6 Best Places to Visit in Alaska for First Time Visitors
Thinking about traveling to Alaska for the first time? In this post, I’ll share our unforgettable trip highlights—from easy scenic trails and historic parks to an incredible bear-watching helicopter tour and glacier cruise. This page is a guide of the best places to visit in Alaska for first time visitors. Let’s dive in!
Denali National Park is one of Alaska’s most iconic destinations, home to North America’s tallest peak (Denali), vast tundra landscapes, and abundant wildlife. While much of the park is remote, there are some easy-access trails perfect for first-time visitors. There were many choices for trekking in this park and I chose these two trails. (as you can read below, we have to give up the trail in the middle because of the wild fire..)
Horseshoe Lake Trail
This beginner-friendly trail is located near the Denali Visitor Center. It’s a gentle walk through the forest with scenic views, and the highlight is reaching Horseshoe Lake, where the water is incredibly clear and peaceful.
Tip
The trail is easy to reach by park shuttle and great for families or casual walkers.
Savage River Trail
This relatively easy loop follows the river and offers mountain views. During our visit, we encountered an unexpected wildfire—rangers quickly arrived and asked us to evacuate. It was a dramatic but unforgettable moment, and we later learned the park had closed for safety.
Tip
A rare but real reminder that Alaska’s wild beauty can be unpredictable.
Lake Lucille Park
Lake Lucille is a tranquil lake in Wasilla, surrounded by a small park and popular with locals for morning walks or quiet reflection. We stayed at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn, right on the lakefront.
The view from our room was stunning, and we enjoyed a peaceful morning watching geese in the hotel garden. Although we didn’t walk the full trail around the lake, the atmosphere was calm and beautiful.
Tip
A perfect spot for a relaxing stop between Denali and Anchorage.
Independence Mine State Historical Park
Located in the Talkeetna Mountains, this park preserves the remnants of a gold mining operation from the early 1900s. You’ll find old mining buildings, scenic walking paths, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
We walked around the historic area and took our time exploring. The park sits at a higher elevation, which made the scenery even more impressive.
Tip
Ideal for travelers who enjoy history, photography, and light walking.
Katmai National Park
Katmai is a remote national park famous for its brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls. Since it’s not accessible by road, we joined a helicopter tour with Rust’s Flying Service from Anchorage.
The flight took about 2.5 hours each way, and we had breathtaking views of glaciers, rivers, and rugged terrain. On the way back, I sat in the co-pilot seat, which was an incredible experience!
At Katmai, we had limited time near the bears—about 10 minutes on the viewing platform—but we also saw them from other areas by the end of the tour time. Watching bears fish and eat salmon in the wild was truly fun and a kind of one of a life time experience for us! I strongly recommend this experience even though the tour is a bit expensive. We want to go interesting place as many as we can so our budget for each destination is limited but I believe this tour is worth to pay some money.
Tip
Bring binoculars or a zoom lens to fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Might need a thin jacket in case you feel cold during the flight.
Blackstone Bay Cruise
Blackstone Bay, part of Prince William Sound, is surrounded by towering fjords, tidewater glaciers, and cascading waterfalls. We joined the 26 Glacier Cruise with Phillips Cruises, departing from Whittier.
Seating was assigned, and we shared a table with a sweet older couple from Maryland. We shared stories over a hot meal, which made the experience feel even more personal and warm.
We passed by numerous glaciers, snapping photos along the way. Even in late June, it was very cold and windy, especially outside on the deck. We also saw harbor seals resting on a rock, though they were a bit distant—my camera zoom helped capture them.
Tip
Dress in warm layers, and bring a good camera or binoculars for wildlife spotting!
Flattop Mountain
Flattop Mountain is one of the most popular hikes near Anchorage, offering incredible views of the city, Cook Inlet, and surrounding mountain ranges. The trail starts at the Glen Alps Trailhead and begins gently, attracting many casual hikers and families.
At first, we really enjoyed the walk—surrounded by rolling mountains and Alaskan wildflowers. However, about two-thirds of the way up, the trail changed dramatically. It became narrow, steep, and exposed. As someone who feels uncomfortable with heights, I decided to stop and enjoy the view from where I was.
My husband continued to the summit. The final section (see the right side picture above) involved scrambling up rocky walls with hand-and-foot climbing—definitely not for the faint of heart. But he said the view from the top, where there’s even a small American flag, made it worth it.
Tip
If you plan to reach the summit, wear proper hiking shoes and gloves for grip. This trail is deceiving—it looks easy at first, but the final section is more like a climb than a hike.
Travel Tips for Visiting Alaska
– Best time to visit: June to August (warmest weather and most accessible). However, if you expect to see the northern light, the best timing is mid August to mid April.
– What to pack: Layers, rainproof outerwear, warm hat, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, zoom lens. You need to keep warm even in the summer season.
– How to get around: Renting a car is highly recommended; also use park shuttles or guided tours
– Book early: Tours like the Katmai bear flight and glacier cruises often fill up quickly.
Conclusion
Our Alaska adventure was filled with breathtaking scenery, peaceful trails, historic sites, and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. Whether you’re hiking a beginner trail or flying over glaciers, Alaska offers something for every type of traveler. I hope this post helps you plan a magical trip of your own.
Have questions or planning your own Alaska trip? Send me your comment from the comment section below—I’d love to hear from you!
