Fairbanks: Side by Side ATV Tour with Local Alaskan Guides

Summary

Ride Fairbanks trails with locals, see Pioneer Park and wild landscapes

You’ll ride over 34 miles of Alaskan trails near Fairbanks in a side by side ATV with longtime local guides. Expect laughs, muddy boots, forest scents, snacks on the trail, and stories you’ll want to retell back home—even if you don’t get all the names right.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Morning tour from Fairbanks

• Meet transportation at Pioneer Park
• Travel 34 miles through varied landscapes
• Enjoy guided Alaskan tour with locals
• Reach unforgettable scenic viewpoint
• Return to starting point

Top questions

What time does the Fairbanks side by side tour start?

The tour offers two daily departures: one at 9:00 am and another at 6:30 pm.

How long is the ATV tour from pickup to drop off?

The total duration is about 5 hours including transportation.

Is hotel pickup included for this Fairbanks ATV tour?

The tour includes transportation to the trail head from Pioneer Park.

Are snacks provided during the tour?

Yes, snacks and bottled water are included in your day trip.

Do I need previous experience driving an ATV?

No experience is required; vehicles have automatic transmissions and power steering.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with health issues?

This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular issues.

Can service animals join this ATV day trip in Fairbanks?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

What safety gear is provided?

You’ll get helmets, goggles, gloves, and all necessary equipment for safe riding.

What’s included

Your day includes transportation from Pioneer Park to the trailhead and back, use of a Maverick Trail side by side vehicle with power steering and automatic transmission, plus helmets, goggles, gloves for safety—snacks and bottled water are handed out along the way so you won’t go hungry or thirsty while exploring Alaska’s wild trails.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to laugh so much before 10am, but there we were—me and three strangers-turned-friends bouncing along a chilly Fairbanks trail in a side by side. Our guide, Dave (he’s lived here longer than I’ve been alive), handed out goggles and gloves at Pioneer Park and told us not to worry about the mud. “It’s Alaska,” he grinned. The air smelled like spruce and cold metal—hard to describe unless you’ve felt it hit your nose at speed.

The ride itself was way more than just driving. We wound through forests that kept changing—one minute it’s all green moss and birch, then suddenly you’re up higher and the ground turns rocky and open. At one stop, Dave pointed out some weird lichen on a boulder (“caribou love it,” he said). I tried to pronounce the name in Athabascan—failed completely—and everyone cracked up. The engines hummed under us but sometimes we’d cut them off just to listen: wind in the trees, a raven somewhere overhead.

Snacks tasted better than they should have when you’re sitting on a log with cold hands. There was bottled water too, though I kind of wished for coffee at that point. The Maverick Trail machines were easy enough for even me (not exactly an off-road pro), thanks to power steering and automatic everything. Safety stuff was all sorted—helmets fit fine, Dave checked straps twice. Honestly, I still think about that last view before heading back; something about the light over those hills sticks with you longer than expected.