Northern Epics Guides
We strive to create the best guides in the industry.
Here’s how we do it.
We believe that our guides ARE our business. They are professionals in every sense of the word. Here’s how we ensure that:
We handpick all of our guides to make sure they are all well qualified and well-suited to role. Every guide has an inherent curiosity about nature and is self-motivated learn more.
We also make sure that they are natural teachers. They have a passion for sharing their wealth of knowledge with as many people as possible. As a side-note, some of our competitors will hire guides off the side of the road (literally).
We pay our Denali guides more than double the industry average. They are well taken care of and excited to give you the hike of your life.
Many companies pay their guides minimum wage. Let me ask you - do you want the person guiding your family through the forest full of moose and grizzly bear to be paid less than a McDonalds drive-through worker? I certainly wouldn’t.
All of our guides have Wilderness First Responder certifications (this means that they have undergone an 80 hour intensive first-aid training) and carry comprehensive first-aid kits, bear spray, and GPS/SOS devices.
They are also highly trained in natural navigation (the art of using trees, plants, water, terrain, etc. to find your way in the wilderness) and use that training on every off-trail tour they guide.
Our guides are expected to study - even in the offseason. Once they’ve arrived in Denali for the summer, they undergo a long training process. This usually takes about three weeks, and includes shadowing dozens of hikes from our senior guides.
Once this process is complete, they are shadowed by one of our senior guides until it is decided that they are experienced and skilled enough to take people out on their own. All of this to ensure that our guides can give you the best hiking tours in Denali National Park.
“Guiding in Denali with Northern Epics has honestly been a dream come true. I get to spend every day working outside with other people who share the same passion for the outdoors that I have. I’d say the best part of working with Northern Epics is the opportunity it’s given me to learn so much about the Denali area.”
- Jordan Allen, Northern Epics guide (the very first one!)
Trinidad Collier, Owner and Guide
Trinidad is the co-founder of Northern Epics and was the company’s first guide. He is a passionate outdoorsman with over a decade of hard-won experience hiking, climbing, navigating, and surviving in backcountry conditions. He has performed multiple rescues up in the mountains, and has spent weeks surviving alone in the backcountry with minimal gear. He loves to share his stories as well as his knowledge and appreciation for the natural world and all the wonders it has to offer with anyone who will listen. Before becoming a Denali guide, he guided rafting, hiking, and climbing for over seven years in other areas around the United States.
Reviews of this guide:
“Can’t recommend Trinidad’s off-trail tour highly enough — not only does he have a deep knowledge of the plants and wildlife around Denali NP but he is also a terrific teacher. You will see the landscape in a different way after this tour. Plus you’ll want to just hang out with Trinidad to hear his stories about guiding, climbing, you name it. Don’t hesitate, just book it!” - Lynn Mollenauer, (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
“Trinidad was so informative and enthusiastic about teaching us about Denali and its unique features and ecosystems. We learned so much and it was so unique to learn about the individual plants and even taste some of the edible ones. It’s so wonderful to be on a tour where your guide truly loves what they do and teaching others!” - Ashlee Gorham, (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
Jordan Allen, Hiking Guide
Jordan is an avid climber, backpacker, and fly fisherman. He spends every free moment outdoors, finding new hiking trails and expanding his experience and love for nature. He has a passion for exploration and looks forward to helping others grow their knowledge and love for the wilderness. Jordan is currently Northern Epics’ head guide, and strives to give every single traveler a perfect Denali experience!
