We meet outside the Dena'ina Center. Please be parked and ready 15 minutes before the start time to ensure a timely departure. All tours leave no later than 5 minutes after the start time. There is no parking at the Dena'ina Center. The JCPenney Parking Garage is the best option, at 414 W 6th Ave.
Description
If you've never been on a hike during the winter, you need to give it a shot. Winter hiking is a blast, and it's great for the mind and body during long periods of dark & cold. This tour holds plenty of opportunity for photos, and a comprehensive variety of the natural elements found in the boreal forests of Alaska, as well as a stop at a local waterfall. Sound like your style?
• Hike along Chugach State Park's Eagle River and see ice-covered Barbara Falls!
• Perfect for solo travelers and couples.
• Enjoy breathtaking views of towering vistas. Amazing landscapes await your camera!
• Learn about Alaska's glaciated valleys and boreal forests from an experienced gude.
• Opportunity for wildlife sightings, including moose, hare, voles, and porcupine!
Join us on a classic Alaskan adventure today!
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
10:00 AM
Next available
Fri, Oct 16
Adult (ages 18–70)
$189
Youth (ages 8–17)
$189
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
Tour Options
Winter Valley and Forest Hike
Itinerary
240 min
The first portion takes you to the network of forested trails found at the Eagle River Nature Center, nestled deep along the north fork of the Chugach State Park's massive Eagle River. We'll go through snow covered spruces while keeping an eye out for wildlife. We may see the "American Dipper" swimming in an unfrozen tributary warmed by geothermal heat. Or we could see moose and small mammals like the snowshoe hare or red fox. Perhaps, even a porcupine! We also have the opportunity of hiking on top of Eagle River if it's frozen, which is quite an experience!
For the second portion, we'll take a short ride to the Chugach State Park's best waterfall, Barbara Falls. This section is a short half mile walk that features incredible ice dams, shimmering snow crystals, and point-and-shoot photo opportunities around every corner. It's super rewarding and a great way to conclude our tour.
Transportation included in total time of tour:
(1 hour transportation & 4 hours hiking)
What's included
Included
Trekking poles
Snow gaiters available upon request
Granola bar, apple, and cheese stick
Micro-spikes, if needed
Not included
No hotel, B&B, Air B&B, or other accommodation pickups.
Must meet at designated meeting location or provide own transportation to trailhead.
Snowboots or high-top hiking shoes.
Appropriate clothing for snow.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.5
13 reviews
5
10
4
1
3
1
2
1
1
0
How it compares in Anchorage
Starting price $189 is close to the typical $189 for tours of similar length in Anchorage
Excurgo comparison of 192 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Experience Suggestions: No experienced required, but you should be able to walk at least 7 miles on flat pavement, or 5 miles of uneven rolling terrain over the course of roughly 4 hours. 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 severe joint issues.
Participation waiver signature required prior to departure.
If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know and we will accommodate you with a different snack option.
Appropriate winter clothing and footwear is the guests responsibility.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Winter Valley and Forest Hike take?
Winter Valley and Forest Hike lasts about 5 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Winter Valley and Forest Hike cost?
Prices start at $189 per person for this Anchorage experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Winter Valley and Forest Hike run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM.
Can I cancel Winter Valley and Forest Hike for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We meet outside the Dena'ina Center. Please be parked and ready 15 minutes before the start time to ensure a timely departure. All tours leave no later than 5 minutes after the start time. There is no parking at the Dena'ina Center. The JCPenney Parking Garage is the best option, at 414 W 6th Ave. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Winter Valley and Forest Hike offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Winter Valley and Forest Hike worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 13 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Go Hike Alaska.
Reviews(13)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
1
108nahirc
March 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Nice winter experience
My daughter and I had a great time on this hike. I saw a review where someone complained that it was just a walk in the woods that you could do yourself using AllTrails. It's true that it's a simple walk in the woods, but for people are new to the area and flying in without renting a car and want to experience a short winter hike without trying to research trails, pick a place, figure out how to get there, which direction to go on the trail, etc., it's perfect! We paid an extra $25 to be picked up at our hotel. Since they did the driving, it left us free to enjoy the scenery along the way. Once we got there, they provided trail spikes and we just followed along as they led the way and showed us various plants and mushrooms and talked about the native wildlife. We just enjoyed the scenery and took pictures without worrying about a map and trail markers or going through wrong way when the trail forks. Afterwards, we relaxed as they drove us back and talked about the area. So it's great as long as you know what you are signing up for (someone to handle all the details while you just show up and follow along). It was worth it for us to have a small taste of the winter outdoors while being relieved of the planning and execution (stress-free) and to have knowledgeable people telling us about the area along the way. The scenery was beautiful. They are great company to have when hiking and were kind enough to take pictures along the way and airdrop them to us. The picture I attached is one they took. We really enjoyed it. Thanks!
Operator response
What a thorough and thoughtful review. This really answers the question of "why hire a guide?", and we are transparent about where we are taking you in the description. Thank you for taking the time to write this!
