Overview
Take a leisurely stroll through the forest of Denali National Park. As you walk, listen to your guide talk about the plants, animals, ecology, geology, and more that make Denali unique. Taste the numerous and exotic edible berries that cover Denali's forests. Your guide is a true expert. They're naturalists who are prepared to answer any question you throw at them. They're ready for wildlife encounters with bear spray and good training. They have a Wilderness First Responder certification, making them well-prepared for an emergency in the backcountry. This is your chance to experience Alaska up close and personal. Your chance to feel the peat moss that so few do. Taste the elusive (and legendary) cloudberries. This is more than a walk. It's a teleportation into the gears that turn the forest of Denali National Park.
What you will be doing
You will get a text from your guide the day before your tour confirming details and pick up. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel (or an agreed-upon meeting location) and take you to the boreal forest.
The Tour! Enjoy a beautiful walk through the boreal forest, learning everything there is to know about the plants, animals, and more of Denali.
Your guide drops you back at your hotel, or anywhere else you'd like to be dropped off.
Where we'll meet
🧠Meeting/pick-up point: Your hotel
🗺️ Instructions: We will pick you up from your hotel. You'll get a text from your guide the day before your tour instructing you on exactly what time they'll be picking you up. It won't be more than 30 minutes before the tour departure time.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Be prepared for 3-4 miles and 200-300 feet of elevation gain. The pace of the tour will depend on group dynamic and fitness level.
The only thing we cancel tours for is lightning. Rain is a reality in Denali, and we're happy to provide you with a rain jacket. If you know you won't want to hike in the rain, opt for trip protection when you check out, and you'll be able to cancel with a full refund anytime.
Bring Long sleeves/pants for mosquito and brush protection
Bring bug spray (your guide will have some, but more never hurts)
Bring water (we can provide it, but we recommend you bring your own)
Wear Comfortable hiking shoes (likely to get wet if it's raining)
Small children must be accompanied by and supervised by an adult at all times. Our guides love kids, but they can't chase down runaway children and guide a tour at the same time. Believe me, they've tried.
If you have mobility or health issues, I would recommend giving our team a call at (907) 687-2070 to discuss if you'll be up for this hike. It's not super strenuous, but four hours is a long time to be on your feet. Especially with uneven terrain!
This tour does not take place within the boundaries of Denali National Park. The Park Service doesn't allow us to guide off-trail there, so we do it just outside of the Park boundaries instead!
Inclusion âś…
Nature guides
Pick up and drop off transport
Hiking pole
Water
Exclusion ❌
Gratuities
Snack
About your host
Northern EpicsWe believe in doing things differently. Doing things right. We strive to break away from the cookie-cutter mould of profit-first guiding companies around the United States and beyond, with the goal of offering the best tours in Denali. We have seen time and time again that educating people about the place they’ve come across the world to experience elevates their entire vacation. This “vacation elevation” is what we strive to give you. Not just a fun tour, but one that will have a lasting positive impact on your trip and your life. While many tour operators will talk about how educating the public about the natural world assists conservation efforts, Northern Epics puts our money where our mouth is, donating 5% of our profits towards the protection of the incredible lands we guide in. We put our customers’ safety first, requiring all our guides to have Wilderness First Responder advanced first aid certifications and carry GPS and satellite SOS devices on all of our backcountry excursions. We are proud to offer what are (in our opinion) the best tours in Denali for all fitness and experience levels, from those who want an easy stroll through the woods to the fitness-crazed adventure addict. We hope you share our forward-facing view of the guiding industry, and decide to create a wonderful memory with us that you will never forget.
Leave No Trace certifications:
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates ÂŁ1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.