taxi back to Homer to make our way along the coastline to Hope. Hope is a quaint little town overlooking Cook Inlet/Turnagain Arm and is just a short drive from Anchorage. In the summer during weekends there might be some life concerts going on in the local fishermen bar. (C-Bushcamp)

Optional Activity: Gold Panning $50 pp.

Day 9 – ANCHORAGE

Today it’s only a short drive around the Turnagain Arm back to Anchorage. We will stop at the famous Beluga Point. Potentially you can see Beluga Whales or Dall Sheep. The afternoon you will have time to explore Anchorage downtown. Anchorage is a lively city that houses almost 50% of the state’s 730,000 people. (Commonly it is mistaken for the capital of Alaska, but that would be Juneau.) Throughout the summer there are multiple festivals and plenty of nightly live music. Keep in mind that this city is situated right in the heart of the wilderness, where over 1,000 moose, 250 black bears, and 100 grizzly bears also call it home. (H)

Included Activities: Visit Beluga Point at Turnagain Arm
Optional Activity: Anchorage Museum, Heritage Center, Bike Coastal Trail $125 pp 2 hours.

Day 10-12 – DENALI NATIONAL PARK

In the morning we head off to the amazing Denali National Park. Whether it’s flora or fauna you came to see, this is the place to fulfill your hopes of seeing large and small wild animals living as they have for ages. We set up our campsite and the following two days you will have the opportunity to take a bus ride through the national park along its only road and hopefully spot bears, moose, caribou, or wolves. For those of you who are looking for a heart-pounding and more strenuous adventure, you’ll have the opportunity for trailblazing throughout the park’s 6 million acres. No trip would be complete without adding the optional activity of flying over Denali National Park and around Mt. Denali (20,320 ft/6194 m.) In the evenings we will sit around the campfire, listening to the sounds of the night and telling our adventures of the day. (C)

Included Activities: 2-Day National Park Entrance and Shuttle Bus services, Hiking in Denali National Park (short, long, off the beaten track, that’s on you to decide!)
Optional Activities: Flights over Mt. Denali $350 pp 1.5 hours.

Day 13-14 – MACLAREN RIVER LODGE

From Denali, we drive the lightly traveled Denali Highway. First opened in 1957, this dirt road was the first to access Denali National Park (then known as Mt. McKinley National Park.) Located in the Maclaren river valley, you traverse through high alpine country on the state’s second-highest highway pass. Here lies the Maclaren River Lodge run by Alan and Susie, who are fantastic hosts that will take us on a boat ride up to “The Glacier Camp.” Now we’re out in the wilderness on our own, no mobile phone reception and no roads. Here we’ll stay overnight exploring and camping out in the wilderness. The next day we’ll take a casual canoe trip back down the river for our next night at this beautifully situated lodge. (C-Bushcamp)

Included Activities: Boat Ride up to Glacier Camp, guided overnight stay at Glacier Camp sleeping under the stars, canoe trip on Maclaren River
Optional Activity: Hiking

Day 15-17 – WRANGELL/ST ELIAS NATIONAL PARK

Here we’ll visit the largest National Park in the United States and camp at the “End-of-the-road” campground. Literally at the end of the McCarthy Road, these 60 miles of gravel road were built along the old Copper River and Northwestern railways. Most remnants left of this once-thriving area were a part of the copper mines, but most people forget this was where the last great gold rush happened in Alaska. There are many optional activities like hiking, ice climbing, glacier walks, guided mine tours, rafting, and scenic flights around 16,000-foot peaks, 25-mile long glaciers and massive icefalls. So, days 16 and 17 are left for you to decide what to do: Take the optional historical tour, hike on your own in the beautiful surroundings or try some crazy outdoor stuff like ice climbing, guided glacier hikes, or whitewater rafting. (C-Bushcamp)

Included Activity: Hiking, Scenic Drive
Optional Activities: Ice Climbing $145 pp (full day), Root Glacier Hike $90- $120 pp half/full day, Kennecott History Tour $30 pp, Rafting / flightseeing $325 pp.

Day 18-19 – VALDEZ

Valdez is the terminus of the 800-mile trans-Alaskan pipeline that begins at Prudhoe Bay, Valdez is an important gateway to the interior of Alaska. Valdez was brought to the forefront of national media March 1989. The Exxon Valdez ran aground causing an 11-million gallon oil spill. For many years, flora and fauna were devastated by this environmental catastrophe. Thankfully, order has been restored and the Chugach Mountains set a gorgeous backdrop to this quaint little town. The next day is focused on optional activities. Highly recommended is the Columbia Glacier Sea Kayaking for it’s beautiful scenery, mammoth icebergs and possibility of spotting all kinds of wildlife.

One of the days we will venture out and see if we can find some bears, eagles or sea lions feeding on salmon. Valdez is well known for bears to come to the local salmon fish hatchery and the surrounding creeks. (C)

Included Activities: Hiking and Scenic Drive
Optional Activities: Glacier/Iceberg Sea Kayaking $260 pp, Glacier Wildlife Cruises $135 pp, Bike Rental $125 pp 2 hours, Fishing (depending on season) $180 pp.

Day 20 – ANCHORAGE

Unfortunately we have to turn our back on you and leave you to your own devices. But not before we crossed Thompson Pass with stunning views on Worthington Glacier. Our lunch stop will be at Matanuska Glacier before returning to Anchorage in the late afternoon. (approx. 3 pm)