L
Laura_L
December 25, 2025 · via Viator
Great hike
Beautiful snowy hike. Our guide was very experienced and knowledgeable. Loved hearing about all the wild edible plants and mushrooms. We went about four miles and saw lots of really pretty Mountain Views!
Operator response
Hello Laura! Glad you enjoyed the hike with your guide. The plants and mushrooms can be fascinating even in winter! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a review.
L
Laura_L
December 24, 2025 · via Viator
Beautiful locations to...
Beautiful locations to hike and see. Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. Even got to try some wild highbush cranberries while we hiked.
Operator response
Right on! Frozen highbush cranberries can be delicious. You'll have to come back in the summer time to try them when they're fresh! Thanks for letting others know what you enjoyed about the experience. :)
E
E6616WOgeorgef
April 25, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Absolutely Wonderful Experience with Go Hike Alaska!
My hike with Go Hike Alaska was first class from start to finish! It was a fairly easy hike in a beautiful area near the Chugach Mountains with gorgeous scenery throughout. The guide, Bryce was fantastic! He was on time for pickup, enthusiastic and very informative throughout the hike. Bryce shared his great knowledge of the plants and wildlife we saw along the way. It was a good workout but Bryce gave us time to admire the many amazing vistas. I highly recommend Go Hike Alaska to anyone who wants to see the best Alaska has to offer!
Operator response
Hello and thank you! We're super pleased to hear about your experience with Bryce, your logistic arrangements, and overall experience with us. If you ever come back to Anchorage, let us know and we'll take you out again! Take Care.
N
NJCSmeets
April 20, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Not worth your money
Very overpriced. The hike is really easy, it is basically a walk in the forest. There is not much of a challenge to it. You could easily do it yourself by following the signs or follow a trail on AllTrails. The guide was friendly and it’s nice that transportation is included. But the guide did not add much value, he pointed out one or two plants along the way. Spikes and hiking sticks are provided, but not really needed since it’s a relatively flat trail and not icey at all.
Overall, we had high expectations for a guided hike that pricey, but those were not met. We felt like we’d been robbed/scammed.
Operator response
Hi Nancy. I tried to call you to discuss this more, but wasn't able to reach you. If you are able to, give me a call at 907-444-9008 and we'll see what we can do to accommodate you.
It sounds like you were expecting more of a challenge and perhaps not on a developed trail? We do our best to describe the challenge and trails, but I'll take a look at how we can enhance our tour descriptions to make it more apparent that the areas we visit sometimes are on trail and sometimes off trail, what the terrain and how difficult it is.
Let's talk more. We don't want people walking away feeling scammed. Give me a call and we'll try to work something out.
Thanks. Matt
E
Escape21308959499
January 17, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful hike and moose!
My wife and I had the best time on our hike with Leah! The trail was beautiful and we saw 3 moose. Leah was super knowledgeable and we learned so much about the area and Alaska flora/fauna. We highly recommend this tour!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind review! We heard about the moose from Leah; so glad you were able to witness Alaskan wildlife! Come back and see us again at any time.
M
Marina_C
January 2, 2023 · via Viator
Very overpriced for what you get
I can’t believe we paid $150 per person to take a walk in the woods. This was soooo overpriced. The views were very foggy too, so we didn’t see much.
Operator response
Hello and thank you for your comments.
Unfortunately, we have no control over what the weather will do, sometimes we wish we could!
I agree with you that it is a walk in the woods. We market this a "Valley & Forest Hike", which implies that you'll be hiking or walking through the woods. Our tour description talks about walking in the woods too. I apologize if you interpreted our expectations a little differently than that.
Finally, we believe that our price is marketable and is comparable to what other tours around the Anchorage area are offering for this type of service. We try to make it affordable for those who sign up while still covering our costs.
Thanks again for being a guest on our tour, and have a nice day.
A
Allison_P
March 10, 2022 · via Viator
Winter wonderland
Very easy walk through the forest. Great way to get out and learn a bit about the frozen landscape. Our guide Leah knew all the plants around, we even found some edible berries to try! She pointed out a new beaver house, and we got to see a moose. What I really appreciated was she allowed the tour to run a bit late, asking us first, so we could make time for Barbara falls!
Operator response
We’re so glad you had an awesome time on your trip with Leah while seeing some amazing Alaskan sights! Let us know if there is anything we can do for you again in the future.
L
Larry_C
March 9, 2022 · via Viator
Don’t miss Barbara Falls
The hike at Eagle River Nature Center had beautiful views of the mountains and a moose. It was a nice forested hike with fairly easy terrain. Our guide Leah pointed out lots of plants, even in the snow, and a new beaver lodge.
Barbara Falls was spectacular with ice formations and flowing water.
A great way to get out and experience this landscape that is close to the city.
Operator response
Thank you for coming with us!
A
Ashley_S
February 20, 2022 · via Viator
The valley was beautiful,...
The valley was beautiful, and Greg was great!!! The waterfall was so pretty! It was awesome to see when the ice was frozen over, pictures turned out beautiful!
Operator response
Thank you for coming with us! We hope to see you again some day!
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