Sea Kayaking in the Northern Beauty of Alaska

One of the most beautiful and diverse places in the world where you can sea kayak is in Alaska. There, you can enjoy your choice of a one-day, multiple day, or guided tour to several destinations. For instance, if you are interested in a one-day sea kayaking trip for you and the family, we suggest you start with Kittwake. Known for being the hangout for the busy Black Legged Kittiwake seabird, this three-hour sea kayaking trip includes a skilled guide that will introduce you to the joy and adventure of kayaking. The view is amazing and the overall experience something you will treasure.

Another excellent one-day sea kayaking trip is to Passage Canal, where you will discover gentle waterfalls, glacial views, tucked away coves, and even the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of hiking. This particular tour is a little more strenuous than some of the other one-day trips are where you will cover between six and eight miles. Then, there is Shotgun Cove, another spectacular trip that ends up in a large cove where you will spend the day learning basic sea kayaking instruction. For five hours, you will have the chance to travel leisurely while exploring a number of small coves.

If you prefer a more in-depth sea kayaking adventure, you might consider staying several days on a guided tour. With this, you want to make sure you choose an outfitter that provides a guide with a naturalist background, one that is trained and certified in coldwater rescue and wilderness first aid, and one that knows the area where you will be exploring. For starters, you could visit Harriman Fjord, which is breathtakingly beautiful and a favorite spot of sea kayakers. There, you will find tidewater glaciers and steep rock formations. During the day, you can paddle out to the ice-chunked water and sleep at night with the glaciers as the backdrop.

Nellie Juan is yet another magnificent place to sea kayak in Alaska, which is a diverse region with massive granite domes. For this reason, Nellie Juan as been nicknamed “Little Yellowstone”. You will find white sandy beaches, rock climbing, hiking, and an abundance of wildlife. Then, a multiple day trip to Whale Bay is certainly worth considering. The wildlife in this region of Alaska is unrivaled to include Otters, Deer, and Black Bear, all feeding in Orca Cove. Then, if you take a sea kayaking trip from April to October, be prepared to see Humpback Whales, as they come into Whale Bay to feed. In fact, you will have the opportunity to paddle right up alone side them to marvel in their size and power.

Finally, for the serious sea kayaker, you can visit Alaska for an extended trip. For this, you would pack in gear and go through an initial orientation with your guide. From there, the kayaks are loaded up and paddled into the bay. One such trip heads to Blackstone Bay where you set up camp the first night at Willard Island. The trip goes on to Beloit Glaciers, Passage Canal, Whittier, and then back to base camp. Again, the key to a successful sea kayaking trip of any duration or destination is to work with a skilled and trained guide who puts your interest and safety first.