Southcentral Alaska/Anchorage Backcountry Ski Zones
Southcentral Alaska - the area within an hour from Anchorage - has four zones for backcountry skiing. By driving two hours you're in Talkeetna, ready to fly into the Alaska Range.
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Kenai Mountains (Turnagain and Summit Pass)
Driving south down the Seward Highway from Anchorage are the gorgeous Kenai Mountains on the Kenai Peninsula. These steep and dramatic mountains have a maritime climate with a deep and stable snowpack much like Thompson Pass near Valdez. Turnagain and Summit Pass offer the best roadside skiing around Anchorage. An hour skinning will take us away from the crowds onto untracked terrain. See posts from Ingram Creek, Kickstep with Ryan, Lyons-Center-Tincan with Erika and TT43 with Leighan. Recommended trip: Guided Backcountry Skiing.
Talkeetna Mountains (Hatcher Pass)
The sharp granite peaks of the Talkeetna Mountains have an inter-mountain climate much like Montana. If it's dumping in the Kenai Mountains, there's a good chance we'll find clear skies in the Talkeetna Mountains and unlimited options. See posts from Hatchers to Talkeetna, and the Bomber Traverse. Recommended trips: Bomber Traverse, Guided Backcountry Skiing.
Chugach Front (Anchorage's Backyard)
These are the tippy western end of the extensive Chugach Mountains. From March through June these mountains provide a nearby playground for Anchorage residents, from the classic 24-mile Arctic to Indian ski tour to evening corn and chute skiing in May. See a post from our North Face Chute Linkup in the Chugach Front. Recommended trip: Guided Backcountry Skiing.
Western Chugach Mountains (Girdwood)
Deeper into the Chugach, in the mountains behind Girdwood, the mountains become steeper and more glaciated. Perfect for spring backcountry ski traverses, and early summer summit skiing. See posts of: Girdwood Glacier Skiing, Western Chugach Steeps, and Hanging Valley Chutes. Recommended trips: Chugach Heli Drop Skiing, Eklutna Traverse, Guided Ski Mountaineering.
Alaska Range (Little Switzerland)
We begin this fly-in ski base camp expedition from Talkeetna, a two-hour drive from Anchorage. We'll ski among dramatic granite towers in the shadow of Denali (Mount McKinley). Situated on the Pika Glacier, a tributary of the Kahiltna Glacier, our base camp has access to glacial passes, summits long ski runs and breathtaking scenery. See posts of: L'Aventurier Alpin. Recommended trip: Little Switzerland Ski Base Camp.