ATV Tour on the Knik River – Pure Alaskan Outdoors Adventure

ATVs are completely unique sort of adventure to have when you visit Alaska. When you live here, they’re rather a part of everyday life, but for a visitor, it’s a fun way to get to explore the outdoors. Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours does an awesome job getting you out away from it all and seeing the wilderness of the Knik River and surrounding forest. From water crossings to climbing dunes, it’s one of the most Alaskan experiences to have.

Highlights of Doing an ATV Tour on the Knik River

What I really enjoyed about doing the Alaska Backcountry Adventures ATV tour on the Knik River was the experience of off-roading but doing it in a non-destructive way. Many people see ATVs as an irritating or damaging sort of vehicle vs a way to get around in the wilderness. In Alaska ATVs are a major part of accessing remote areas or getting around in icy/snowy conditions. As a tour they’re great because you’re able to traverse landscapes that are constantly changing.

When you’re doing an ATV tour you are using pathways other offroad vehicle use or crossing braided riverbeds that will be healed and rerouted with the next rain or melt. It’s an activity that doesn’t have a lasting impact. With the ATV tour on the Knik River, you get to see the surrounding mountains and forests from all angles. On a clear day you can see massive Knik Glacier. I’ve landed on Knik Glacier with Alaska Helicopter Tours and it’s really cool. The whole experience of ATVing and exploring the Knik Valley is unique and perfectly Alaskan.

Being Prepared for an ATV Tour in Alaska

Thankfully, Alaska Backcountry Adventures has most of the gear you’ll need to stay dry when you head out on an ATV tour on the Knik River. They provide waterproof pants, jackets and galoshes, but YOU need to bring the warm clothes to go under all of it. And when you’re putting on your waterproof pants, make sure they go OVER your boots (just in case there’s a big splash that runs down your pants. Also, bring your warmest, driest gloves.

When you’re going fast in an ATV and there is splashing and mud, you can get cold pretty quickly. I recommend putting your phone in a waterproof case due to the roughness of the tour and the potential for splashing. And then a GoPro is a great option for being able to get cool videos as you explore off-road. I didn’t need my big camera during my tour, but had we seen some big ticket wildlife, I know I would’ve wanted it. I did bring my waterproof camera bag with my gear just in case.

Tips for a Great ATV Tour on the Knik River in Palmer

If you haven’t driven an ATV before, don’t worry, it’s very much like driving a car through a really crazy street. Most of the ATV tours with Alaska Backcountry Adventures are done in side by side ATVs, not 4-wheelers. This means that you have a setup similar to a car with two people in front and two in back. It’s really fun because it’s all open air and wild.

When it comes to driving, following your tour leader is key. Your leader will safely guide you through the many streams and puddles you’ll come across, they’ll get you over the dunes safely, and they’ll make sure you don’t end up driving off into the Knik River. Helmets, rain gear and glasses are provided to keep you warm and dry. You WILL get muddy, no doubt, but the Alaska Backcountry Adventures team will make sure you end your day in good shape.

Getting to Alaska Backcountry Adventures for ATVs

There is plenty of parking at Alaska Backcountry Adventures. They share a property with Outbound Heli Adventures, so between the ATV tours and helicopter flightseeing there may be busy times here, but there’s still plenty of parking. Driving from Anchorage, it’s just shy of an hour’s time to get here, so plan your arrival with enough time to get outfitted for your ATV tour on the Knik River.