Alaska-Hawaii Hiking Trip 2023

Alex Bock 2023-04-07

Overview

I visited a variety of national and state parks and other destinations in Alaska and Hawaii over the past two weeks. Both states exhibited unique winter scenery in late March. In Alaska, I flew into Anchorage, drove south to Seward, and finally took Alaska Route 3 north to Fairbanks where I caught my next flight. Moving on to Hawaii (Hawai‘i island in particular), I started in Kona and proceeded to Hilo. Hiking Mauna Kea (over thirteen thousand feet above sea level) was the highlight of the trip.

Alaska

Kincaid Park

Kincaid Park beach mountain view

Eagle River

Mountains reflected over water at Eagle River Nature Center

Flattop Mountain

Flattop Mountain in the fog

Thunderbird Falls

Thunderbird falls obscured by snow and ice

Eklutna Lake

Snow and fog over Eklutna Lake

Bird Ridge

View across the Turnagain arm from partway up Bird Ridge Trail

Seward

View from Seward shore

Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords entrance sign on closed winter road

Denali National Park

View from the Denali visitor center

Hawaii

View of the island from approaching plane window

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Sea turtle on the beach

Kohala Forest Reserve

View along the Pololu trail

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Plants in the fog Lava tube entrance Lava tube interior (lit) Rainforest A crack in the rock floor Sea arch Palm trees

Kaumana Caves

Plants growing in the sunlight at the cave exit

Rainbow Falls

View of Rainbow Falls

Akaka Falls

View of Akaka Falls

Kawainui Stream

A roadside stream

Onomea

Onomea ocean view

Mauna Kea

Sunset at the Manua Kea Visitor Information Station View of observatories when they first become visible on the hike up Mauna Kea A cloudy view near the top of Mauna Kea

Trip Maps

Alaska

Map of Alaska route

Hawaii

Map of Hawaii route

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