Anchorage–Homer Sterling Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Drive from Anchorage to Homer on a self-guided audio tour packed with wildlife, glaciers, and coastal views. Four must-see stops lead the way: Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, Beluga Point, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Homer Spit. Follow Turnagain Arm, detour into Portage Valley for Portage Glacier and Byron Glacier Trail, then cruise past Kenai Lake and Cooper Landing before rolling into Homer for overlooks, beaches, and big-sky sunsets. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

1. 1

   Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary

   1 hour

   Drive Alaska’s scenic Sterling Highway between Anchorage and Homer with a self-guided audio tour featuring coastal views, mountain landscapes, and memorable roadside stops. Please note that the same stops and stories are included in both directions along the Sterling Highway route. It's known for its excellent birding, with about 130 different species found here. You might see bald eagles, northern pintails, Canada geese, canvasback ducks, northern harriers, Arctic terns, and trumpeter swans here, and that's just scratching the surface. Note: The tour is over 118 Miles long per tour, with more than 90+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

2. 2

   Chugach State Park

   Pass by

   The largest state parks in the entire country, Chugach State Park. We're talking half a million acres large. It's a gorgeous park, full of lakes, tundra, and a variety of different forest ecosystems.

3. 3

   McHugh Creek Recreation Area

   Pass by

   From this trailhead, it's only a short walk to a 20-foot waterfall. If we're looking for just a short stop, we can be in and out in 10 minutes--though I must mention that there is a small parking fee.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   10 min

   The name comes from the fact that, yes, it can be a lucky spot to see beluga whales. These white whales are much smaller than some other whales, reaching only 12 to 16 feet in length.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Indian Valley Mine keeps Alaska’s gold-rush spirit alive, with a historic cabin, tiny museum, and a chance to try gold panning and keep what you find.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   The Bird Creek Valley Trailhead is just ahead. Park in the lot if you’d like to stretch your legs for a quick hike. When you’re ready, drive back the way we came, then turn left onto the Seward Highway to continue the main tour.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Bird Point is a quick, worthwhile stop with telescopes, beluga sculptures, and a peek at glacial striations carved into the rock, plus access to the Bird to Gird bike trail.

8. 8

   Girdwood

   Pass by

   Girdwood is a can’t-miss stop, home to Alyeska Resort, glacier tours, and the Aerial Tram, plus a gold-rush past and a wild twist, the 1964 quake forced the whole town to relocate up the valley.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Pass by

   Alyeska Resort is Girdwood’s main hub for year-round fun, hike or bike the trails, ride the 2,300-foot Aerial Tram for big views, or book a reservation-only Nordic Spa day.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    Pass by

    Lower Winner Creek Trail is a 4-mile round-trip rainforest hike to a scenic gorge, with icy blue, glacier-fed creeks—park in the main lot and start near the base of Chair 7.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    1 hour

    Crow Pass Trail follows the historic Iditarod route for glacier views, waterfalls, and wildflowers, or take the Alyeska Aerial Tram for the same big vistas with zero hiking.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    1 hour

    Chugach National Forest spans over 5 million acres of wild Alaskan beauty, offering 500 miles of trails, epic fishing spots, and a perfect backdrop for your next photo at the entrance sign.

13. 13

    Stop 13

    Pass by

    Portage Lake Loop Road leads to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and the Portage Glacier Day Lodge, with great lake views along the way, and you can buy boat tour tickets at the lodge if you haven’t booked yet.

14. 14

    Stop 14

    Pass by

    Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a must for animal lovers, meet rescued Alaska wildlife like bears, wolves, moose, musk ox, and eagles, with optional guided tours and close encounters.

15. 15

    Stop 15

    1 hour

    Moose Flats is a quick wetland stop with a 0.5-mile interpretive trail and good odds of spotting Alaska’s massive moose, plus it’s the start of the flat 5-mile Trail of Blue Ice to the Portage Glacier visitor center.

16. 16

    Stop 16

    Pass by

    Explorer Glacier View is a standout lookout with a huge icefield and a dramatic 400-foot waterfall pouring off the glacier.

17. 17

    Stop 17

    Pass by

    Portage Lake is the icy-blue lake left behind as Portage Glacier retreated around the corner, and today it’s the waterway you cross by boat (or hike along) to get those up-close glacier views.

18. 18

    Stop 18

    10 min

    Portage Glacier is a towering, icy-blue wall of ice at the end of Portage Lake—once right beside the visitor center, but now best seen by boat tour or a hike as it’s retreated back around the bend.

19. 19

    Stop 19

    10 min

    Byron Glacier is a scenic, mostly flat 3-mile round-trip hike with snowfields and occasional ice caves (admire from outside), ending with a rewarding close-up view of the glacier.

20. 20

    Hope

    Pass by

    Hope is a charming gold rush town on Turnagain Arm, where you can pan for gold in Resurrection Creek, visit the Hope-Sunrise Mining Museum, or hike the scenic Gull Rock and Hope Point Trails for incredible views.

21. 21

    Stop 21

    Pass by

    Summit Lake is a prime pullout for wildlife watching, especially loons—listen for their eerie calls, scan from the highway pullouts, or detour to Tenderfoot Campground for more time by the water.

22. 22

    Stop 22

    Pass by

    Tern Lake is a top wildlife stop—watch for moose in the shallows, mountain goats on the slopes, and black bears nearby, plus spring swans, late-July sockeye runs, and a handy fish-viewing platform at the picnic area.

