Five Alaska Photography Locations You MUST See!!

The Harding Icefield in Kenai Fjords National Park

Alaska is a state of incredible natural beauty. Wildlife, mountains, glaciers, flowers… It is a photographer’s paradise. There is an endless list of photography locations to visit, all of which will provide stunning landscape photography that will dazzle your friends and social media followers. But here are five Alaska locations for landscape photography and wildlife photography that you shouldn’t miss the next time you’re visiting the Last Frontier.

Hatcher Pass

One of Alaska’s great playgrounds is Hatcher Pass. Located just outside of Palmer, Alaska, Hatcher Pass is accessible, dynamic and spectacular. Casual hikers can find excellent views along the road, from the Hatcher Pass lodge or at the historic Independence Mine. And even more drama is available to the more adventurous with one of several long day hikes, such as the Gold Mint Trail or Reed Lakes, or for backpackers who take on the ultra-classic Bomber Traverse.

Kesugi Ridge (Denali State Park)

A lot of travelers make a beeline for Denali National Park when they reach Alaska, and for good reason. But some of the best views of Denali and the Alaska Range are found in Denali State Park. And though some of these views can be seen when you drive the Parks Highway north from Wasilla towards Denali National Park, the very best views come from Kesugi Ridge, a raised escarpment in the Talkeetna Range that parallels the highway. A classic multiday Kesugi Ridge backpack trip is the best way to experience the numerous compositions for photographing Alaska that Kesugi offers, but for those with less time, several trailheads allow you to day hike up to ridge and find those classic views of North America’s tallest mountain and its friends.

Kachemak Bay State Park

Located a short boat ride from the scenic coastal town of Homer, Kachemak Bay State Park is a relatively accessible wonderland for adventure and photography. Individual locations are numerous, but some favorites include Grewingk Glacier Lake, the town of Seldovia, and Grace Ridge.

Harding Icefield

Though the Harding Icefield Trail, known locally as the “H.I.T,” is a strenuous nine mile hike that gains nearly 3,000’, it epitomizes Alaska and climaxes with an astonishing view of the Harding Icefield, the largest icefield entirely in the United States. The Harding Icefield and the many glaciers that flow off it form a continuous sheet of ice approximately 1,000 square miles in size. It is one of the crown jewels of Kenai Fjords National Park. The sheer scale of the icefield is almost impossible to believe when you stand its edge from the end of the H.I.T.

Boat tour

All right, this feels like a cop-out because it isn’t really a location. But one of the best ways to see and photograph the stunning coasts of Alaska is on a boat tour. From the sea you get views of some of the most beautiful but otherwise inaccessible terrain in the state. In the process you’ll almost assuredly see whales, puffins, sea lions, and other Alaska wildlife. There are many locations from which you can launch on a boat tour, but some of the best include Glacier Bay National Park, Prince William Sound, and Kenai Fjords National Park.

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The Mt. Marathon Racer Who Disappeared (With Video)

July 4, 2012. Seward, Alaska.  During one the most popular foot races in state, Mount Marathon, a racer disappears, never to be seen again. 

This is the story of the vanishing of Michael LeMaitre.

The Mount Marathon Race is one of America’s oldest foot races. Almost every 4th of July for well over 100 years people have gathered in Seward, 

Alaska to cheer on runners as they scale the steep, barren slopes of Mount Marathon. Starting near sea level on 4th Street in downtown, the relatively short race ascends nearly 3,000 feet to a false summit called Race Point on the great mountain’s eastern flank. To win Mount Marathon is to become an instant legend in the circles of Alaska athletics. And though many compete to steal that honor, only one can stand atop the victory podium and bask in that glory. The names of those who do are etched into race lore forever….

Will Michael LeMaitre ever be found? What happened to Michael LeMaitre? I climb to Mt. Marathon's Race Point to examine this curious, eerie disappearance for myself and try to guess at what happened to the racer who disappeared during the Mount Marathon Race.

Online theories to explain his disappearance range from alien abduction, to interdimensional portals, to an intentional disappearing act pulled off by LeMaitre. 

Until some sign of LeMaitre is discovered, the real truth of what happened that day, will always be one of Alaska’s greatest outdoor mysteries 

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Ice to Ocean: A Packraft Journey

Paddling Resurrection River near Seward, AK

Somewhere under a blanket of ice hundreds of feet deep, runnels of water squeeze through tunnels and cracks, collecting in pockets. Gathering momentum. Finally, after a seemingly endless journey through the dark, it erupts into daylight as a churning, turbid stream. A creek Is born and it begins its descent to the sea.

This is the life of a river… Ice to Ocean.

Our Alaska packrafting adventure started at the Exit Glacier trailhead in Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier is one of about 40 glaciers spawned from the Harding Icefield, a massive sheet of ice that covers roughly 1,000 square miles. That’s about the size of Rhode Island. Our destination was the toe of the glacier, where Exit Creek emerges from under the ice and, like us in our packrafts, begins its tumble downhill.

We used to put-in much closer to the glacier, but a sudden glacier outburst flood of  Exit Glacier June 14, 2021 sent a wall of water charging through the narrow gorge, re-arranging the channel and prompting the park service to close the canyon. It’s hard, as we spread our gear over glacial moraine, not to look up at the wall of ice and imagine seeing that rushing chocolate water and tumbling mass of boulders bearing down on us.

After the first set of crux rapids, we settled in to rhythm of this river. Dodging sharp rocks, logs and brush, and always being alert for the deepest channel to avoid running aground.

After two and half miles, Exit Creek spills into Resurrection River and we continued downstream with triple the flow.

The next six miles were much the same, only on a larger scale. Braided islands and swift corners punctuated by occasional small rapids. Though the river is tame, the setting is incredible. Towering mountains leap skyward, crystalline cascades pouring down their jagged faces. Glaciers cling to the highest alpine rungs despite the apex of summer. It is, in a word, inspiring.

At mile 9 we passed the lowest takeout I’d ever used. From here down we were entering the unknown. Well not exactly. This was the most industrial and urban part of the river. Our route took us through a gravel pit, under a busy highway and alongside the runway of a small airport. But eagles lounged on the riverbank, scouting for salmon. Busy helicopters circled towards the alpine cirques. 

Ahead, the stream was opening up. And we knew the ocean was near.

We suspected paddling our lightweight Alpacka packrafts on Alaska's Resurrection Bay would be a challenge. We were not wrong. The mile-long paddle was slog across shallow mudflats, angling into a south wind, as small breakers lapped over our gunwales. At times it felt like we were making no progress. But eventually, somehow, we washed ashore just fifty feet from the car.

Ice to Ocean. We’d packrafted fourteen miles, 13 by river and one by sea. We’d sniffed out the river source, and saw it all the way to its mouth. We’d descended 700 feet and navigated countless swift corners and braided channels. My vision of a dynamic day adventure had come true.

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Copyright notice: This website and all its contents are the intellectual property of Brian Wright Photography. None of the content can be used or reproduced without expressed written approval.
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