5 Outdoor Activities That Complement Your CrossFit Training in Alaska

Use Alaska’s natural playground to boost your fitness.

CrossFit builds strength, power, and resilience in the gym—but what if we told you Alaska offers one of the best environments to take that fitness even further?

Long daylight hours, endless trails, water access, and rugged terrain make summer here an ideal time to combine your gym gains with real-world adventure.

Here are 5 outdoor activities that perfectly complement your CrossFit training—and make the most of your Alaskan backyard:

🥾 1. Hiking

Why it works: Hiking builds lower body strength, core stability, and cardiovascular endurance—especially on steep, uneven terrain.

CrossFit crossover: Strengthens the same muscles used in squats, lunges, and weighted carries. Bonus points for hiking with a weighted backpack!

Try this: Hit the gym for a short strength session (think front squats or KB lunges), then head to a local trail for a 2–5 mile hike. Recovery hike + active legs = win-win.

🛶 2. Kayaking or Paddleboarding

Why it works: These low-impact water activities challenge your core, shoulders, and grip strength while offering a mental reset in nature.

CrossFit crossover: Builds stability, shoulder endurance, and rotational control—great for improving movements like overhead squats and toes-to-bar.

Try this: After a lighter day at the gym (or a rest day), take a paddleboard or kayak out on a calm lake or inlet. Focus on long, slow movement for recovery and breath work.

🏃‍♂️ 3. Trail Running

Why it works: Running on trails improves agility, ankle stability, and aerobic capacity. The changing terrain keeps your mind and body engaged.

CrossFit crossover: Supports longer metcons and improves overall stamina. Helps you recover faster between rounds or heavy lifts.

Try this: Start with a quick interval workout at the gym, then finish with a short trail run to flush out the legs. Or do a trail run the day after heavy squats to aid recovery.

🫐 4. Berry Picking (with a Weighted Pack!)

Why it works: It’s sneaky fitness. You’ll squat, hinge, carry, and move for hours without realizing it—especially with a pack full of snacks and Tupperware.

CrossFit crossover: Think of it as loaded carries + functional movement in nature. Great for mobility, endurance, and even grip strength.

Try this: Add 10–20 lbs to a hiking pack and hit the berry patches. Stay low, move slow, and embrace the functional movement of foraging!

🧘‍♀️ 5. Active Recovery Walks + Mobility Outdoors

Why it works: Sometimes the best complement to hard training is intentional rest. Walking, light stretching, or mobility work outside reduces stress and helps your body repair.

CrossFit crossover: Active recovery improves performance, reduces injury risk, and resets your nervous system after high-intensity days.

Try this: Post-WOD, take a 30-minute walk in the sun with a focus on nasal breathing. Or bring a yoga mat to the park and run through mobility drills while soaking up that vitamin D.

💡 Train Inside. Thrive Outside.

One of the best things about CrossFit is how well it prepares you for life outside the gym. Whether you’re loading a kayak, chasing a trail, or hiking up to a berry patch—your functional fitness helps you enjoy Alaska even more.

This summer, don’t choose between workouts and adventures. Combine them.Let the gym build your engine—and let Alaska be the test track.

Ready to Train for the Wild?

CrossFit Salty North offers classes that help you build real-world strength, stamina, and confidence—so you’re ready for whatever Alaska throws your way.Come train with us and see what your body can do, indoors and out.

📅 Book your No-Sweat Intro today.