Reviews of this guide:
“I enjoyed a wonderful hike with Jordan as our tour guide. He did a fantastic job and we got to see beautiful views, interesting paths and learned quite a bit about plants, animals and everything else making the Alaskan wildlife experience truly memorable. Big thank you to Jordan and the rest of the Northern Epics team.” - Margrete Vollelv, (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
“We had a great 5 hour hike with Jordan! I love learning about the native flora and fauna - to me that's what a guide is for - and Jordan did not disappoint! He could name everything! And he could tell me what was safe to nibble on! I love foraging! Hiking poles were provided. It was a reasonably vigorous hike, but he would have taken an easier route if we had wanted. No complaints. It was a lovely way to spend our afternoon!” - Rachel Royle, (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
Sam Collier, Owner and Guide
Sam is the second co-founder of Northern Epics. He is an outdoor sports enthusiast, and particularly loves skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. He is also a huge movie nerd and will talk your ear off about anything cinematic for hours on end. He enjoys learning and sharing history and other facts he finds fascinating about the outdoor areas he frequents, and values fun, communication, and safety above all in his outdoor adventures.
Reviews of this guide:
“The tour exceeded my expectations! Our tour guide Sam was extremely knowledgeable and attentive. He assessed his clients and individualized according to ability and desired goals. Our group was up for a challenge so Sam guided us on an adventurous beautiful trail.” - Colleen Naboicheck, (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
“We were so excited to do this tour and then Sam helped my realize the epic proportion of Denali. It was going to be a 2 1/2 hour drive from our location in Talkeetna to the meetup place for the tour. Sam's genuine friendliness, knowledge, and pursuit to make my Alaska trip the best was well noted and made me want to write this review. I know he must give incredibly passionate tours!” - Lori M. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
Jason Fernandez, Owner and Guide
Jason absolutely loves being outside. He spends as much time as possible in the outdoors, and whether it’s skiing, climbing, rafting or hiking, he loves it all. Jason is also pursuing a passion for learning, and for teaching through the University of Oregon as a student, and as a glassblowing instructor. As a hiking guide, his love of the outdoors and of teaching coincide, making him extra exuberant and excited to help all of his guests have the best vacation of their lives!
Reviews of this guide:
“Jason was amazing. He is so knowledgeable, there wasn’t any question he couldn’t answer. He catered to the needs of our group and didn’t follow a script or formula. We got an email the day before confirming our tour and he kept in touch by text to let us know exactly when he would be picking us up at our hotel. He even gave us recommendations for additional hikes, some great places to eat, and told us to feel free to reach out for anything else while we were in town. We would definitely recommend Northern Epics!” - Melissa Spence (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
“Thank you Jason for this wonderful experience. We learnt so many things about nature and berries. We got to try more than ten different varieties of berries and even got to eat a cloud berry. We also learned what berries and other plants not to eat and what to eat.” - Nandika, age 10 (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TripAdvisor Review)
Jade Weaver, Survival Guide
Jade grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where he spent his time camping, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing and backpacking with his family. Some of his fondest memories are spending time in beautiful, wild places with people he loves. At nine years old, Jade began doing camps through Whole Earth Nature School where he began to develop his primitive skills, outdoor knowledge, and love for nature. He took these skills further when he became a lead instructor teaching primitive skills. He did this for five years before graduating from Lane Community College with a degree in Theatre. He incorporates his love for Theatre into his work by telling stories and providing positive and creative energy to every situation he can. More than anything, Jade loves spending time with others and connecting with the outdoors.
Reviews of this guide:
“Our family did several hikes in Alaska while visiting this week and the Survival Hike was by far the most interesting. Our guide Jade was a wilderness survival expert and his knowledge of the Denali area wilderness was superb. He explained in detail all of the edible plants we came across and we consumed pumpkin berries, different types of blueberries, other berries, alder buds, several types of leaves from various plants etc. We also learned what NOT to eat. We learned how to build a shelter and how to start fire and he explained different strategies to survive. We also learned different methods for trapping small animals. Well worth the money.” - Charles (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TripAdvisor Review)
“Our “Into the Mountains” tour with Jade was money worth spending. I’ve never done a guided tour before and am an avid hiker. It was so interesting to hike and also learn about the environment in such great detail simultaneously, and our guide Jade was extremely knowledgeable about all of the plants we were seeing. It made for a very worthwhile experience and we had a fantastic time” - Elizabeth Holcombe (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
Derek Nickerson, Hiking Guide
Derek is an avid outdoorsman, taking every opportunity to get outside and have a new adventure. His main loves are surfing, running and climbing, but he also dabbles in skiing, backpacking, and high lining. During the off-season, Derek is a student at UC Davis. He studies Mechanical Engineering and works as a climbing, skiing, and rafting guide for the school. When he is locked inside, Derek likes to play the drums, violin and Settlers of Catan.
