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| Multi-day trips:
The longer you're out, the more you let go.
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| | Below are suggested expeditions and by no means exhuast the impressive richness of Prince William Sound. All trips are subject to alterations based on your wants and needs. Remember, Anything’s Possible! |  |
| | For each of these areas day trips are certainly an option and includes everything aforementioned on the Day Trip page as well as a nutritious and delicious lunch, snacks, water and hot drinks.
Options for expeditions amount to paddling out and back, paddling one way and water taxi the other, or water taxi out and back.
Questions to consider while deciding where you want to go:
How much paddling do you want to do?
Are you interested in short paddling days, full days, or a fusion of them both?
Do you want to break camp daily and travel, or base camp and do day trips, or again a fusion of them both?
How flexible is your schedule?
Are you interested in glaciers or island hoping or both?
Do you want to cook for yourselves or kick back and have all meals prepared for you?
How remote do you want to get?
What are you’re wildlife viewing wishes? |
| Blackstone Bay
Blackstone Bay photo gallery
Blackstone Bay offers the most accessible tidewater glaciers to Whittier. A long days paddle or an hour water taxi ride away, at the head of Blackstone Bay lay 2 tidewater glaciers and 1 hanging glacier, all of which calve into the turquoise water. The 2 tidewater glaciers, Blackstone and Beloit, tie into a vast snowfield with jagged Nunataks penetrating the snowfield.
After paddling in front of the massive faces of these calving glaciers, paddle along the shoreline beneath waterfalls that seem to fall from the sky. Look for seals and otters silently breaking the waters’ surface. Eagles perch in the Spruce and Hemlock trees and glide overhead.
Aside from these glaciers there are 2 other hanging glaciers and 2 land bound glaciers.
Paddle across the Fjord to Williard Island or to the southern shore for awesome hiking next to the land bound giants. The hike allows for some amazing photo opportunities of you resting against the glacier, a chance to stretch your legs, and elevated views of where you've been and what's to come.
Blackstones' close proximity to Whittier makes this an ideal and most affordable sea kayaking day trip or extneded trip to experience tidewater glaciers, paddling through ice and the amazing Alaskan wilderness. |  |
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One of my favorite areas in Prince William Sound, Port Nellie Juan unlocks an incredible arm of the Western Sound where fjords lead to bays, hanging, valley, and tidewater glaciers, rugged peaks, glacier smoothed granite domes, steep cliff faces and white sand beaches. Ride the current into a tidal lagoon past massive ice chunks to access Nellie Juan Glacier. Exercise our legs on a hike over rolling granite ridges to gain aerial / topographical perspective, revealing valleys you saw while kayaking or relaxing in camp.
The paddling and hiking is abundant. The views are incredible. Dare to challenge the depth of this wilderness study area by planning as many days as possible.
This is an extravagant day trip, combining the best of all worlds: sight seeing from the water taxi out and back, remoteness, wildlife and sea kayaking with tidewater glaciers. |
| Harriman Fjord
Harriman Fjord photo gallery
Paddle west 13 miles from the black sand beach and the cul-de-sac of three tidewater glaciers at the eastern end of Harriman Fjord to gently rising Harriman Glacier at the western end. Along the route to the north is the Northwestern rim of the Chugach Mountains.
This massive outcropping is where glaciers, once out to the Gulf of Alaska, have retreated north across the sound and made their final stand. Home to serrated, towering peaks such as 7,605’ Mt. Muir and 9,638’ Mt. Gilbert, (keep in mind this is 9,000 feet coming straight out of the sea!) Deeper still to the northwest is the Mount Marcus Baker, 13,176, the Chugach’s highest peak.
This north shore is literally a wall of steep glaciated mountains. Camp along the southern shore for a night devoted kicking back for some reflection. The southern shoreline is a peninsula with 3,500’ glaciated ridgeline separating Port Wells from Harriman Fjord.
Leave camp set up and take a day trip over to the most impressive Surprise Glacier -one of the few advancing tidewater glaciers in Prince William Sound. Continue paddling west to explore the far reaches of the fjord and get some personal time with Harriman Glacier. There are numerous hikes to be had throughout the fjord. Black bears, Sitka Black tail deer, seals, otters, oyster catchers, murrelets, sandpipers, and many other shore birds coexist in this spectacular habitat. Even the Dahl Porpoise, Minke and Orca whales can’t resist passing through.
Harriman Fjord is roughly 30 miles from Whittier.
Like Nellie Juan this is an extravagant and unique day trip. The massive peaks, cluster of tidewater glaciers and black sand beach make for a magical experience.
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|  | Whale Bay and Icy Bay
Icy and Whale Bays photo gallery
whale and porpoise video
Whale and Icy Bays in Southwestern Prince William Sound combine some of the most remote wilderness, largest glaciers and highest probability of wildlife available. These fjords are located just inside the barrier islands which separate the Sound from the Gulf of Alaska. Here, whales follow migrating fish into the Sound. Because of its proximity to Whittier and Valdez there are less people which is always a plus when searching for bears and deer. Puffins are often seen flying around and nesting in cliff walls. Spectacular building-like pillars of ice release from the mighty face of Nassau Fjord’s Chenega glacier. Seals seek refuge on the massive ice flows. During spawning season, various species of salmon clog streams, which is sure to attract bears. On calm days there is an opportunity to poke our bows into Port Bainbridge and glimpse at the Gulf of Alaska.
Roughly 70, miles from Whittier, a water taxi is imperative, unless you have a couple weeks! The beauty of the taxi ride out is wildlife viewing and sightseeing for 2 hours while head to, and return back from our destination.
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It’s crucial to remember that on all trips we are voluntarily entering into mother natures’ domain. Preparation is key to optimally enjoying your paddling experience in this temperate rainforest. Prince William Sound is notorious as a sheltered body of water. This is true, however the Sound is a very complicated weather zone. The Gulf of Alaska is separated from Prince William Sound by barrier islands that absorb the brunt of storms traversing the Gulf. Aside from the southern barrier islands the thousands of miles of shoreline within the Sound are not exposed to significant swell and surf except during storms. Localized winds and storms are not uncommon and can greatly alter our paddle plan. Precipitation is abundant in our temperate rainforest as the name suggests. It's this abundance combined with the highest coastal mountain range that creates the heavily glaciated region. Getting out is the main objective. Once out, we get in sync with what the conditions allow for.
A comprehensive list of what to bring with you on our expedition will be sent to you once we collectively establish the trip itenerary.
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| Reservations are integral to ensuring availability. Please call or e-mail so I can help you form your plans. |
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