Bicycling in Alaska is both an adventure, considering the physical effort of climbing mountain passes and gliding along scenic highways, and an unforgettable and exhilarating experience.
Consider cyclist Thomas Ely’s Alaska experience:
“There was a group of us biking up the Chilkat Pass, and we came upon three brown bears feeding along the side of the road,” said Ely, president and guide of Sockeye Cycle in Southeast Alaska, a bike touring company that has been around since 1988.
“They were within probably 100 yards of the road, and everybody stopped. We weren’t sure if we should keep riding and go past them, turn around or make noise to scare them off.”
Mesmerized by the scene, the group did nothing but watch, and were rewarded for their stupefaction.
“After a while, the bears started chasing each other around, and all of a sudden they were frolicking around and racing around in the heather and they didn’t even pay attention to us,” he said. “We got quite a show.”
Ely said it’s not uncommon to see wildlife on his tours, though a bear story like his is unusual. And even if the wildlife stays hidden, there is plenty to keep the Alaska cyclist pumped up.
Sockeye Cycle is one of a handful of bike-touring companies in Alaska, offering trips as manageable as an overnight mountain biking trek into the Canadian back country to a luxury tour that takes clients to the best cycling destinations in Southeast Alaska. With trips ranging from 20-30 miles per day to the more challenging 40-60 miles per day, clients may choose their workout. And with possible side trips on each itinerary like canoeing the Yukon River, attending the Dawson Music Festival or kayaking Southeast Alaska, there’s plenty of diversity to the adventure.
Cycling Southeast Alaska is like no other way of experiencing the region, Ely said. As a participant in these adventures, cyclists will be rewarded physically by their efforts and have access to many places that the cruise ships just can’t reach.
“I like it here because it’s a combination of the scenery,” Ely said. “There’s the ocean and there are the spectacular coastal mountains. There is lots of wildlife, and Skagway has the Gold Rush history. And the weather in the Haines area is drier than other areas of Southeast, so you have a better chance of a dry trip. ... We just really like to show people our region because we think it’s one of the prettiest places in Alaska.”
Cycling options elsewhere in Alaska can be just as enticing.
Serious cyclists will opt for Alaskan Bicycle Adventures’ Arctic Ocean Ride of Pain, which travels the length of the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse. “The word ‘pain’ largely comes from the fact that it’s a camping trip, and it has to be done on mountain bikes and the road is not paved,” Rowland said.
Off-road trails are another option for cyclists who like to ride on fat, nubby tires in off-the-beaten- path locations. Mountain bikers of all ages and abilities can call on Tony Berberich’s Alaska Backcountry Bike Tours in Palmer for a single- track odyssey in Alaska.
“We have one-day trips that go to Eklutna Lake for beginner and intermediate people, and we do Johnson Pass day trips for the advanced riders,” Berberich said.
Eklutna Lake is a relatively easy ride on an old gravel roadbed that follows the shore of the lake. Awesome views of the mountains make for unbelievable photo opportunities. And the 13 miles one-way of trail will give even the seasoned off-road cyclist a good workout. The lake, which also has hiking trails, kayak and bicycle rentals and a campground, is a great place to spend the day and be “out there” without having to devote an entire week.
“It’s kind of nice being a small company, because even though we’re getting busier, we can still change a trip to accommodate your needs,” he said.
No matter what the bicycling adventure, there are plenty of options in Alaska — whether it is a 10-day grueling ride to the Arctic or a leisurely jaunt on a local bike path. Hire a guide and go for the fully arranged tour. Or rent a bicycle and hit the road your- self. Either way, cycling in Alaska is not to be missed.
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