Trip Overview
Our Alaska adventure begins in Anchorage, where we check our gear and then catch a bush plane and fly down the wild coast of the peninsula. After a stop for lunch on Lake Clark’s shores, we fly again, this time in float planes over snaking freshwater rivers, sprawling snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes into the remote northern corner of Katmai National Park to begin our exploits in the serious Alaskan wild—over 4 million acres of spruce forests, rushing rivers, wild mountains and wildlife.
We'll cover 6 - 8 wilderness miles a day, roughly eight hours a day on the trail, with up to 2,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. While the mileage may not sound like a lot for experienced hikers, due to the terrain in Alaska, the focus here is on total hours hiked more than total mileage. Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential (see Get Ready).
Weather note: Depending on the day’s weather, our float plane will drop us at Kukaklek, Iron Springs or Mirror lakes; and we'll start our trek from here. Although we’ll use the following itinerary as a guide, circumstances like weather conditions, individual ability, and safety may cause us to deviate or impact what type of wildlife we see. Out here, we roll with what Mother Nature gives us—that’s true Alaska.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
DAY 1 ANCHORAGE > KATMAI
Day One! Meet at 6:30am on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Lakefront Anchorage Hotel
Gear check & bush flight to Port Alsworth
Lunch at Lake Clark
Float plane to Katmai National Park
Set up camp at Kukaklek, Iron Springs or Mirror lakes (depending on weather)
Afternoon hike
Campsite: Backcountry wilderness
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DAY 1 HIKING SUMMARY
Distance: 2-3 miles with daypacks only
Approx. time: 2 hours
Elevation gain: 500' - 1,000’
DAY 2: KATMAI BACKCOUNTRY
Begin hike towards Spectacle Lake region (depending on weather)
Arrive at campsite by late afternoon
Campsite: Backcountry wilderness
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DAY 2 HIKING SUMMARY
Distance: 5 - 6 miles
Approx. time: 5 - 7 hours
Elevation gain: 1,200' - 1,500’
DAY 3: KATMAI BACKCOUNTRY
Hike past small spring-fed lakes and creeks, in some of the world's most productive wild salmon fisheries
Campsite: Backcountry wilderness
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DAY 3 HIKING SUMMARY
Distance: 6 miles
Approx. time: 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 500’
DAY 4: SPECTACLE LAKE REGION
Arrive at Spectacle Lake (depending on weather) in early afternoon, set up camp
Afternoon wildlife hike (daypacks only)
Campsite: Backcountry wilderness
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DAY 4 HIKING SUMMARY
Distance: 7 miles
Approx. time: 8 hours
Elevation gain: 900’
DAY 5: FUNNEL CREEK & MORAINE CREEK
Full-day hike (daypacks only) from Spectacle Lake region along Funnel and Moraine Creeks (depending on weather)
Campsite: Backcountry wilderness
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DAY 5 HIKING SUMMARY
Distance: 12 miles with daypacks only
Approx. time: 8 hours
Elevation Gain: 400’
DAY 6: PORT ALSWORTH
Breakfast in backcountry
Break camp
Float plane to Port Alsworth
Check into lodge
Farewell dinner
Accommodations: Farm Lodge in Port Alsworth
DAY 7: PORT ALSWORTH > ANCHORAGE
Morning hike to Tanalian Falls (depending on weather)
Late morning / early afternoon bush flight to Anchorage
Your onward flights from Anchorage should depart at 9:00pm or later
Where We Sleep
Katmai National Park & Preserve
Days 1 - 5: Backcountry Camping
For Days 1 thru 5, we'll camp in the backcountry. We provide expedition-quality tents and trekking poles, along with group-size tarp shelters and all the gear we need to camp safe and comfortable—plus an array of portable cookery for camp-kitchen feasts of seriously delicious cuisine (from reindeer rotini to Shanghai noodles).
Port Alsworth
The Farm Lodge
Tel. 907-781-2208
We spend Days 6 and 7 at the remote, incredibly scenic Farm Lodge in Port Alsworth, at the headwaters of Lake Clark and the national park's headquarters. Farm Lodge is a worthy reward after several days of trekking. Cabins face the water, neatly reflecting the mountain peaks that rim the lake. We’ll have options to hike, raft or look for wildlife here, plus enjoy delicious home-cooking for our final celebratory feast together.
Inclusions & Exclusions
INCLUSIONS
On a Modern Adventure, we’ve worked out all the details for you. Included in your experience are all the gear, delicious food, private air transport, expert local guides, and much more. Here’s what’s included:
Lodge accommodations and fully supported camping for six nights
All group gear (see Gear & Packing)
Internal bush and float plane flights
All meals and beverages
Trekking poles
Satellite phones, medical kit, rescue equipment
All permit and entrance fees
Ground transportation
Departure transfer to Anchorage's ANC airport
EXCLUSIONS
Roundtrip airfare to/from Alaska
Travel insurance (see Get Ready)
Activities not included in the trip itinerary
Lodge incidentals
Personal camping such as sleeping bags & mats (see Gear & Packing for full list of items you'll need to bring)
Gratuity for Modern Adventure trip leader