Things to Do in Girdwood, Alaska
Ski, ride, mush, and chase the aurora. Everything to do in Girdwood once the snow settles in.
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Year-round activities show in every season.
Things to Do in Girdwood
13 operators · 23 storiesGuides and operators first, then trail guides and firsthand notes from locals.
Operators & Guides13 operators
- Year-roundWildlife
Alaska Wild Guides
Alaska Wild Guides offers a range of different tours from snowmobile tours to jet ski trips. Experience the beauty of Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the majestic glaciers from your own personal…
- Wildlife
Alpine Air Alaska
Alpine Air Alaska offers daily, year-round helicopter flightseeing tours, and glacier dog sledding in the summer. They also offer Charters, Film Support and Special Event Flights.
- Year-roundHiking
Alyeska Resort - Mountain
Alyeska Resort is Alaska’s premier year-round destination featuring the 300-room Hotel Alyeska, a 60-passenger aerial tram and Alaska’s largest ski area
- Downhill
Chugach Powder Guides
An Alaskan Heli-Skiing Company operating in Chugach Mountain. CPG offers the finest backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the world to terrains for all skill levels. Day trip and Multi-day trips…
- Tours
Girdwood Backcountry Guides
Sundog Ski Guides is a backcountry ski and snowboard guide service based in Girdwood, Alaska. We offer custom ski and snowboard adventures and heli drop tours.
- Dog Sledding
Girdwood Sled Dog Adventure
Girdwood Mushing Company is a summer sled dog adventure and scenic mountain tour all in one! Ride in our unique open-aired Pinzgauers. Come meet Iditarod mushers and the puppies. Take a cart ride…
- Year-roundWildlife
Glacier Jet Ski Adventures
Glacier Jetski Adventures is the original and longest operating jetski tour in Alaska! They operate out of Whittier and Prince William Sound
- Wildlife
Goat Mountain Air
Goat Mountain Air is an air taxi service from Girdwood. They fly fixed Wing aircraft for Charters, Flight Seeing and other services within SouthCentral Alaska.
- Year-roundHiking
NOVA Alaska Guides
NOVA Alaska Guides, a family-owned business for 50 years, is dedicated to delivering authentic Alaskan adventures such as white water rafting, glacier hiking, and glacier paddle boarding
- Year-roundWildlife
Phillips Cruises & Tours
Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLCoffers an incredible glacier and wildlife cruise experience with the most breathtaking views, amazing wilderness, towering glaciers, and playful wildlife found in Prince…
- Year-roundWildlife
Portage Glacier Cruises
Portage Glacier Cruises offers a quick, 1-hour boat tour on Portage Lake, getting within 300 feet of the glacier's face—perfect for a half-day outing. Only 48 miles from Anchorage and 24 miles from…
- Year-roundHiking
Salmon Berry Travel and Tours
Salmon Berry Travel & Tours in Alaska offer locally guided small group or private Day Tours and Multi-Day Adventures!
- Dog Sledding
Turning Heads Kennel
Turning Heads is a dog adventure that operates from Seward in the summer and Knik, Ak in the winter. This a wonderful excursion for people who want to visit the puppies and feel the thrill of dog…
Local Scoop Stories23 stories
- Local Scoop
Portage Pass Trail
Portage Pass Hike is a A 2-mile one-way trail, with a 750-foot elevation gain, that rewards visitors with awe-inspiring views of glaciers, mountains, and a pristine lake. Trailhead is accessed via…
ReadJun 8, 2023 - Local Scoop
Alyeska Winter Carnival and Slush Cup
Alyeska Resort hosts an annual Spring Carnival with the famous Slush Cup Competition
ReadApr 7, 2022 - Local Scoop
RV Camping on the Turnagain Arm
RV Camping on the Turnagain Arm which is south of Anchorage towards Girdwood and Whittier, Alaska. There are multiple places to camp but very few facilities such as electricity and dump station
ReadJan 29, 2022 - Local Scoop
Nordic Skiing in Girdwood
Girdwood, Alaska has miles of groomed nordic ski trails for all ages and ability levels. Walkers, pets, snow bikers, and snowshoeing are welcome on many of the maintained trails.
ReadMar 7, 2021 - Local Scoop
Alyeska Torch Light Parade and Fireworks
Alyeska Resort hosts a New Year’s Eve Torch Light Parade and Fireworks Display
ReadJan 6, 2021 - Local Scoop
Upper Winner Creek Trail
A hiking and expert biking trail that is 14 miles round trip to Berry Pass. The majestic views from the pass are some of the best in all of South Central Alaska.
