The 2024 Hotlist: Adventures in the Wild

All Roads North creates customized journeys that transcend the ordinary and our approach to North America’s great outdoors is no different. Rather than cookie cutter tours, we’ll pair you with knowledgeable, engaging locals, who can share their passion and expertise with you in a way that helps you really connect with a landscape. Instead of following the crowds to the same old photo ops, we’ll lead you into some truly wild places for a fresher perspective on North America. For those adventurously-inclined, for those craving the restorative stillness of nature: read on for some of our favorite people, locations and inspiring experiences in America’s wild places.

Bear viewing in Alaska with Photographer Michael de Young

Michael de Young is a professional photographer and long time lover of America’s wild places, whose time living in Alaska as an Air Force meteorologist and forecaster has given him insight into the most stunning scenery at its best light. With Michael as your guide, you’ll set off for a short small-plane flight to Lake Clark National Park and Silver Salmon Creek Lodge to enjoy a full day observing and photographing bears. 

Silver Salmon Creek has emerged as one of Alaska’s premier locations for viewing coastal brown bears in their natural habitat. You’ll observe them as they forage in the local meadows for sedge grasses, dig for razor clams at low tide, or chase salmon returning to their native streams. This region is home to a subset of local bears, most of which are mothers with cubs and juveniles, although you may see the larger males during breeding season. It is not unusual to watch bears from the deck of your cabin, as the free-ranging omnivores wander in and out of the camp. 

Unlike other locations in Alaska, here you’ll move into the habitat of the bear, avoiding the necessity of viewing platforms and designated sites. As a result, you’ll see behaviors not commonly seen, including nursing, courting and mating activities. 

Into the Heart of Yellowstone on an Overnight Pack Trip

Yellowstone National Park covers a sprawling 2.2 million acres, and most visitors stick to the same well-trod paths and barely scratch the surface. With All Roads North, you’ll experience the beauty of Yellowstone National Park in a way that few get to see it– venturing deep into the heart of its awe-inspiring wilderness on the back of a horse. 

We will connect you with an experienced team of female wranglers who will guide you on your overnight journey into the park. With a deep knowledge and love for their horses, your guides will pair you with the perfect horse based on your riding experience. All of your belongings and supplies will be packed on the backs of mules and horses before you set off into the heart of Yellowstone. The experience is customized to interests so you could encounter anything from wildlife to waterfalls. For a trip focused on geothermal features, you can soak in naturally-heated springs that can only be reached by horseback and backpacking. Your dinner does diminish in spite of the remote location– expect to feast on fire-cooked meals like blackened chicken alfredo and broccoli.

Trek Across Glaciers at Sheldon Chalet

Built by the family of legendary Alaska pilot Don Sheldon, the chalet was built as a companion to the original Sheldon Mountain House on a skinny slice of rock known as a ‘nunatak’ above the expansive Ruth Glacier. The only property located literally ‘on’ Denali, the Sheldon Chalet offers unparalleled luxury coupled with opportunities to explore the glaciers and mountain vistas surrounding the Sheldon Amphitheatre. Try trekking across a glacier’s frozen surface, or adventure into an ice cave formed years earlier. Enjoy a snowy picnic looking out over the vast, snowy landscapes of Denali or enjoy a sled ride across the nunatak.

Explore the heart of Utah’s Red Rocks from Ulum Moab

Ulum Moab is a new, upscale glamping concept from the same group that brought us Under Canvas. Surrounded by a majestic wall of sandstone rock, the Ulum Moab provides immersive access to the desert just 25 miles south of Moab, and the treasure trove of national parks and red-rock public lands the area has to offer. Deep connection with nature doesn’t come at the cost of comfort at this glamping property. Crisp, clean canvas stretches over 360-feet of accommodation space, with amenities like king size beds dressed in Parachute linens and rain showers in the en-suite bathrooms decked out with Aesop bath products. 

Ulum’s location just outside Moab puts you at the doorstep of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Mountain biking, rafting and offroading are just a few of the ways adventurous spirits can explore this red rock wonderland.

Itinerary Inspiration: Alaska Adventures on the Kenai Peninsula

Known as “Alaska’s Playground,” the Kenai Peninsula offers pristine forests, turquoise rivers, and rugged coastline, and is the backdrop for many iconic Alaska adventures. On this luxury Alaska adventure, take the opportunity to become part of the Alaska wilderness at intimate, remote lodges that grant you access to truly wild areas and deliver an astounding level of comfort and service. You’ll see glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound, observe brown bears feasting on salmon in Katmai National Park, and kayak the quiet coves of Resurrection Bay.

See the full Journey: Alaska Adventures on the Kenai Peninsula