Winter can be a drag if you aren’t able to get out and play in the snow. With thirty different mountain ranges across the state, most Alaskans have access to mountains for winter fun. If you are in a flat part of Alaska, consider a little vacation to the mountains to thoroughly enjoy the winter. Get great gear that keeps you warm and comfortable and head out to Alaska’s mountains this winter for fun, exercise and adventure.
1. Portage Glacier, Whittier, Chugach Mountains.
Head out across Portage Lake for a 4 mile trek to the glacier. You will have a beautiful 2 hour hike, then add as much time as you'd like to explore the glacier. Make sure to get back across the lake before the early night falls in the winter.
2. Chugach State Park, Wasilla, Chugach Mountains.
Chugach State Park, the fourth-largest state park in the United States, has over 495,000 acres of land. It is easily accessible to Anchorage and an excellence place to play in the mountains.
3. Flattop Mountains, Glen Alps, Chugach Mountains.
Flattop Mountain is one of the most popular trails in the Anchorage area, and it looks great in the winter with a coat of snow.
4. Pioneer Peak, Palmer, Chugach Mountains.
Head up the Pioneer Ridge Trial to reach the top. It's over 6000 feet of elevation and 13 miles one way, but the view is spectacular.
5. O'Malley Peak, Chugach Mountains.
Near Anchorage, this trail is more accessible in the summer months, but in the winter you can ice climb there if that is your style.
6. Lost Lake Trail, Quartz Lake State Recreation Area, Chugach Mountains.
Head here for a lovely day of snow shoeing in the Chugach. You can ice fish on the lake, head out on a snow machine to explore the powder, dog mush or skijor in the mountains.
7. Delta Mountains, Alaska Range.
The Delta Mountains are a subset of the Alaska Range and are a stunning part of Alaska. The Denali Highway is closed in the winter, but you can access these mountains from the Richardson Highway.
8. Kachemak Bay State Park, Halibut Cove, Kenai Mountains.
From Homer, head across to Halibut Cove by boat or plane to explore the miles of trails in this amazing park.
9. Juneau, Mt. Roberts, Coastal Mountains.
The mountains around Juneau are gorgeous and easy to access from the state's capital city. Head up Mt. Roberts right from town or go farther afield into the glaciers and peaks nearby. There is a lot of opportunity for outdoor winter fun in Juneau.
10. Denali and foothills, Denali National Park, Alaska Range.
Denali is not closed in the winter! Year-round you can explore the mountains in Denali National Park on foot. Dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and stargazing are all excellent in the winter.
11. White Mountains, White Mountains National Recreation Area.
The White Mountains National Recreation Area has over 240 miles of maintained winter trails through jagged limestone mountains and cliffs and high mountain passes. Ski or snowshoe, snowmobile, dog team, or fat bike through the perfect powder.
12. Northern Alaska, Brooks Range.
The vast and severe Brooks Range stretches for 700 miles across Northern Alaska and in to Canada. An imposing task in the winter, head out to explore these incredible mountains if you have a good plan, a lot of back country knowledge and experience, and the best gear.
Have you been to these spots? Tell us about it in the comments below.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.