Nowhere is the term "flightseeing" more appropriate than in the state of Alaska. With so many miles of wilderness to traverse and so much distance between major cities, flying has become the preferred way Alaskans travel and a popular way to view the sights of this northern frontier. Scenic flights out of the main city of Anchorage are common and you will find your choice of trip, from one-hour tours of the cityscape to longer trips flying out of Anchorage to glaciers, across bays and over mostly untamed wilderness.
This three-hour tour from Alaskatours.com departs from Anchorage's Lake Hood, billed as the "world's busiest seaplane airport." From there, you will fly a floatplane over the foothills of Denali and get a bird's eye view of the Ruth Glacier and the Great Gorge before ascending six miles to the 20,320 foot-summit of Mount McKinley's south face. You will also experience a lake landing inside the Denali National Park where you will have an opportunity to photograph the vistas, mountains, forests and wildlife of this remote wilderness. These flights depart daily year-round, weather permitting, and require a minimum of two people.
AlaskaTours.com
413 G St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-277-3000
www.alaskatours.com
Rust's Flying Service offers a variety of tours from three-hour glacier tours to a 30-minute flight over Anchorage. Starting from Lake Hood and piloted by an experienced Alaskan bush pilot, you'll get the experience of seeing Alaska's wilderness and scenery from high in the skies. Every passenger is guaranteed a window seat and a two-way headset for pilot narration. The Cugach Mountain Explorer tour offers you a scenic, 30-minute tour of Anchorage. You'll fly over the Chugach Mountain range, looking down upon secluded valleys and, if you are lucky, will catch a glimpse of the Dall sheep that range upon the slopes. You'll soar over Captain James Cook's Turnagain Arm trying to spot beluga whales, and get to see the busy city of Anchorage from up high. There are no minimum age restrictions on this flight and no prior flying experience is necessary.
Rust's Flying Service
P.O. Box 190867
Anchorage, AK 99519
800-544-2299
www.flyrusts.com/
Located less than 30 miles from Anchorage in Girdwood, you will find the base location for Alpine Air Alaska Tours. These helicopter tours offer 30-minute flightseeing tours into the 20-Mile river valley, which is the heart of glacier country. You can also take the glacier landing tour, a trip through the backcountry of Alaska to some of the largest Alaskan glaciers, or you can take a spin over the Prince William Sound. You'll experience a glacier landing via helicopter and explore the waters over the sound where you can spots whales, bald eagles and other indigenous wildlife.
Alpine Air Alaska
P.O. Box 519
Girdwood, AK 99587
907-783-2360
www.alpineairalaska.com
