If you’re looking for the best way to plan a trip to Valdez, Alaska, look no further than this guide. After being born and raised in Valdez, I’ve got the inside scoop on the best things to do and see. This itinerary will be a little different than most you’ve probably seen, however, so let me explain below.
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What’s the best way to plan a Valdez vacation?
There are a ton of variables when traveling, especially when traveling anywhere in Alaska. Your Valdez, Alaska itinerary will greatly depend on weather, the time of year you’re visiting, how long you’ll be there, your budget, and other factors. These factors will determine what places and activities are open, what you can see, and what types of activities you’ll be able to fit into your time frame and budget. Which leads me to the explain how I’ve organized this itinerary.
How is this Valdez, Alaska itinerary organized?
The seasonality, unpredictable weather, costs, and more of traveling around Alaska can make travel planning a bit difficult. This is why I’ve left this itinerary with no specific schedule, and it’s more of a pick-your-own-adventure type of guide. This will help you be flexible to changes in weather, what fits your budget, what’s open at the time, and more. You can mix and match to fit your needs. For example, maybe it’s too foggy to explore Thompson Pass (pretty common), so you decide to stay in town. Why not check out the museums? Did you want to go on a fishing charter, but they’re all booked up? (To avoid that, check out this post!) Maybe look into fishing at Allison Point depending on the season. Those are just a couple situations you might encounter.
So, without further ado, let’s get to planning! I’ve broken the travel planning up into a few different categories. As you’ll be able to tell, some may overlap. The hatchery is educational and you’ll likely see wildlife. Going on a kayaking adventure is both a great activity and scenic. Fishing is a great activity and you’ll likely see wildlife. Anyway, you get the point, so let’s jump into the ultimate Valdez, Alaska itinerary!
Activities and Adventure
There are never ending adventures and activities all across Alaska. Here are a few of my favorite Valdez adventures to add to your travel plans.
Glacier and Wildlife Cruise
Are you looking for one of the most epic activities do to while in Valdez? Check out a glacier and wildlife cruise with Stan Stephen’s Glacier and Wildlife Cruises. Explore beautiful Prince William Sound and get the opportunity to see majestic glaciers and wildlife such as whales, puffins, otters, seals, and more. These cruises are full day excursions, so when planning your itinerary know that this will take up a large portion of your day, and it’s well worth it!
Tip: Are you wondering what to wear and bring with on a glacier and wildlife cruise? Check out our post here!
Fishing
Fishing is what many people visit Valdez to do. You can go fishing from the rocks at Allison Point, or drop a line while on a charter. Your fishing experience could last a few hours from the shore, be a half or full day trip on a charter, or you could even overnight on a charter!
The first thing to do when fitting fishing into your plans is to see what species will be available to catch during your visit, determine your budget, and pick the best option that will fit your schedule. Maybe you’re traveling with a large party and a charter is out of your budget? Try out a few hours of fishing at Allison Point. Is catching a halibut a must do on your Alaska bucket list? Splurge on a charter for a chance to get hooked up on the fish of your dreams!
Tip: Don’t go fishing without a derby ticket! Learn all about tickets and what you could win here!
Kayaking
Experience a once in a lifetime paddle around glaciers with guided kayaking tours in Valdez. You can plan your itinerary for this similarly to planning a glacier and wildlife cruise since they both excursions take up a good portion of the day.
Hiking
If you want to add exercise with a view to your schedule, check out some local hikes. Whether you want a short little jaunt after lunch, or an afternoon adventure, there’s something for everyone. Check out local hikes here, and don’t forget to be bear aware!
Sights and Wildlife
Wherever you look in Valdez you’ll have spectacular views (as long as it’s not too foggy!). Below is a list of some specific places to see the most beautiful sights Valdez has to offer, along with some great wildlife spotting areas! You can also check out my detailed guide to the sights and wildlife of Valdez here.
