How to Pick Blueberries in Alaska

Wild blueberries -- a feature of the Alaskan landscape -- are easy to pick.

Berry picking along trails is a hiker's dream. Alaska, therefore, is a paradise, because it contains copious amounts of blueberry bushes strewn around the state. This fruit has been a major part of Native Alaskans' diet for centuries and was often dried, so it could be enjoyed year-round. Full of vitamins and untainted by pesticides, blueberries are a nutritional powerhouse. Easy to pick with a bucket and some patience, free, succulent and delicious berries can be yours.

Things You'll Need

• Bear spray
• Large bells
• Alaskan berry book
• 1-gallon bucket
• Freezer bags (optional)

Instructions

1. Plan your trip to Alaska during late August to late September; this is the prime blueberry season in the state.

2. Prepare yourself with bear spray and bells attached to your belt to ensure safety in the back country. If you do encounter a bear, back away slowly while making plenty of noise, and do not disturb it.

3. Do not consume white berries, for all white berries in Alaska are poisonous.

4. Wear long plants and toe-covered boots, because there are poisonous plants on the forest floor. Avoid large plants that have an umbrella-like cluster of white flowers -- these are wild parsnips and can burn your skin.

5. Find out from the tourist bureau of Alaska, in the towns you plan to visit, where the best wild blueberry fields are in the region. Anchorage is a good area to visit with plenty of berries.

6. Pick blueberries that are very dark and about to fall off the bush -- this is the point where they are the sweetest. Place them gently in your bucket, for they bruise easily. Bring one 1-gallon bucket for each hour you plan on picking.

7. Rinse the berries. Eat them within a couple days of picking, or dry and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

Tips & Warnings

• A higher elevation produces sweeter blueberries.

• Eat the berries fresh, or use them in smoothies, baking, or as a topping for desserts.

References

• Alaska Trekker: Berry Picking
• Flattop Mountain Shuttle: Anchorage, Alaska Blueberry Picking Techniques with Directions
• Anchorage: Berry Picking Near Anchorage
• Alaska: Guide to picking berries
• University of Alaska: Blueberries
• University of Alaska Fairbanks: Alaska Blueberries

Resources

• Outdoor Awareness: Know your plants & berries