Kayaking, Hiking & Biking at Eklutna Lake, Alaska

Location: Eklutna Lake Recreation Area

Dates: June 1 - September 30 Sunday - Wednesday ONLY Private tour ONLY

Travel Time: Meet at Lifetime Adventures rental cabin, or 1.5 hours (45min each way from Anchorage) Tour Time: 10am - 7pm

Distance & Elevation Gain: 5 miles kayaking, 7 miles and 3300ft gain hiking (330 flights of stairs) 5 miles biking. Difficulty: ★★★★★ "Difficult for most" - Recommended for ages 16 - 65

• Transportation from Anchorage included.
• Kayak, hike, and bike to get a perfect trio of sports while exploring one of Eklutna Lake's most beautiful overlooks and trails.
• Panoramic views of the glacial valley from above and below.
• Learn about Alaska's forests, glaciated valleys, and surrounding mountains from a skilled naturalist.
• Opportunity for wildlife viewing including bear, moose, dall sheep, mountain goats and birds! 🐟
• Provisions include a prepackaged snack, and lunch. 🍽

Description

We begin this trip by taking you onto the turquoise waters of Eklutna Lake, where we will kayak approximately 5 miles until we reach Bold Creek. We will beach the kayaks here and meet up with where the Bold Ridge Trail begins. Next up, we take the hiking trail that zigzags up through the forest, gradually making our way above tree line where you get panoramic views of the mighty Eklutna Valley. Our guides will point out and explain the various plants and animals that call this valley and the alpine tundra home. There is abundant wildlife here and we will have the possibility of encountering moose, bears, small mammals, and birds on our trek for a truly wild experience! Once we are above the tree line, we will continue our hike along Bold Ridge, for outstanding views of the lake and glacier! We will enjoy lunch here while taking in the scenery before heading back down where bikes will be waiting for us. The final portion of this tour, we will bike back 5 miles along the Lakeside Trail with plenty of opportunities for photos and rests along the way. An amazing adventure awaits you on this grand tour of Eklutna Lake!

Experience Suggestions

Limited kayak, bike and hiking experience required, but you should be able to walk at least 9 miles on flat pavement, or 7 miles of uneven rolling terrain over the course of 5 hours. You should be able to easily climb many flights of stairs over the duration of many hours. You should also be able to balance well and feel comfortable in possible changing weather, and walking/biking in muddy and slippery conditions. 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.