With summer just around the corner we're gearing up for another Alaskan summer full of epic one-of-a-kind adventures and we're sure that we aren't the only ones! It's about time we blogged about one of our favorite spots from last summer: Valdez, Alaska. Valdez (pronouced val-DEEZ) is located in the Prince William Sound about 300 miles east of Anchorage or 360-ish miles south of Fairbanks. It's the most northern port in the US that stays ice-free year long. It is one of the most important ports in Alaska in part due to it being the terminus for the 800 mile Trans-Alaska pipeline which can be viewed from any shoreside point in the city. Valdez is rich in history and is second to none in it's majestic views. There is so much to do and see here but here's a list (in no particular order) of 5 activities in Valdez that you can't miss: 1. Explore GlaciersWorthington Glacier is one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. It can be seen from the road while driving to Valdez just before Keystone Canyon. You can walk a short distance from the parking lot at milepost 29 off the Richardson Highway. This easy mile walk offers incredible close up views to this 5,774 acre glacier. The runoff of Valdez Glacier is so great that it creates a beautiful lake at the foot of the glacier. There are a few different tour companies that offer kayak tours of this beautiful place but we brought our own kayaks for exploring this gorgeous area. This is easily one of the top adventures we've experienced in our time in Alaska and we highly recommend a tour, but if you are able to venture out on your own, please do so with extreme caution! Always wear a life jacket. Valdez Glacier lake is 640 feet deep so this is a given. The lake is filled with giant chunks of ice due to calving of the glacier and conditions in the lake are constantly changing making the ice unstable. You know how they say icebergs only show 10% of their size above water? The icebergs breaking off Valdez glacier can be the size of large buildings to neighborhood blocks so it is important to stay a safe distance (100 meters) away from the icebergs. A few years ago, there was a tourist family venturing out on their own who got stuck between two giant blocks of ice as the glacier calved right in front of them, causing a sudden rise in the water level, flipping them over and unfortunately they didn't survive. There is quite a list of glaciers to explore in the Valdez area, including taking a boat tour out into the bay. This is one activity that we can't recommend enough. 2. Chase WaterfallsIf Valdez is anything, it's the land of breathtaking waterfalls. With 300 inches of snowfall a year, waterfalls cascade down almost every mountainside around the Valdez. Driving into Valdez, you have to pass through Keystone Canyon, which is where you will find Horsetail Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Rudleston Falls. Solomon Gulch is another beautiful waterfall with views from the parking lot near the hatchery. Crooked Creek is also an easily accessible waterfall where you can see Salmon spawning in the creek below... which brings us to the next activity on our list... 3. Watch the Salmon RunSilver salmon and Pink salmon run through Valdez every summer, in large part due to the Solomon Gulch Hatchery which raises and releases almost 1.8 million silver salmon smolts every year. While we did see some salmon running up crooked creek, the best view of the salmon run was near Allison Point and the fish hatchery. Take a self guided tour of the hatchery to learn more about this incredible annual event. 4. Spot WildlifeBecause of the salmon runs, Valdez is one of the best places to see wildlife. We saw quite a few black bears hanging around Allison Point as well as giant Sea Lions, playful seals, and bald eagles. We also took Dock Point Trail and saw more shore birds and bald eagles as well as views of Harbor Cove. 5. Go FishingLast but not least, go fishing! We're definitely not gonna go to Valdez just to look at the Salmon run! Valdez is one of the best places to fish for Silver Salmon. The Silvers run from July-August with good fishing even up to Labor Day. Fishing charters are available for salmon and halibut but Jon caught some good sized Silvers just from the shore at Allison Point, though we did see fishermen having success in the harbor. There's a reason Valdez is home to the oldest fishing derbies in Alaska and it was entertaining to hanging out at the harbor at the fish cleaning stations to see the catch people would bring in. Please know this isn't a comprehensive list of all there is to do in Valdez, but it's a great start! There's so much to do and such a variety that we started planning our next trip to Valdez before we even left for home! If you get the chance to visit Valdez, do it! And let us know what you think! If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help plan a custom trip to Alaska, check out our options here! Make sure to pin for future reference and follow us on Instagram for more of our day to day adventures. Until next time, get out and enjoy where you live!
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AuthorWe're just a military family enjoying where we live, one PCS at a time. Follow us as we explore our current home, South Carolina, and beyond. The world is our backyard. Archives
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