Winter Waterfall Fun

Location:** Chugach State Park - Barbara Falls & Lower South Fork Eagle River Loop

Dates:** November 1st, 2024 - April 30th, 2025

Tour #1:** 9 am - 12 pm

Tour #2:** 1 pm - 4 pm

Travel Time:** 1 Hour (30 minutes one-way)

Hiking Time:** 2 Hours

Distance & Elevation Gain:** ~2 miles and 200 feet (or 20 flights of stairs)

Difficulty:** ★☆☆☆☆ "Easy for most & moderate for few"

Age recommendations:** 4 & up

For groups with children under 4 years, please book a Private Tour!

• See the Chugach State Park's most photogenic waterfall, frozen-solid! ❄

• An easy, brief, and compelling Alaskan experience for all to enjoy. 😊

• Perfect fit for solo travelers, couples, and families with children. 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

• Learn about Alaska's boreal forests from a skilled naturalist. 🌲

• Opportunity for wildlife sightings, including moose, snowshoe hare, porcupine, voles, birds! 🐇

• Provisions include a prepacked snack and micro-spikes for icy terrain. 🍽

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**About the Hike**

Barbara Falls is the best waterfall to visit in Chugach State Park, especially when covered in ice. With the falls literally minutes away from the trailhead, it is a MUST-DO for any visitor AND Alaskan resident.

We start the tour by embarking on a short nature walk where you'll learn about the stunning vegetation living in our boreal forests. We'll share stories about the intriguing biological mysteries happening within the lichen, mosses, and trees that surround us. Towering species such as white spruces, paper birches, and aspens drape the frozen ground while frost from barren alders’ shimmer in the feint, winter-sun. We could also see wildlife, such as: moose, snowshoe hare, rodents, and birds. The ecology of the area is truly a sight to be behold!

Onward, we'll follow the gorgeous South Fork Eagle River, pausing to observe ice-dam formations created by frigid-cold and fast-moving water. Ice crystals appear to grow from the surface of the water, slowing and raising the water level in terrific ways. Just minutes later, we arrive at the base of the magical 35-foot waterfall where you see shimmering icicles, fascinating ice bridges and falling water frozen-in-time. After stocking up a store of photos to show your friends and family, we'll head back with plenty of time for your next Alaskan experience. What do you say? Let's go check out the falls together!

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**Experience Suggestions**

No experience required, but you should be able to walk at least 3 miles on flat pavement, or 2.5 miles of uneven rolling terrain over the course of 2 hours. You should also be able to balance well and feel comfortable walking in slippery conditions with the assistance of micro spikes. Some parts of the trail are steep and hilly, placing additional stress on areas of the body not impacted by level terrain. Not recommended for those with cardiac or respiratory issues/illness. May be difficult for those with joint issues.

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**Rates**

Non-Private Rate Per Person:** $109

Solo travelers are welcome to book, however please note that we have a 2 person minimum requirement for the tour to operate. ***This is usually not a problem!*** In the event you are the only person on the hike, we will contact you within 24 hours prior to your tour, and provide you with the following options:

1. Move to another time & date.

2. Upgrade to a private hike for 1 ($218).

3. Cancel your booking for a full refund.

Private Party Rates:

Private rates start at $218 for a solo, and are provided during booking.

You get the whole tour to yourself or your group, as well as hotel/AirBnb pick up!

If you have a child under 4 years old, please select this option so we can move at our smallest guest's pace!

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**Transportation:**

Non-Private Bookings: Pick-up is at the Egan Center on 5th Ave in Downtown Anchorage. You can

Private Parties: We will pick you up from where ever you are staying, as long as it is in Anchorage.

You are also welcome to meet us at the trailhead! Just let us know when checking out.

Are you ready to Explore Your Wild and experience the Alaskan wilderness? Reserve your spot now, and we guarantee you'll have a blast!

Participation Agreement

All participants are required to complete their own individual participation agreement. Your Participation Agreement should be **filled out and submitted online before your hike**. This includes a waiver for minors signed by a parent or guardian. For example, if there are 4 people in your booking, we need 4 separate waivers submitted. Thank you!

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Transportation & Meetup

Non-private bookings

If you selected “Yes” to transportation, we will meetup, depart, and return **in front** of the **Dena'ina Center at 600 W 7th Ave** in downtown Anchorage. Click here to see map of the location, as well as local parking garages in the area for you to use. If you are staying at a hotel in downtown Anchorage, you are most likely within a short walking distance!

Private bookings

We provide hotel/AirBnb pick up for our private booking guests if you are within the Anchorage area. If you didn’t provide where you are staying during checkout, we’ll be in contact with you to get that information. You can also email your pick up address to [email protected], or call or text (907) 444-9008 with your hotel information. Additionally, **we have WhatsApp for our international guests**!

If you choose to ride with us, please anticipate being in close proximity to one another. We ask that you kindly please sanitize your hands before entering the vehicle. We'll have a sanitizer available for all guests.

If you selected no, you are choosing to provide your own transportation, which you are more than welcome to do! We will coordinate the location prior to your tour by phone or email.

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What to Expect

As a reminder, **all hikes are rain or shine**. Alaska has many unique features, including a 1000-mile coastal temperate rainforest! Anchorage and the Chugach State Park are located on the Northwest perimeter of the rainforest, and it can be wet during our summer and fall seasons. We ***highly*** recommend bringing a rain jacket, pants, and boots that you don’t mind getting wet or muddy.

You can find more in-depth information about packing for your hike, as well as most other questions you may have in the following links.

Please visit What to Expect for questions regarding: transportation, weather, and wild animals.

Please visit What to Bring for questions regarding: gear & supplies, food & water, proper clothing & footwear, firearms, pets, and drones.

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Tipping

Should you tip a guide? How much are you supposed to tip? These are questions guests often wonder at the end of their experience since most are unsure about guide tipping etiquette. Tipping is of course not required, but it is greatly appreciated by our guides if you had a great experience. The general industry rule is 10%-15% of your booking total. Again, it is not required, but our guides work hard to provide a memorable experience and it is greatly appreciated!

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Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Go Hike Alaska

+1 907-444-9008

[email protected]