This half-day afternoon excursion from Anchorage includes a local guide, our signature tour at Independence Mine State Historical Park, a gold panning demo & time at the creek with a pan (rental included!) as well as an interpretive hike along the Mill Loop Trail.

Begin this unique Alaska adventure as we drive north from Anchorage along the Kink Arm, we will pass through the town of Palmer, a community with farmland now famous for growing record-breaking produce like the 2,051-pound pumpkin! As we ascend the Talkeetna Mountains, we’ll enter the breathtaking alpine area known as Hatcher Pass. Take an interpretive walk through the abandoned Independence Mine State Historical Park Visitor Center. Following this 45-minute tour, enjoy a panning demonstration & time at the creek where we commonly find 3 or 4 flakes in each pan! Following our time at the creek, enjoy a guided hike along the Mill Loop Trail.

The Mill Loop trail is an easy .9 mile trail with 177ft elevation gain. Already at 3500ft in elevation in the Talkeetna Mountains, the views are incredible! This short trail above Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass is family-friendly and will provide an introduction to the flora & fauna of the tundra. Common wildlife sightings consist of arctic ground squirrels and marmots – if you don’t see them you will hear them whistle at you!

This tour includes complimentary snacks including popcorn from Bunkhouse #2 and water.

*Duration: 5 hours

*Group Size: 13

*What's Included:
- Alaska guide(s)
-CDL-certified
-Fully-narrated tour (English-speaking)

*All Inclusive
-Admission for Independence Mine State Historic Park Tour
-Guided interpretive walk along the Mill Loop Trail
-Time to visit the Gift Shop
-Gold Panning Demo & time at the creek

*Photo Stops
-Stretch your legs for up-close views or look through our panoramic windows

*Snacks & Water
-An assortment of complimentary snacks and water are available throughout the tour, including Bunkhouse #2 Popcorn!

*Hotel Pick Up (three hotels per tour)
-Pick up available from major hotels located in Anchorage
-Please note that we do limit pick-ups to 3 hotels per tour. BOOK NOW TO CONFIRM YOUR PICK UP

*Meet Us At Our Office
-Conveniently located in downtown Anchorage
-Please write “Meet at Salmon Berry Tours Office” at the time of checkout to confirm

*Drop Off
-Drop-off is available from major hotels and inns located within Anchorage or Girdwood
-Drop off at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport may be available if requested in advance

*What Not Included:
-Guide gratuity

Salmon Berry Travel & Tours was founded on the idea that life in Alaska should be fun!

Throughout our history, this idea has delighted countless guests of all ages from around the world and delivered appreciation and awards. In a world of big box tours and commercialized Alaska experiences, we continue to deliver genuine and authentic Alaska hospitality, day tours, and tailor-made multi-day travel packages. It’s a small tour philosophy and a customized experience that provides lifelong memories every season of the year.

SAFETY FIRST

Salmon Berry Travel & Tours is fully insured, well above what is required for our business, and our drivers carry the proper training and licenses to guide you through Alaska! This standard is very important to us and we hope it is to you, too!

SUSTAINABILITY

Salmon Berry has made a commitment to the environment in an effort to keep Alaska pristine for future generations. We have designed our tours to have minimal impact on the communities that we visit; from our reusable water bottle initiative to our rechargeable hand warmer initiative, to our naturalist-led Anchorage Eco Tour, we empower our team and our guests to join us in a sustainable tourism mindset. As stewards, our team has donated personal time to partake in local trail building/restoration projects and city-wide clean-ups. We have partnered with the Renewable Energy Alaska Project on their Tour Green Program and the Beluga Whale Alliance as a part of their collaborative research to support local organizations striving to make a difference.

Full refund with cancellations up to 24 hours before tour departure. 50% refunds up to 12 hours before tour departure. No-shows will be charged the full price.