Alaska is calling: five reasons to visit the Big Country in 2026 | News

According to the Alaska Travel Industry Association, Alaska’s vast open spaces, glaciers, wildlife and native cultures have always lured travelers. This year, new ways to experience these Alaska icons will be the biggest draws.

Here are five reasons to visit Alaska this year:

To explore national parks
Denali National Park and Preserve’s Park Road has been closed at mile 43 for several years, but the entire length of the road will reopen to travelers in 2027. This will be the last summer that visitors to the park’s backcountry lodges – Camp Denali, Denali Backcountry Lodge and Kantishna Roadhouse – will basically have the place to themselves.

Don’t stop there. Alaska is home to eight national parks, not to mention national historic areas, wildlife refuges, monuments and more.

To ride the rails
For those in Southeast Alaska, the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Established in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, the railroad remains a tourist attraction, offering historic excursions along the original route between Skagway and the Yukon.

Travelers in the Southcentral and Interior regions should book a ride on the Alaska Railroad, which stretches 475 miles from Fairbanks to Seward. The railroad is offering two new packages this year: the 11-day “Glaciers, Rails & Trails” and the six-day “Active Alaska Adventure,” featuring ziplining, hiking, glacier tours and heli-hiking experiences.

Both trains travel through parts of the state that are inaccessible by road.

To experience Alaska Native culture
The Sealaska Heritage Institute will hold its biennial Celebration event in Juneau from June 3 to 6. As one of Southeast Alaska’s largest gatherings of indigenous peoples, the multi-day event pays tribute to the history and traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. In Alaska’s capital, take some time to hike Kootéeyaa Deiyí, the Totem Pole Trail. Or attend other Alaska Native events around the state.

Native-owned tourism experiences are an immersive way to learn more about Alaska’s native culture, too. Businesses owned by Alaska Natives can be found all over the state, from a bear viewing lodge in Kodiak to tour operators in Anchorage, Sitka, Portage or Ketchikan.

To get close to a glacier
With more than 27,000 glaciers in Alaska, there are several ways to experience them. Some of the most accessible glaciers are found in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. Reach them on guided tours by car, boat, helicopter or on foot.

This year, Alaska Helicopter Tours launched a new Glacier Exploration adventure in the Knik River Valley, north of Anchorage. Summer trips include glacier tours, swimming and polar diving.

To see whales, bears, bald eagles and other wildlife
Alaska is a nature lover’s dream and there are countless excursions available to spot bears, moose, Dall sheep and more in the wild or to see whales, sea lions and sea otters frolicking in the sea.

From May 1 to 3, Haines’ first-ever Migration Celebration will feature world-class bird and wildlife watching, Alaska Native cultural programs and spring harvest traditions. Or join Seabird Ventures for its new, eco-focused, small-group tours designed to highlight encounters with seabirds and marine life in Kachemak Bay, near Homer.
Use the resources at TravelAlaska.com to plan a vacation as an independent traveler.