The time it takes to walk or hike in Alaska varies widely depending on the trail length, elevation gain, terrain, and your hiking pace.
- Average hiking speed is about 2.5 miles (4 km) per hour on flat terrain without stops
. Hiking time increases significantly with elevation gain and trail difficulty.
- For example, a 3.6-mile trail like Angel Rocks Loop near Fairbanks takes about 2 hours to complete on average
- For multi-day backpacking in Alaska’s wilderness, groups typically cover around 4 to 8 miles per day, but this can vary drastically depending on terrain and conditions
- Elevation gain impacts hiking time substantially. For instance, hiking 5 miles with 500 ft elevation gain might take 2.0–2.5 hours, but with 3000 ft elevation gain it could take 4.0–5.5 hours
- Off-trail hiking or bushwhacking in Alaska can be much slower due to difficult terrain, sometimes taking many hours to cover just a mile or two
In summary, walking or hiking times in Alaska depend heavily on distance, elevation, and trail conditions. For a rough estimate, plan on 2.5 mph on easy terrain, adjusting upward for elevation and difficulty. For longer or multi- day hikes, expect to cover 4-8 miles per day depending on conditions
