What ages can participate?

Pathfinders is for youth ages 7–11 from Anchorage, Turnagain Arm and Whittier areas; recommended for children entering 1st–5th grade.

What do the Easy/Moderate/Hard ratings mean?

Ratings reflect daily mileage and terrain: Easy up to ~2 miles, Moderate 3–4 miles, Hard 5–6 miles with uneven or steep sections—choose based on fitness and experience.

Default meeting point is Abbott Loop Community Park; some days add pick-ups at Girdwood Ranger Station or Portage Pass Trailhead—watch session details for meeting points.

Can I register for only one day?

Yes, families may register their child for one or both days of each two-day session.

What is the group size and supervision?

Groups run small (minimum 6, maximum 12) to ensure hands-on learning and safe staff-to-child ratios.

Will kids use tools or get in the water?

Supervised, age-appropriate tool use is part of trail-building sessions; water activities (like lake dips) depend on weather and are always monitored by staff.

Pathfinders Anchorage: Kids' Day Adventures on Beaches, Glaciers & Trails | Hiking | Guided Tour

On summer mornings in Anchorage, the Pathfinders program turns the city into an outdoor classroom where beaches, glaciers and trails teach seven-to-eleven-year-olds to read the landscape. Operated as an Anchorage-based expansion of the Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm (KMTA) trails program, Pathfinders runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., pairing short hikes with hands-on stewardship, art, and cultural sessions. Each two-day session stitches together distinct environments: shoreline play at Kincaid and Anchorage's sandy beach; geological exploration at Byron Glacier in Portage Valley; ridge and meadow hikes in Chugach State Park; and lake-side discovery at Eklutna Lake. Kids meet at Abbott Loop Community Park with additional pickup points at Girdwood Ranger Station and Portage Pass Trailhead for some outings. The program partners with Chugach National Forest, Anchorage Public Lands Information Center, Alaska Trails, Trout Unlimited and local trail crews to bring experts onto the trail for salmon talks, atlatl demonstrations, and trail-building activities on Wolverine Peak Trail. What sets Pathfinders apart is its curriculum: every day is trails-based and designed to blend outdoor skills with stewardship. Young participants practice core trail techniques, learn safe river and shoreline awareness, and get supervised time using basic trail tools under crew guidance. Sessions are rated Easy, Moderate or Hard so families can choose trips that match experience and fitness; ratings reflect daily mileage and terrain rather than age alone. The local terrain is dramatic and compact. Portage Valley and Portage Glacier illustrate glacial geomorphology with carved U-shaped valleys and moraine ridges; Turnagain Arm’s tidal flats and Kincaid’s beaches contrast with alpine heaths and spruce-birch forests of the Chugach. Seasonal salmon runs, shorebird concentrations and the occasional moose or bald eagle make wildlife lessons tangible for kids. Practical notes: register per session—families may sign up for one or both days—and expect trail footing that includes roots, rocks and wet sections. Pack a daypack with layered clothing, a refillable water bottle, lunch, and rainproof outerwear. Group sizes are small (6–12), supporting hands-on learning and stronger supervision; KMTA offers van pickup for designated meeting points. Pathfinders gives young Anchorage residents a clear path from curiosity to competence: experiences that teach map-reading, leave-no-trace ethics, and the pride of helping maintain local trails. For families who want an active, locally rooted summer program that turns the city’s wild edges into confident outdoor play, Pathfinders delivers a memorable, practical introduction to Alaska’s backcountry. Sample session themes—Beaches & Glaciers, Living Landscapes, Trail Magic and It's Salmon Time—mix science, cultural skills and hands-on projects such as watercolor geology sketches and supervised tool work. Sessions run on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays in June and July 2026; families can register per day to fit schedules without committing to a full week and small groups of 6–12.

Pathfinders Anchorage: Kids' Day Adventures on Beaches, Glaciers & Trails

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