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Guidebook for Alaska Adventure Travel |
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Glacier Bay's waters are arguably the finest sea-kayaking grounds in the world. In the southerly precincts of the bay at spots like the Beardslee Islands, you can paddle zoom-lens close to moose, bald eagles, bears, inquisitive harbor seals, and humpback and killer whales. Head up Muir Inlet to the ice-choked waters at the snout of McBride Glacier and you'll witness the mind-numbing spectacle of a tidewater glacier periodically dumping itself into the sea. Given the intensely wild feel of Glacier Bay, it's a welcome surprise that kayakers of all skill levels can get a deep draught of paddling here; the fractured coastline offers many sheltered quiet-water coves, and the park infrastructure - which includes a number of officially sanctioned outfitters and a concession-run boat that drops paddle-campers off at remote backcountry locations - makes it easy enough to hew deep into the wildest parts of the bay.
Auke Bay (Juneau)
Auke Bay is a good locale
for beginning paddlers. It is
relatively easy to put in at the
boat harbor, and the bay is big
enough and sufficiently varied
to allow interesting
paddling. These are generally
protected waters, but if conditions do become unpleasant, it is
easy to quit and go home. Under favorable wind and tide
conditions, the paddle from Auke Bay to downtown Juneau is an
easy day trip through Mendenhall Bar Channel - the shallow upper
reaches of Gastineau Channel. Trip Highlights: Spectacular views
of Mendenhall Glacier and lots of Bald Eagles.
Icy Bay (Near Gustavus)
Formed this century by a receding glacier, Icy Bay gives one
an idea of what explorer John Muir saw 100 years ago. Is there
an unknown sea kayaker's fantasy land in Alaska? A place where
no more than a handful of people have ever disturbed the
tranquil waters; where glaciers tumble to the sea from high
mountains and meet wildlife and wildflowers in undiminished
numbers? Along the broad arc of the Gulf of Alaska, 100 miles
west of Glacier Bay National Park, enveloped in the rugged sweep
of beaches at the foot of the 18,000-foot Mt. St. Elias, lies a
new bay: Icy Bay.
Icy Bay now stretches 40 miles inland, and varies from four to
ten miles wide. Its south shore is protected from the crashing
waves of the open Pacific by a long, low neck of sand, the Pt.
Riou spit, which marks the last forward advance of the glaciers.
At the head of the bay lie three deep fjords and the glaciers
that formed them: the Tyndall, Yahtse, and Guyot. In between is
40 miles of unsurpassed wilderness, a paddling and camping
paradise.
Fishing from a kayak
Fishing rods can be carried on the craft. Anglers catch
salmon and rockfish from kayaks — and occasionally they hook
Alaska's favorite flatfish, the halibut. Glacier Bay's waters
are arguably the finest sea–kayaking grounds in the world. In
the southerly precincts of the bay at spots like the Beardslee
Islands, you can paddle zoom–lens close to moose, bald eagles,
bears, inquisitive harbor seals, and humpback and killer whales.
Head up Muir Inlet to the ice–choked waters at the snout of
McBride Glacier and you'll witness the mind-numbing spectacle of
a tidewater glacier periodically dumping itself into the sea.
Given the intensely wild feel of Glacier Bay, it's a welcome
surprise that kayakers of all skill levels can get a deep
draught of paddling here; the fractured coastline offers many
sheltered quiet-water coves, and the park infrastructure – which
includes a number of officially sanctioned outfitters and a
concession-run boat that drops paddle–campers off at remote
backcountry locations – makes it easy enough to hew deep into
the wildest parts of the bay.
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