Outbound Heli Adventures

Take to the skies and explore the untouched beauty of Southcentral Alaska in dramatic fashion—by helicopter! Go with locally owned Outbound Heli Adventures out of Palmer for an unforgettable adventure that’s available year-round and fun for the whole family.

Outbound Heli Adventures specializes in custom adventures, so you can explore the vast wilderness of the Knik River Valley and beyond based on your interests. Simply enjoy the thrill of flightseeing, or fly to a glacier for unique activities like paddleboarding, ice climbing, ice cave exploration, dogsledding, or just walking around on the ancient river of ice.

With unique flight paths and more flight time, Outbound Heli Adventures can make your Alaska dreams come true. They even offer Heli-weddings, elopements, and surprise proposal packages!

Year-Round Heli-Flightseeing Adventures

Scenic Sampler

Check out some of Alaska’s most iconic features from up above. During this 60-minute flight, your helicopter pilot will take you on an epic adventure, past mountains and over dramatic glaciers. Choose your flight path based on what you want to see, like bird’s-eye views of the Knik and Colony glacier, icebergs floating in Lake George, towering waterfalls, and of course the opportunity to see wildlife, both riverside and along mountain ridges.

Year-Round Heli-Flightseeing Adventures with Landings

Knik Glacier Explorer and Chugach Explorer

The Knik Glacier Explorer, the most popular glacier landing flight—includes 1 hour and 30 minutes of total adventure time, with 40 minutes of flight time and 1 glacier landing. Enjoy the Chugach Range from the air as you fly past snowcapped mountain peaks and over braided river valleys before landing on over 300 feet of ancient glacial ice. Experience majestic blue pools, swirling moulins, deep crevasses and dramatic ice formations as you step out of your helicopter, onto the icy surface of the Knik Glacier.

The only thing better than 1 glacier landing is 2…or 3! The 2-landing flight offers 1 hour and 50 minutes total adventure time, with 50 minutes of flight time and 2 landings of your choice. The 3-landing flight offers 2 hours and 30 minutes total adventure time, with 60 minutes of flight time and 3 landings of your choice.

Guests choose a couple key spots based on their buck list items. Guests can choose 1 or more glacier landings. Then lift off and land in another amazing location, like shimmering Lake George, where massive icebergs float in the lake. Other options can include an iceberg beach by a glacier wall, or high up in the alpine for an incredible view and more.

Prince William Sound Spectacul-Air

The Knik Glacier is an iconic, 26-mile wonder of Alaska—and on this trip you’ll be flying over the entirety of it. This flight includes 1 hour and 40 minutes of total adventure time with 70 minutes of flight time and 1 landing. Fly from the mountains in Palmer to the coast of Prince William Sound, where you’ll be surrounded by waterfalls. You’ll take in grand views of wildlife, glaciers, alpine lakes, towering waterfalls, dramatic ice walls, iceberg-filled lakes, and steep valley gorges. In the summer, you may even spot marine wildlife before returning via the stunning Surprise Glacier. You’ll also get to pick a spot to land and explore on foot. Glacier? Mountaintop? It’s up to you!

Heli-Dog Sledding Adventure

Fly down the Knik River Valley past towering Pioneer Peak and enjoy views of The Sleeping Lady and Denali on the way to the home of respected Iditarod musher Nic Petit and his kennel of lovable pups. Learn the history of dog mushing in Alaska, tour Nic’s kennel, play with the pups, and get ready for the ride of a lifetime!

In the winter, enjoy a ride atop snow-packed trails under the alpenglow on a traditional dog sled. In the non-snowy season, the excited dogs will pull you across the tundra in a custom cart. Want to make the experience even more unforgettable? Add a glacier landing on the way back to Palmer!

Guided Glacier Heli-Adventures: Paddleboarding, Ice Climbing, Trekking, Hiking, and Packrafting

Glacier Paddleboarding (May–September)

Embark on the company’s most popular heli-adventure: paddleboarding! Land on a glacier and paddle across crystal-clear glacial pool and stream while taking in the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains. Instruction and equipment are included and no experience is necessary.

