Chugach National Forest (Summer)

Covering more than 5.5 million acres (the size of New Jersey), Chugach National Forest is the second largest national forest in the nation; only Alaska's Tongass is bigger. The Chugach encompasses most of the Prince William Sound region, extending west from there across part of the Kenai Peninsula and east beyond the Copper River Delta. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and boat tours to Portage Glacier provide an introduction to this fascinating glacier. Hiking trails and cabins are popular on the Kenai Peninsula, especially the 38-mile Resurrection Pass Trail that crosses the mountains between the tiny towns of Cooper Landing and Hope. Also ...

Covering more than 5.5 million acres (the size of New Jersey), Chugach National Forest is the second largest national forest in the nation; only Alaska's Tongass is bigger. The Chugach encompasses most of the Prince William Sound region, extending west from there across part of the Kenai Peninsula and east beyond the Copper River Delta. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and boat tours to Portage Glacier provide an introduction to this fascinating glacier. Hiking trails and cabins are popular on the Kenai Peninsula, especially the 38-mile Resurrection Pass Trail that crosses the mountains between the tiny towns of Cooper Landing and Hope. Also on the Kenai are whitewater trips down raging Sixmile Creek, fishing in a multitude of lakes and streams, and mountain biking. Prince William Sound is famed as a mecca for sea kayakers, with dozens of glaciers, including many tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs into the Sound. Sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and killer whales are often seen, and several companies offer boat day tours from the towns of Whittier or Valdez. In addition, state ferries connect Whittier, Valdez, and Cordova.

About the Expert

Don Pitcher has written or photographed 10 travel guidebooks to Alaska, Wyoming, Yellowstone-Grand Teton, and the San Juan Islands for Avalon Travel Publishing, Random House, and Sasquatch Books.