23. 23

    Stop 23

    Pass by

    Kenai Lake is a Kenai Peninsula showstopper, its vivid blue-green color comes from glacier-fed “glacial flour,” and yes, you can swim here if you’re up for a seriously refreshing dip.

24. 24

    Cooper Landing

    Pass by

    Cooper Landing is a classic Kenai River stop—famous for salmon fishing and rafting, with a boat launch viewing deck for Dall sheep and mountain goats, plus a small local museum and good services for a quick pit stop.

25. 25

    Stop 25

    Pass by

    Russian River Falls is a must-see during salmon season—watch thousands of sockeye leap up the falls each June and July, sometimes with bears fishing nearby, all from a flat, easy two-mile trail.

26. 26

    Stop 26

    Pass by

    Kenai River follows Kenai Lake for 82 miles and is Alaska’s fishing superstar—packed with trout and Dolly Varden, plus sockeye, coho, pink, and legendary king salmon, and it even sparked “combat fishing” during peak runs.

27. 27

    Stop 27

    Pass by

    Skilak Lake Road is an 18-mile gravel loop through prime wildlife habitat—best early morning for wolves, bears, lynx, and birds—but only attempt it with AWD and good clearance before rejoining Highway 1.

28. 28

    Stop 28

    Pass by

    Skilak Lake is a wild, glacier-fed gem in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, known for big views, strong winds, and great chances to spot eagles, loons, and moose along its rugged shoreline.

29. 29

    Sterling

    Pass by

    Sterling is the gateway to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, a great spot for gas, food, or outdoor adventure. It’s famous for salmon fishing and for its two canoe routes—the 46-mile Swanson River Trail linking 40 lakes and the shorter Swan River Route. These scenic waterways wind through muskeg peat bogs rich with moss, orchids, and berries, showing off Alaska’s wilder side.

30. 30

    Soldotna

    Pass by

    Soldotna is the Kenai River hub for world-class salmon fishing, riverfront trails, and an easy stop to refuel, grab food, and stock up before the next stretch.

31. 31

    Stop 31

    10 min

    Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is the best quick stop for refuge info, interpretive exhibits, and a few easy nature trails with good chances for wildlife spotting.

32. 32

    Stop 32

    10 min

    A.R.C. Park is a small, easy break stop with a lake for paddling or fishing in summer (grayling and silver salmon), skating in winter, and trail links into the refuge and Tsalteshi system—watch for the left-turn pullout just before the lake.

33. 33

    Stop 33

    Pass by

    Tustumena Lake is the Kenai Peninsula’s largest, a remote wilderness lake today—but around the late 1800s and early 1900s it supported trappers, miners, and homesteaders before fading back into quiet, cabin-dotted wild country.

34. 34

    Kasilof

    Pass by

    Kasilof is a classic salmon town on the Kasilof River, with nearby state recreation sites for quick walks, camping, paddling, and fishing—plus a fun dipnetting scene at Kasilof River SRS and a Russian-era name dating back to an 1786 fort.

35. 35

    Stop 35

    Pass by

    To reach Kasilof River State Recreation Site, turn left onto Spetz Avenue just after crossing the river and passing the brown “Kasilof River” sign, then take an immediate left into the site.

36. 36

    Clam Gulch

    Pass by

    Clam Gulch State Recreation Area is a scenic coastal stop known for its long sandy beach, wildflower-covered bluffs, and panoramic views of Cook Inlet and the Aleutian volcanoes—Redoubt, Spurr, and Iliamna. Though razor clamming has been closed since 2015 to protect the population, it’s still a lovely spot for camping, picnicking, and birdwatching, with chances to see bald eagles, cranes, and Arctic terns.

37. 37

    Ninilchik

    Pass by

    Ninilchik is a charming seaside village with stunning Cook Inlet views and deep fishing roots. Stop by the Ninilchik and Deep Creek State Recreation Sites for beaches, campgrounds, and eagle or whale spotting. Don’t miss the historic Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church perched on the bluff with its iconic golden domes.

38. 38

    Stop 38

    Pass by

    Deep Creek is a popular Ninilchik-area coastal stop with a campground, beach access, and a tractor-assisted boat launch, plus great chances to spot bald eagles and sometimes whales or sea otters offshore.

39. 39

    Nikolaevsk

    Pass by

    Nikolaevsk is a small Old Believer village founded in 1968, where many residents still speak Russian, follow traditional customs, and keep a quieter way of life on the Kenai Peninsula.

40. 40

    Stop 40

    Pass by

    Anchor River State Recreation Area is a great beach-and-camping stop where the river meets the sea, known for steelhead and salmon fishing, plus easy coastal walks, volcano views across Cook Inlet, and chances to spot eagles, belugas, and sea otters.

41. 41

    Homer

    Pass by

    Homer is the grand finale of the Kenai Peninsula—Alaska’s halibut fishing capital and “City of Peonies.” Visit the 4.5-mile Homer Spit for seaside views, galleries, and seafood spots. The town buzzes with kayaking, wildlife cruises, bear-watching flights to Katmai or Lake Clark, and water taxis to Seldovia or Kachemak Bay State Park. Don’t miss the Pratt Museum, the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge headquarters for a taste of local art, science, and coastal ecology.

42. 42

    Stop 42

    Pass by

    Homer Spit is a 4.5-mile finger of land reaching into Kachemak Bay, packed with beaches, the harbor, shops and cafés, a campground, and outfitters for fishing, kayaking, and bear or wildlife tours—plus great chances to spot eagles, sea lions, seals, and jellyfish.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.