You’ll also have the opportunity to walk around and explore the deep crevasses, towering ice walls, and stunning blue ice formations that make Knik Glacier one of the most captivating glaciers in all of Alaska. This heli-adventure is a total of 4 hours, with about 40 minutes of flight time.

Heli-Hiking: Half or Full Day (June–September)

Experience a flight along beautiful mountain peaks above braided river valleys and over arctic glacial terrain on your way to gorgeous, high alpine locations. Choose between stunning ridge line traverses or gentle sloping tundra treks in one of three locations: the Chugach Mountain Range, Hatcher Pass, or Pioneer Peak Ridge. Outbound Heli can customize landing location to your preference, so you can enjoy a leisurely hike or a steep scramble.

Half-day hiking excursions include 4 hours of total adventure time; you get 6 hours of total adventure time on full-day hiking excursions. Both include around 40 minutes of flight time.

Heli-Packrafting: Half or Full Day (May–August)

Packrafting, invented among the mountains and waterways of Alaska’s vast wilderness, is one of the most adventurous ways to experience the state. And this helicopter packrafting excursion offers you all the thrills of packrafting without the bushwacking. A true Alaska experience you won’t forget!

Half-day adventures include 4 hours of total adventure time; full-day outings (recommended only for experienced rafters) feature 6 hours of total adventure time. Both include around 40 minutes of flight time.

Ice Climbing: Half or Full Day

Ice climbing on the Knik Glacier is a unique and exhilarating adventure, thanks to its ice formations, towering icefalls, and dramatic crevasses. The glacier’s pristine beauty makes this an unforgettable experience. No experience? No problem! All instruction and equipment are included, making it perfect for beginners and skilled ice climbers alike.

The 4-hour half-day adventure is available year-round; the 6-hour full-day experience is available from May to September. Both options include around 40 minutes of flight time.

Glacier Trekking: Half or Full Day

Get up close and personal with an Alaska glacier as you explore its icy surface. Enjoy stunning views of the Chugach Mountains and braided river valleys before landing and exploring dramatic glacial features with your knowledgeable guide. Check out the deep crevasses, towering ice walls, and stunning blue ice formations that make the Knik one of the most unique and picturesque glaciers in all of Alaska. It’s also great option for photographers looking to capture amazing glacier shots.

The 4-hour half day excursion is available year-round, while the 6-hour full-day adventure is offered from May to September. Both include 40 minutes of flight time, with all instruction and equipment included.

Elopements and Weddings

Outbound Heli specializes in remote landing options for special events. Bring your own photographer or select a package that includes a local photographer. Propose to your loved one in a remote location, exchange vows in an intimate environment, or turn the stunning scenery into a truly unique backdrop for your photo shoot!

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Safety First: Maintaining a Stellar Safety Record

As a tourism, utility and charter provider in Southcentral Alaska, serving all of Alaska, we consider it our responsibility to be at the forefront of safety. Understanding the stigma attached to aviation, especially in the realm of tourism, we pride ourselves on our safety practices. procedures and protocols.

Safety in the realm of helicopters extends far beyond the pilots. While the helicopters are in the air flying, there is a whole operation on the ground maintaining everything from a safe landing zone, to satellite communication with pilots, to welcoming, weighing in, and safety briefing each and every passenger to monitoring weather and air traffic. Keeping passengers safe around departure areas is just as important as keeping them safe inside the aircraft. Ground crew and operations are also tracking any aircraft in flight and until all aircraft are secured for the day.

As owners/operators, we feel that operating under the highest safety standards just is not a choice. We absolutely love providing the services that we do and want to continue to do so for years to come.

For more information over our safety policies and procedures including information on pilot training (yes, we require more flight hours and training than most operators in Alaska), helicopter maintenance and more please visit our website here.