Northwestern Fjord Day Trip

Your day begins with an early morning departure at 6 am on our comfortable water taxi for a two to two-and-a-half-hour wildlife tour and transport to the Kenai Fjords National Park. The boat ride alone is an adventure as we traverse the vast beauty of the Gulf of Alaska. The day continues as we cross the submerged terminal moraine of Northwestern Glacier (a full 8.75 miles from the current face of the glacier!) and into Northwestern Lagoon, where the ocean depths shoot from over 400 feet on the outside to 24 feet at the crossing, and then down to 600 feet on the other side of the moraine! Enjoy opportunities to view black bears, coastal birds, and a host of marine mammals over the whole course of your trip — not just on the sea kayaking portion!

We land ~ 8 – 9:30 am in the heart of the Kenai Fjords National Park on one of many beautiful pristine beaches. Your guide talks you through your kayak and gear on the way, providing paddling advice and raising situational awareness, which should allow for a quick start once unloaded.

Then it’s time to start paddling, where a rugged coastline folds into five sizeable glaciers for a full-day excursion. You and your group explore the park, moving from place to place from circumnavigating Striation Island to crossing in front of tidewater glaciers, this journey ranges from 8 to 15-miles, depending on the group’s speed and intentions. Trips travel at the pace of your group, so whether you’d like to cover as much ground as possible or rest on a beach with your journal or camera, we work to accommodate you!

The water taxi boat picks you up in the late afternoon around 4 pm. Depending on the day, and the crew loads your kayaks and gear. The return trip explores the Kenai Fjords all the way back to Seward, keeping an eye out for the many whales migrating and feeding through our area. We aim to be at Miller’s Landing by 6 pm, depending on how exciting our sightseeing options are on the way home.

We do reserve the right to be flexible — marine weather and logistics can delay things or require an earlier pick-up. Keep in mind they are boats, not trains, and we have to heed the demands of the ocean from time to time.

Northwestern is geologically younger and far more raw. While Aialik Bay has lush rainforests framing the glaciers, Northwestern's ice has retreated too recently for vegetation to take hold. You'll see steeper, more vertical glaciers, dramatic pink granite from oxidization, fresh rock scarring from retreating ice, avalanche debris, and cliff sides packed with nesting seabirds. It's one of the most dramatic fjord environments in Alaska.

Expect to cover 8–15 miles (13–24 km) on the water throughout the day, at a leisurely pace with frequent breaks, a beach lunch, and optional short hikes.

​

The water taxi ride to Northwestern Fjord takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours each way. The ride itself is an adventure — the team passes through the Chiswell Islands and commonly spots sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, puffins, humpback whales, and orcas on the transit.

On the water taxi: sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, orcas, tufted and horned puffins, and bald eagles. In the fjord: harbor seals, black bears (viewed from the water), coastal seabirds, and of course the incredible glaciers themselves.

The trip is easy to moderate in difficulty. Paddling takes place on calm, protected fjord waters. The group moves at a comfortable pace with plenty of breaks and a long lunch. That said, you should be prepared to paddle for extended periods (with rests) and be physically comfortable in an outdoor environment for a full day.

​

The trip runs rain or shine — rainy conditions are normal in Alaska and often create incredible atmosphere in the fjords. The water taxi has a heated cabin for the journey. If conditions make kayaking unsafe, the team reserves the right to adjust the plan.