Valdez Boat Harbor
The boat harbor is one of my favorite places to wander around in Valdez. It’s so peaceful and the perfect spot to walk around with a warm drink on a chilly morning, or check out the views on a sunny day. I love to see the creative names on the boats, and you might also see an otter or two if you’re lucky!
Keystone Canyon
If you didn’t stop on your drive in, check out Keystone Canyon. Horsetail and Bridal Veil Falls are just a couple of the majestic waterfalls you’ll see, and they make for great photo opportunities. This stop is a must add to your Valdez itinerary!
Valdez and Worthington Glaciers
If you’re out viewing the falls in Keystone Canyon, you might as well add a trip up to Worthington Glacier in Thompson Pass to your plans for the day. Not only are there great walking trails with lots of informative signage, but the scenery is stunning! If you want to stay in town though, check out Valdez Glacier via a kayaking tour!
Dayville Road/Allison Point
If you’re looking for wildlife, here’s your spot! Cruise down Dayville Road and keep your eyes peeled for bears! Depending on the time of year, once you get closer to the water around the hatchery and Allison Point you may get the opportunity to see bears, sea lions, otters, seals, and tons of fish, which is what bring all the other animals into the area. Here’s a great pair of binoculars in case you want to get a closer look at them from a safe distance. And, once again, be bear aware.
Tip: As large and in charge as bears are, they are also fantastic at hiding out. If you want to get a photo of one from your vehicle, have your camera out and ready as you drive the road because as soon as you see one, it can disappear into the trees in a flash!
History and Education
If you’re visiting a new place it’s always nice to hear some of the backstory of how it got to where it is today, right? Well, Valdez has quite the history and many wonderful places to learn about it that I’ll explain more about below. Also, there’s a lot to learn about the area’s wildlife as well, so don’t miss out on that, either!
Valdez Museum
The Valdez Museum has two educational and unique locations. I highly suggest visiting both locations and learning about the gold rush, 1964 earthquake, oil spill, and more. The artifacts, movies, and displays are very well set up, and it’s a great way to learn about the town. Museum visits are great rainy day activities to add to your itinerary and you could spend an afternoon at the two Valdez Museum locations.
Old Town
After learning a bit about Valdez history, head out to Old Town Valdez, the original Valdez townsite. You won’t see a bunch of historical buildings there (you’ll learn about why at the museums), but there are signs posted with information about Valdez before the earthquake and tsunami, and it will give you an idea of what the town was like before it was moved.
Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum
If you want to see one of the biggest and most interesting collections of Alaska Native art and Alaska wildlife mounts, visit the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum. The artifacts there are beautiful and fascinating to see. This would be another great rainy day activity that you could spend an hour or so at.
Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery
Visit the hatchery, learn how it runs, and learn about its purpose on a self guided tour. This tour is not only informative, but also has beautiful views and, depending on the time of year, very good chances of seeing a lot of the wildlife in the sections above. Last summer we spent a whole afternoon there walking around and watching wildlife, but you could probably plan for around an hour if you were short on time.
Crooked Creek
If you’re staying in town and up for a little walk, you could stroll on over to Crooked Creek. There’s a salmon viewing area, waterfall, and a cute cabin that you can visit to learn more about local wildlife, salmon cycles, native plant species, and more.
Tip: Just watch for bears here too, because where there’s fish there’s usually bears.
Okay, now that you’ve got the scoop on some of the best things to do and see in Valdez, Alaska, it’s time to compile your Valdez itinerary! Will you stick with the adventurous activities, spend some time indoors at the museums, go sightseeing in Thompson Pass, or a little combination of everything? Let me know in the comments!
If you have questions about traveling to Alaska, or how best to build your Valdez itinerary, feel free to leave a comment below, sign up for the Everyday Alaska newsletter, or send me an email. You can also join the Everyday Alaska Travel Tips, Information, and Advice group, and/or our New to Alaska Tips, Information, and Advice group to ask any questions you may have. I’m happy to help you get the most out of your time in our beautiful Last Frontier and I hope you enjoy Alaska as much as we do!
