Anchorage Winter City Tour: 25 miles, wildlife, and SnowElla

See Anchorage's winter in one morning without planning the route

Anchorage's Winter City Tour is a three-hour guided route through the city covering 25 miles of landmarks, wildlife viewing, and cultural stops. You'll meet SnowElla, the 25-foot snow lady; visit Lake Hood to photograph seaplanes; stop at Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 quake; taste reindeer sausage and smoked salmon; and sit down with an Alaskan pilot for coffee at Rust's Flying Service. A live English-speaking guide leads the group through each stop, handling the driving while you take photos and ask questions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Anchorage's winter highlights

• Start at visitor center
• Photo at Greetings from Alaska Mural
• Meet SnowElla, the 25-foot Snow Lady
• Visit Ulu Factory and watch artisans
• Learn about Captain James Cook's history
• Pass by Alaska Railroad Depot
• Pass by West Anchorage High School
• Pass by Anchorage’s Underground House
• Enjoy panoramic views at Point Woronzof
• Visit Earthquake Park and learn history
• Taste local flavors at Alaska Sausage and Seafood
• Learn about WWII Aleutian Campaign and military history
• Pass by Westchester Lagoon ice rink
• Tour Lake Hood and Lake Spenard aviation area
• Winter stop at Rust’s Flying Service for coffee

The Experience

What makes Anchorage's winter different from the rest of the year? The tour answers that by moving through the city's most distinctive winter spots in three hours. You'll travel 25 miles with a guide who knows the stories behind each place—not just the names. The route starts at the Anchorage Visitor Center, then moves to SnowElla, a 25-foot-tall snow lady built on a winter night under the northern lights, where you'll get a photo and hear how she came to be. From there, the tour takes you to the Ulu Factory to learn how Alaska's traditional knife was made and used by Alaska Natives for centuries, with a chance to buy one if you want.

The middle of the tour focuses on Anchorage's history and landscape. You'll pass West Anchorage High School while hearing stories about the city's schools and community, see the underground house—one of Anchorage's most unusual buildings—and stop at Point Woronzof for panoramic views across Cook Inlet toward the Chugach Mountains. On clear days, Mount Denali appears on the horizon. At Earthquake Park, the guide explains the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the U.S., and shows you the frozen ground where the disaster reshaped the landscape. You'll also learn about the railroad's role in building Anchorage and Captain James Cook's voyage to the region.

The tour includes two food and aviation stops that break up the driving. At Alaska Sausage and Seafood, you'll taste reindeer sausage and smoked salmon while staff explain the smoking process and local fishing traditions. Lake Hood and Lake Spenard come next—the world's busiest seaplane base—where you can photograph planes parked on the shore or landing on the frozen lake. The final stop is Rust's Flying Service, where you sit down with an Alaskan pilot over coffee, ask about flying in Alaska's winter, and take photos with the planes behind you. WiFi is available on board throughout the tour.

What’s included

• WiFi on board.
• reindeer sausage tasting at Alaska Sausage and Seafood.
• coffee with an Alaskan pilot at Rust's Flying Service.
• live English-speaking guide for all stops and commentary.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Anchorage Trolley Tours

Is this one for you?At three hours, the tour fits into a morning or early afternoon without eating the whole day, leaving you time to explore on your own or visit museums afterward. If you want to see Anchorage's winter character and its aviation heritage without renting a car or building an itinerary, the fixed route and included guide handle both.

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Top questions

What is SnowElla and why is she part of the tour?

SnowElla is Anchorage's 25-foot-tall snow lady, built on a winter night under the northern lights. She's a local winter icon and a photo stop where the guide shares the story of how she was constructed and why she matters to the city's winter identity.

Can I see planes actually flying at Lake Hood?

Lake Hood is the world's busiest seaplane base, so you'll see planes parked along the shoreline and may witness them landing on or taking off from the frozen lake during winter months, depending on weather and flight schedules that day.

What does the Earthquake Park stop include?

At Earthquake Park, the guide explains the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake and its global impact, shows you the frozen ground deformed by the quake, and tells stories of how the local community survived and rebuilt after the disaster reshaped the landscape.

Is the coffee break with the pilot included, or do I pay extra?

The coffee break at Rust's Flying Service is included in the tour price. You'll sit down with an Alaskan pilot, ask questions about flying in Alaska's winter, and take photos with the seaplanes in the background.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

Most of the tour is spent on the bus traveling 25 miles between stops. At each stop, you'll walk short distances—from the bus to SnowElla, around the Ulu Factory, through Earthquake Park, and along the dock at Rust's Flying Service. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.