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Small Group Winter Backcountry Tour
ATV Tour from Anchorage
Small Group Winter Backcountry Tour · Call or text 907-917-8687 for times and pricing
About 7 hours
door to door
From $398
per person
2.5 hours
on the trail
Year round
tour season
- 850+ reviewsAcross Google, Tripadvisor, and Viator
About the ATV Tour
A fully enclosed, heated UTV - a side-by-side with a full safety cage, seating up to 5 guests - and real backcountry: a guided day out of Anchorage on trails that are emptier and more beautiful in winter than any other time of year.
What changes by season
Summer: brand-new heated, enclosed Polaris Xpeditions over trails, creek crossings and rocky mountain ground. Winter: tracked, snowcat-style machines over snow. Same country, same guides, two completely different days - and both are worth doing.
ATV or snowmobile - which is right for us?
Almost nobody in this market will lay this out, so we will.
| Compare | ATV / UTV | Snowmobile |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Heated, fully enclosed cab. The pass itself runs 20-30 degrees warmer than the town of Willow because of a temperature inversion; riding days are typically 0-30°F. | You are out in it. Dress like you're going skiing. |
| Who Can Ride | One machine holds up to 5 guests, 700 lb total. Passengers need to be 42 inches tall, so younger children can come. | Driver 21+ with a license, passengers 14 and older, 350 lb combined per sled. |
| Talking | You can hold a conversation the whole way. | You can't. |
| Effort | Seated and steady. You are driving, not working. | More physical, more involving, more of a workout. |
Short version: if your group spans generations, if someone in it hates being cold, or if you'd rather take in the country than wrestle a machine through it - the ATV day is the better call. If you want the winter version of an adrenaline day, take the snowmobile. We'll tell you honestly which one suits your group. Sometimes that means talking you out of the one you came in asking for.
Before you book
The things we'd rather you knew now than found out at the trailhead.
- Included
- Your guide, round-trip transfer from Anchorage, the machine private to your group - we never combine you with another party - a DOT helmet, and all gear rentals.
- Not Included
- Face coverings, which are $15 and the one rental that isn't complimentary, for hygiene reasons. Food. Gratuity - 10 to 20% is customary for your guide.
- Conditions
- Typical riding temperatures are 0 to 30°F. No dogs. No alcohol or smoking on tour.
- Weight
- One machine carries 700 lb across everyone in it. Five adults will not fit. Tell us your party when you book and we'll sort the machines out.
Who you're riding with
We don't own the machines. Hatcher Pass Tours does, and they've been running this country for years - it's their terrain, their guides on the trail, and their equipment. What we do is the part that's hard from Anchorage: we pick you up, we drive you the ninety minutes out and the ninety minutes back, and we make the day work around the rest of your trip. We'd rather tell you that than let you assume otherwise.
Questions people ask
How much is the tour, how long is it, and when can we go?
$398 per person. About 7 hours door to door, including 2.5 hours on the trail. Available year round.
Where do we ride?
Hatcher Pass, Talkeetna Mountains.
Who can drive or ride, and how many fit in one machine?
Drivers must be 21, with a valid driver's license. Passengers must be 42 inches and taller. Up to 5 guests per machine, 700 lb total.
Riding an ATV in winter - isn't that freezing?
No, and this surprises people. The machine is a fully enclosed, heated cab, not an open quad. Hatcher Pass also sits in a temperature inversion, which means the pass usually runs 20 to 30 degrees warmer than the valley below it. Riding days are typically between 0 and 30°F. Dress warmly for the photo stops, where you'll be standing in the snow - inside the machine you'll be comfortable.
Can we do this at night for the northern lights?
This tour runs in daylight. If the aurora is the main reason you're coming, call us before you book and we'll tell you honestly what your odds are that week and what we can arrange.
Show all 8 questions Show fewer
How physical is it?
Not very. You're seated in a heated cab and you're driving, not working. The only walking is at the photo stops, in snow, so bring boots you can move around in. Drivers need to be 21 with a valid license; everyone else rides.
What should I bring?
Layers - Alaska weather can change three times before lunch. Comfortable walking shoes, a rain jacket, and your camera or phone.
How do I book directly?
Right here on this page, or by calling or texting 907-917-8687. Booking direct puts you in touch with the people who actually run the tour.
Our Promise
Small groups, local guides, and straight answers. We only run a tour when it is safe and genuinely worth your day, and we tell you what to expect before you book - the same promise we make on every tour we run, summer or winter.