Reviews of this guide:
“My friend and I had a wonderful nature hike with our guide Derek. We booked last minute for the following day, but Derek reached out that evening to confirm. Derek was incredibly knowledgeable about the plants and animals in Denali. We tried some of the edible plants and learned about the ecology of the park and saw some great views. Derek was prompt in picking us up at our hostel and kept us entertained throughout. Derek also came ready with hiking poles and rain gear. I highly recommend Northern Epics for guided walks in Denali. It was a highlight of our Denali experience!” - Ana Lorvick (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
“Derek was awesome! He was super knowledgeable and did great with our kids. He was fun, patient and took all of their questions. Our family is large, 11 of us from age 7-75 and Derek made the hike interesting and doable for each of us. We highly recommend this company and make sure to request Derek!!” - Rian Kennedy (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review)
Spencer “Spenny” Provence, Hiking Guide and Customer Service Champion
From Spenny himself: Hey! I’m Spencer. I was in the Seattle area, but was raised in Northern Idaho. I have loved the outdoors. Mostly hiking, biking, fishing, backpacking, and snowboarding. My love for snowboarding is what originally attracted me to travel to Alaska!
I am super excited to be part of Northern Epics and teach people about the Alaskan wilderness. I’m very passionate about the outdoors and all it has to offer. I love to share that passion with others in a safe way. Whether this is your first visit to Alaska or your tenth, I can’t wait to meet you and help you see and learn something new.
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Abigail “Abby” Huber, Hiking Guide
Abby grew up in Oregon, spending much of her free time in the great outdoors. Her favorite outdoor activities include rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, and skiing. In the off-season, she studies Fitness & Human Performance (Exercise Science) at Western Oregon University. She works for the school’s Campus Recreation department as a climbing instructor and outdoor trip leader. She is deeply passionate about the outdoor environment, and is always eager to learn more about what it has to offer. She's excited to spend the summer meeting, teaching, and learning from other people.
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Don McElliot, Hiking Guide
From Don himself: I am very excited for my first season here at Northern Epics. I am originally from the North Georgia Mountains right at the beginning of the Appalachian trail. I grew up with an amazing setting for hiking, camping, and appreciating all things outdoors. I have made my way working in Yellowstone and Colorado before coming to Alaska in 2022. This will be my third season guiding in the Denali area that I have come to call my home.
I have come to really appreciate all the little things that make up our incredible Denali environment. I have learned in my time here that looking down at the plants by our feet can tell us as much about Alaska as the mountains or animals. I love the science and wonder behind nature and I am excited to share it with everyone that joins us this summer.
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Adrian Lopez, Hiking Guide and Mechanic
Adrian’s love for the outdoors began at a young age hiking in the Andes mountains with his father. Adrian is passionate about all things outdoors and particularly enjoys climbing, skiing, and fishing. He has a love for animals and enjoys learning about different ecosystems. An amateur bird enthusiast from an early age, Adrian is extremely excited to explore the rich flora and fauna of Denali National Park. He can’t wait to share his stories and love for the outdoors with the other brave souls who chose to venture to the chilly north.
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A quick note on reviews…
I’m well aware that most companies cherry-pick their reviews. It makes me want to ignore reviews featured on websites completely. If you feel like I do, this message is for you. These reviews (and the rest on our site) are not cherry-picked. It’s pretty hard to cherry-pick reviews when you don’t have any bad ones. On Google, we have over 185 reviews. Every single one of them is 5 stars.
To add credibility here, I’ve cited the name and location of every review. I encourage you to go read the whole things. While I did have to cut some parts out for space, the parts that I cut only make the guide sound better. I’m not saying we’re perfect. We’re just a whole lot better than anyone else.