Alaskan Foraging and Backcountry Cooking Tour: A flavorful journey in Alaskan wilderness

Embark on a flavorful journey in the Alaskan wilderness with our Foraging and Backcountry Cooking Tour. Learn how to forage wild edibles, hike in stunning landscapes, and cook delicious meals using fresh ingredients. Perfect for families and food enthusiasts!

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Chugach State Park - (ANCHORAGE LOCATION)
    Upon arrival at your designated location, our experienced guide(s) will let you know what to expect, and give you tips for spending the day safely in the Alaskan wilderness. Then, we will hit the trails in search of Alaska’s finest ingredients. Depending on the season, we could uncover wild greens, edible…
What's Included
  • All gear and equipment provided
  • Tea and coffee
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Fancy a flavorful journey with a diverse mix of activities? Join us for a day of hiking, gathering, and cooking. This is an excellent choice for families with young children, with possible pizza preparation involved. On this exclusive day tour, you’ll acquire knowledge of gathering wild Alaskan food, take part in top-notch hiking, and master the skills…

Location
Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center
West 7th Avenue
We meet outside the Dena'ina Center. Please be parked and ready 15 minutes before the start time to ensure a timely departure. All tours leave no later than 5 minutes after the start time. There is no parking at the Dena'ina Center. The JCPenney Parking Garage is the best option, at 414 W 6th Ave.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(14 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
401sumad
Aug 17, 2025
Ultimate Alaskan foraging adventure - This was such and amazing experience. Matt took us to forage for coral tooth mushrooms, nagoonberries, fireweed flowers and etc. We made mushroom risotto and tea out of what was foraged. Matt was very knowledgeable and patient. He answered all of our questions (there were LOTS of questions). Matt was accommodating with taking family photos in the stunning scenery. Such an amazing experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cailindeas2
Aug 8, 2025
What a great tour - I definitely recommend - I took the foraging tour, was picked up downtown and brought to the Eagle River Nature Center. There were 5 people on the tour plus Matt, the guide. We walked along the trail and learned loads about the native plants and mushrooms we came across. We found a good amount of mushrooms, loads of berries and some medicinal plants and herbs that we brought back for our lunch. Matt was fun and informative and also a trained chef. He made us herbal teas, mushroom risotto, grilled reindeer sausage (not foraged), and he served cake for dessert (gluten free) topped with a delicious berry compote including many of the berries we found on the hike. Luckily, it was a beautiful day. This tour surpassed my expectations - I strongly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Travelg895
Jul 30, 2025
Very rewarding and delicious day - This tour really took us off the beaten path and into the woods. We foraged for what was in season; blueberries, salmon berries, mushrooms, and a variety of greens and flowers. We then went about creating a very delicious and hearty meal of mushroom risotto with reindeer sausage, herbal tea ( that we picked), dessert with berry compote, and appetizer as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_m
Jul 17, 2024
Wild Pickin' equals lots of grinnin' - The moose in the wild and the great knowledge we documented about the items we foraged was one for the books. We loved our guide and had lots of fun.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_g
Jun 21, 2024
Fantastic Foraging Adventure - If you are looking for a truly unique, personalized adventure literally “off the beaten path” then this excursion is for you! Our guide/owner Matt was amazing. His knowledge of the Alaskan flora and fauna was outstanding! We had a blast foraging for everything edible in the vast Alaskan forest including plant leaves, flowers and mushrooms. After hiking and foraging, Matt found a super cool location to break out the cooking gear and make lunch. He is an expert chef and involved our group in all aspects of the meal prep process. I felt like I was out on an adventure with an old friend. Don’t miss this incredible experience while in Anchorage!!
Review provided by Viator
Vicki_h
Aug 1, 2023
Gourmet foraging experience! - This was a fantastic experience! Relatively easy hiking with "forest bathing" and relaxing foraging with Matt as our awesome guide/educator/mushroom expert/gourmet chef. I was really looking forward to learning more about foraging and had not expected the lunch meal to be the gourmet experience it was! Matt cooked up an amazing mushroom risotto with the mushrooms we had foraged, a wild currant and strawberries compote over angel food cake with whipped cream, a delicious tea from spruce, juniper, clover, fireweed blossoms, snd added smoked salmon & cream cheese and blueberry jam appetizers and sauteed reindeer sausage. It was one of the most creative and delicious meals we have had in Anchorage. Matt let us assist in the foraging, meal prep, etc. as much as we wanted. I learned so much and hope to explore foraging back home on the East Coast. Our relatives, who live in Anchorage now want to do this excursion after hearing about our experience. Matt is a hidden gem in the Anchorage area!
Review provided by Viator
Marc
Jul 14, 2023
Foraging for food is fun! - What an amazing experience. This tour is perfect if you love the outdoors, learning about nature, and enjoying a good meal. It has inspired me to learn more about foraging in my hometown.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura_p
Jun 17, 2023
Awesome Adventure - Leah was a super guide. She was knowledgeable and kind. She answered our questions and allowed us to be ab active part of the whole experience.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_p
Jun 17, 2023
Fabulous Foraging - Our guide was amazing! She was very knowledgeable and friendly. She answered all kinds of questions from us and included us in all aspects of the foraging and cooking experience.
Review provided by Viator
43sophiam
Jun 26, 2023
Foraging tour - Leah was our guide for our tour - she is very knowledgeable and provides helpful tips for identifying plants. The lunch afterwards was great and rewarding knowing that we picked all our ingredients. Did not know what to expect when first booked this tour. Was prepared for a hike but this was a very leisurely stroll (which made sense as you need to be on the lookout at all times for potential food). Good for all levels of fitness (but again, if you're looking to break a sweat, this probably isn't for you).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $249
up to 4 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).