Turquoise Kayak and Hike - Lake Clark National Park
Multisport in Alaska with Alaska Alpine Adventures
Highlights
- Kayaking and hiking in the incredible Clark National Park
- Stunning scenery, impressive glaciers, gorgeous turquoise waters
- Experienced guides lead you on an unforgettable adventure
Full Description
This kayaking and hiking trip in Lake Clark National Park is a classic! As you steal a glimpse of Turquoise Lake from the windows of our floatplane for the first time, you will realize immediately how it received its name, and why we keep coming back to this extraordinary place.
Guarded by 8,000' peaks to the east, and endless tundra to the west, Turquoise Lake is nestled between Telaquana Lake and Twin Lakes, in the heart of Lake Clark National Park. This 7-day adventure gives the adventure traveler the chance to thoroughly explore this amazing and beautiful Alaska watershed; kayaking the turquoise waters, hiking to the edges of mighty glaciers, and exploring the hillsides for the many animals that call this place home.
Includes:
- All group gear (tents, stoves, fuel, kayaks, dry bags, etc.), satellite phone, and safety equipment
- Trekking poles
- Ground Transportation to Merrill Field on Day 1
- Bush flight transportation from Anchorage to Port Alsworth
- All internal bush flights necessary for the trip
- Lodging on night one at a lodge on Lake Clark
- Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 client to guide ratio
- All meals from lunch on day one through lunch on the final day of the itinerary
- Storage for your extra travel items while in the field
Excludes:
- Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure
- Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc.)
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuities
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Today you’ll fly from Anchorage to Port Alsworth – one of the most stunning bush flights in Alaska. After meeting your guide, you’ll check into our lakeside lodge on Lake Clark, spend the afternoon hiking to Tanalian Falls, and finish the evening with an orientation/welcome dinner at the lodge. Lunch & Dinner included
Day 2
After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll load the floatplane and lift off into the morning skies bound for Turquoise Lake. We’ll set up camp at the east end of the lake and assemble our kayaks. We’ll then hoist day packs and head off to explore one of the mighty drainages that bring glacially churned waters to the head of the lake. We’ll practice river crossing techniques, discuss the forces that have shaped this landscape for thousands of years, and bask in the solitude of this amazing wilderness. After our first gourmet wilderness dinner, you’ll have the chance to do an evening paddle on the lake. All meals included.
Day 3
As you leave the comfort of our sleeping bags and wait for the warmth of the morning sun, you’ll sip coffee as our guide prepares a sumptuous breakfast that is sure to fuel you for the adventure ahead. We’ll then strike out for a day of hiking in the grand canyon of Lake Clark National Park. Our goal today will be the Turquoise Glacier, a 6-mile hike up-valley. As you marvel at the 5000’ walls of the canyon and the waterfalls cascading from distant summits, you are bound to be speechless by the surrounding majesty. If weather and time allow, our guide will take you up onto the glacier ice for a unique and absolutely Alaska hiking experience. All meals included.
Day 4
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll break down camp, trade our trekking poles for paddles, and launch our kayaks into the pristine waters of Turquoise Lake. Kayaking on Turquoise Lake is both awe inspiring and humbling. As we paddle our way west to our next camp, we’ll crane our necks to take in all of the amazing scenery and scan the shorelines for some of the critters that call this place home. All meals included.
Day 5
Today we’ll stretch our legs on another amazing hike. We’ll climb the benches that line the southern shore of the lake, and make for Crag Peak; one of our favorite hiking locations in this watershed. From the summit of this rocky peak, we will soak in our surroundings, and no doubt be in awe of the panoramic view from our newly achieved summit. All meals included.
Day 6
We dedicate our final full-day in the wilderness hiking to and visiting one of the most unique locations in the park. A few miles south of our camp, nestled deep in the mountains, is the magical 'sheep lick.' This mineral lick is a favorite haunt for the majestic Dall sheep and we'll likely see ewes and lambs frolicking in the area. Bound to be a favorite of the trip, this hike is sure to satisfy the adventurous spirit in all of us. All meals included.
Day 7
Too soon for most, our floatplane will arrive by mid morning to return us to Port Alsworth. After showers and a celebratory lunch, we’ll tally up our wildlife sightings, and revel in the adventure that we will never forget. We’ll then pay an afternoon visit to the Lake Clark National Park visitor’s center where you’ll have a chance to purchase maps and postcards. You’ll then board an afternoon charter flight to Anchorage. If you are departing Alaska on this day, please schedule all homebound flights for after 9 pm. Breakfast & Lunch included.
About The Operator:
Alaska Alpine Adventures
Headquarters:
Anchorage, Alaska
Established:
January 1998
Alaska Alpine Adventures was conceptualized during many seasons of exploration throughout Lake Clark National Park by founders Dan Oberlatz and Derek Nelson. During this time, we held odd jobs and lived a life focused on climbing, skiing, and hiking as much of Lake Clark as we could possibly afford. Work simply meant the means to pay for our next flight into the wilderness, and time spent in the wild was the currency we preferred to earn. From first ascents and descents of remote peaks of the Alaska and Aleutian mountain ranges, to extended backpacking trips and speed hikes, our lives were rich with Alaska experience and the lifestyle was wealthy. Our explorations fostered a profound appreciation and respect for the Alaska wilderness, a remarkable skill-set, and a passion for pure wilderness travel. Furthermore, our collection of experiences became the seed for Alaska Alpine Adventures, which became a reality in 1998.
Since our early days on Lake Clark, it is the blend of "what we do" and "who we are" that has made AAA. We are quite simply a group of explorers and naturalists sharing with our guests the incredible beauty of Alaska—The Great Land. Our goal and passion is to give participants the opportunity to experience, through pure adventure travel, the exhilaration, the wonder, the grandeur, and the solitude of Alaska's magnificent national parks and wildlife refuges.
As guides, however, we are more than simply leaders into the areas we venture. Throughout the Alaska Alpine Adventures' experience, we endeavor not only to share these amazing landscapes on foot, raft, skis, or kayak, but also to help our clients develop a sense of commitment to and appreciation for the vast public lands we visit. We strive to be good stewards of the truly wild and intact ecosystems we explore, and are committed to educating ourselves and others to respect and protect the wilderness areas that make these wonderful experiences possible.
Because we promote the educational component of our expeditions, we tend to attract visitors bent on exploring and experiencing "real" Alaska - rather than simply "peak bagging" or "thrill seeking." We believe that this is also due in large part to the fact that we project conservation ethics, cultural awarness, and environmental commitment throughout all aspects of our enterprise.
Our impressive collection of experiences represents not only our history, but also the blueprint for the future of Alaska Alpine Adventures. When you choose to travel with us, you can rest assured that your trip has been meticulously planned and executed by real Alaskans with authentic Alaska know-how, skill, and ability.