Activities in Girdwood
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Winner Creek Gorge Hike
Winner Creek Gorge Hike is an easy and pleasant hike that winds 5½ miles through lush (and sometimes muddy) forest, ending in the gorge itself, where Winner Creek becomes a series of small cascades. You can also connect to the National Historic Iditarod Trail for a 7.7-mile loop. Either way, you'll cross the gorge on an ultrafun hand-tram.
The most popular trailhead is near Arlberg Rd: walk along the bike path past the Alyeska Prince Hotel, toward the bottom of the tram. Look for the footpath heading into the forest.
reviewed
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Crow Pass Trail Hike
The highly recommended Crow Pass Trail Hike is a short but beautiful alpine hike that features gold-mining relics, an alpine lake and often there are Dall sheep on the slopes above. It's 4 miles to Raven Glacier, the traditional turnaround point of the trail and 3 miles to a USFS cabin. Or you can continue on the three-day, 26-mile route along the Iditarod Trail to the Eagle River Nature Center. The trailhead is 5.8 miles north of Alyeska Hwy on Crow Creek Rd.
reviewed
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Girdwood Ski & Cyclery
Girdwood Ski & Cyclery will rent you the bikes to enjoy it.
The most scenic ride is the Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail, a paved path that leads out of the valley and along the Seward Hwy above Turnagain Arm. A new segment built in 2005 has extended the route to Mile 103 of the highway, linking Alyeska Resort with Indian Creek 17 miles away.
reviewed
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Alyeska Glacier View Trail
Take the Alyeska resort tram to this easy, 1-mile Alyeska Glacier View Trail through an alpine area with views of the tiny Alyeska Glacier. You can continue up the ridge to climb the so-called summit of Mt Alyeska, a high point of 3939ft. The true summit lies farther to the south, but is not a climb for casual hikers.
reviewed
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Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail
The most scenic ride is the Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail, a paved path that leads out of the valley and along the Seward Hwy above Turnagain Arm. A new segment built in 2005 has extended the route to Mile 103 of the highway, linking Alyeska Resort with Indian Creek 17 miles away.
reviewed
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Ascending Path
A climbing-guide service that has a three-hour glacier hike on Alyeska Glacier (around US$140), including a midnight-sun glacier trek from mid-June to mid-July that begins at 21:00. The company also offers a three-hour rock-climbing outing designed for beginners ($129).
reviewed
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Downhill Mountain Biking
For some hair-rising biking head to the Alyeska Resort day lodge where Downhill Mountain Biking will send you up on the chairlift for a wild ride down one of four trails. Lift tickets are around US$29 per person and bike rentals are available.
reviewed
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Class V Whitewater
Offers guided raft trips through some of the whitest water in Alaska, the class V canyons of Sixmile River (around US$130). If you can't handle that icy roller coaster, trips through class III rapids (around US$75 to $95) are available.
reviewed
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Alyeska Ski Resort Tram
The Alyeska Ski Resort Tram offers the easiest route to the alpine during the summer. At the top you can dine at Seven Glaciers Restaurant or just wander above the tree line, soaking up the incredible views.
reviewed
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Alpine Air
Has a two-hour glacier tour that includes a helicopter landing on the ice and an opportunity to drive a sled dog team (adult/child around US$350/$299).
reviewed
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