Chilkat Valley Guided Hikes

Enjoy some refreshing exercise in the sunniest hiking destination in Southeast Alaska's Temperate Rainforest!

To accommodate all activity levels, we offer several trips, from low impact to strenuous. Whether you would like a leisurely coastal meadow walk or a full day mountain hike, we have guided hikes to suit your needs. Explore the inter-tidal zone along coastal beaches. Walk beneath the dense spruce and hemlock canopy in the forest. Relax beside a cool mountain stream. Break out into the alpine meadows thick with wildflowers. Experience exhilarating summits and breathtaking panoramas.

Why hike with a guide? We are lucky to live in an area with lots of wildlife. Moose, bear and humans share the same habitat. Our guides are naturalists who specialize in trail-side interpretation and backcountry travel. They are trained in first aid, radio-equipped, and carry bear protection to ensure a safe and memorable experience.

We offer several different guided hikes:

• Chilkat Rainforest Nature Hike
• Chilkat Rainforest Nature Hike with Catamaran Cruise
• Custom Guided Hikes:
  • Mt. Rapinski Hike
  • Mt. Riley Hike
  • Mt. Rapinsky Saddle (Outside Magazine Overlook)
  • Seduction Point Hike (Moose Meadow)

For all hikes, please bring cameras, layered clothing, good hiking boots or shoes, and a love for adventure!

Chilkat Rainforest Nature Hike

Discover a lush Alaskan rain forest, coastal meadow and beach on this three-mile hike complete with a picnic lunch. Your guides will introduce you to Haines and the historical Chilkat Peninsula trailhead. Oxygen rich air and thick mossy carpet entice you along a path deep into the forest. Your senses will be awakened by the subtle smells, alluring sounds of birds and the play of delicate light patterns under the canopy of old-growth trees. You will learn about the coastal ecology, wild edibles and the varied uses of indigenous plants.

Wild Irises, Shooting Stars, and Chocolate Lilies are some of the wildflowers of the coastal meadows. Relax and enjoy lunch on a beautiful black pebble beach. View the panorama of Chilkoot and Taiya Inlets framed by the rugged Coastal Mountains. Investigate tidal pools and the marine life living in the intertidal zone. Your guides pack spotting scopes for viewing bald eagles, mountain goats, waterfowl, shorebirds and the occasional seal or whale.

Note: participants must be at least seven years old, in good health and be able to easily walk over uneven terrain.

• Provided: Spotting scopes, fanny pack, lunch, spring water and rain gear if needed.

Mt. Riley Hike

This is a pleasant, moderate hike with spectacular views at the summit from a height of 1,760 ft. The trail begins after a short drive and takes about 5 hours round trip, winding its way through the rainforest and open meadow areas. Skunk cabbage, false huckleberry, blueberry, devils club and other plants can be seen along the trail. Later in the summer and fall, this a great place to find mushrooms and other fungi.

As you get closer to the peak, the trail breaks out into a series of flowery meadows. The summit is a granite outcrop from which you can see a panoramic view. The snowcapped Chilkat Mountains rise over six thousand feet to the west. The Coast Range and the mountains to the north toward Canada complete this incredible view. The highlight of the Mt Riley Trail is the fact that with just a moderate amount of climbing, you can take in one of the most impressive 360 degree views!

Mt. Rapinsky Saddle (Outside Magazine Overlook)

Less than an hour of moderately steep hiking avails a breathtaking vantage point looking down at the fishing village of Haines, Fort Seward, and Portage Cove with the stunning backdrop of the Chilkat Mountains. This trail is perfect for hikers that want a dramatic photo of Haines without going all the way to the summit of Mt Rapinsky. This view was featured on their front cover when Outside Magazine listed Haines as one of the "20 Dream Towns, and New Best Places to Live and Play" in the United States. On clear days you can see all the way to the mountains around Juneau, 90 miles south.