Home   |   Summer Activities   |   Winter Activities   |   Contact    |   Gallery    |   Media

Glaciers, avalanches, floods and gold mining helped form the landscape of Glacier Valley’s Four Corners area. Gorges and boulders are carved smooth by glacial silt from the surrounding Chugach Mountains, this was the path to the gold.

Journey to the Gold Rush for canyoneering, prospecting and panning at Crow Creek Gold Mine. Our guides meet at the Hotel Alyeska for the short drive to our downtown office or you can meet us there. Gear up with harnesses and helmets; remember your cameras, active clothing and sunglasses. 

Crow Creek Road is dirt and winds through spruce and hemlock rainforests along the Iditarod National Historic Trail into the Chugach Mountains. We look for black bears foraging in the underbrush on the way to Crow Creek Gold Mine which has been continuously operating and producing gold for over 100 years.

The Crow Creek locals give a gold panning demonstration and we walk through historic buildings in the scenic area. Hiking a quarter mile and down a hill to the creek gives opportunities to pan for guaranteed gold, sluice and prospect for gold in Crow Creek. Then we hike from Crow Creek Gold Mine along the Iditarod Trail to the dry canyon created by

hydro-mining operations. Here we begin our detailed safety orientation to canyoneering techniques.

Gear up in harnesses and helmets for the rappelling descent to a thundering 60 foot waterfall in the Jurassic-like area. Ascending the dry canyon, sculpted by thousands of years of tumbling glacial water, provides several obstacles along the way. These challenges require climbing ladders, utilizing ascenders, gripping ropes and balancing around boulders in steep terrain. Bring sturdy footwear, long pants, small cameras and a sense of gold rush adventure!

Price: $139 adult  $129 children 8-12  Departs at 8:30AM, 1PM and 5PM (allow 3.5 hours)

Sourdough Circuit  Winner Creek Trekker

Alaska Backcountry Access operates under US Forest Service, State of  Alaska and Municipality of Anchorage special use permits.