ReadOct 6, 2020 - Local Scoop
Beaver Pond Trail
Beaver Pond Trail is a solid choice for both hiking, biking and nordic skiing. The 2.7 mile trail starts at California Creek and ends at the Bird-Gird Bike Path.
ReadOct 6, 2020 - Local Scoop
Moose Meadows
A winter multi-use 2.0-mile trail in Girdwood, Alaska that is great for all levels of skiing and biking. Flat, easy trails system that connects to the 5K Nordic Loop
ReadAug 19, 2020 - Local Scoop
5K Nordic Loop
The 5K Nordic Loop is one of the newest trails in Girdwood. It’s a multi-use trail in the fall and summer but converts to ski-only in the winter. This trail sits in the lower Winner Creek Drainage…
ReadAug 17, 2020 - Local Scoop
Alyeska Multi-Use Trail
The Alyeska Multi-Use Pathway is a paved, four-mile lighted multi-use trail that extends from the Seward Hwy to the Hotel Alyeska.
ReadAug 17, 2020 - Local Scoop
Bore Tide at Turnagain Arm
The Turnagain Arm Bore Tide is the second largest in North America climbing to heights of 6-10 feet. A bore tide happens when rapidly rising tidewaters are forced up, forming a wave.
ReadAug 16, 2020 - Local Scoop
Alyeska Bike Park
Alaska’s only lift access bike park with a variety of terrain for all skill levels. Only 45 minutes from Anchorage in the beautiful Girdwood Valley
ReadAug 13, 2020 - Local Scoop
Girdwood Bike Park
An exciting single-track bike park in Girdwood that connects with the 5K Nordic Ski Loop. Two-miles of jumps, banks and rolling terrain designed for all rider levels
ReadAug 12, 2020 - Local Scoop
Crow Pass
Crow Pass Trail is one of the best hikes in the Chugach Mountains. It’s part of the original Iditarod trail with breathtaking scenery. On the 21-mile hike, you will see glaciers, mine ruins…
ReadAug 1, 2020 - Local Scoop
Lower Winner Creek Trail
Lower Winner creek trail should not be missed when visiting Girdwood. The trail is an easy to moderate 3-mile hike or bike ride on a well-maintained trail. The path travels through the lush…
ReadJul 29, 2020 - Local Scoop
Explore Seward Highway
Seward Highway is a National Forest Scenic Byway and one of 15 roads in the United States that have been designated as an "All-American Road.”
ReadJul 24, 2020 - Local Scoop
Bear and Moose Aware
Be Bear and Moose Aware! Bears and Moose are prevalent in Girdwood. Learn to be prepared and safe to play in the outdoors of Alaska.
ReadJul 24, 2020 - Local Scoop
Upper Iditarod Trail
Upper part of the Historic Iditarod trail that passes through Girdwood. This section of the trail marries up with Winner Creek Trail by Crow Creek Mine.
ReadJul 22, 2020 - Local Scoop
Lower Iditarod Trail
A wonderful trail that meanders along Glacier Creek from New Girdwood to Historic Old Girdwood. An excellent trail for all ages and activities.
ReadJul 22, 2020 - Local Scoop
Virgin Creek Trail
The Virgin Creek Falls trail is one of the easiest hikes in Girdwood. The distance is approximately a half-mile round trip and takes 10 minutes to hike.
ReadJul 20, 2020 - Local Scoop
Bird to Gird Bike Path
The Bird to Gird bike path is a must-do when visiting Girdwood! Some say it’s the most beautiful bike path in all of Southcentral Alaska. This gorgeous, paved trail is 12 miles one way (24 miles…
ReadJul 20, 2020 - Local Scoop
Alyeska North Face Trail
The Alyeska North Face Trail is 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 2500 feet so it’s not for the faint of heart. The trail opened in 2009 and has been a local favorite ever since. The switchback…
ReadJul 12, 2020 - Local Scoop
Girdwood's Secret Climbing Wall
Did you know there is a secret bouldering wall in Girdwood just a short walk from downtown? Only the locals know it exists and now you do too.
ReadJun 28, 2020
More about Things to Do in Girdwood
Tucked in a glacier-carved valley 40 miles south of Anchorage, Girdwood is Alaska’s four-season playground. In summer the long daylight opens up hiking, rafting, sea kayaking, and wildlife watching along Turnagain Arm, while the Alyeska aerial tram carries visitors to alpine views above the treeline.
When the snow arrives, the same valley transforms into a winter destination: lift-served downhill skiing and riding at Alyeska, groomed Nordic loops through Moose Meadows, backcountry snowmachine tours, guided ice climbing, and dog sledding across the flats.
Whichever season you visit, the guides and operators below are your starting point, and the Local Scoop stories from residents will help you plan the day, find the trailhead, and know before you go.