SHORE EXCURSIONS

Take in the natural beauty of Haines while visiting sites that include an historical fort, a wildlife center devoted to bald eagles and Alaska’s Chilkoot State Park. During the driving tour of Fort William Seward, you will hear how it was built in 1902 as a display of power during a border dispute with Canada. Many of its original buildings remain and have been converted into private residences and art galleries. Later, at the American Bald Eagle Foundation, a wildlife center dedicated to the majestic raptors, you will have the opportunity to attend a presentation with a live raptor and browse the numerous exhibits. Chilkoot State Park is home to a myriad of wildlife including a large population of brown bears.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy a driving tour past a fort that is now a National Historic Landmark.
• Learn the habits of bald eagles and local raptors from live avian residents

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Look for iconic Alaskan wildlife such as bald eagles and brown bears on this driving safari into beautiful Chilkoot Valley and along the coast. After driving through the National Historic Landmark of Fort William Seward, you will pause at Picture Point, an aptly named lookout that offers spectacular views of the countryside. You will find the sights equally inspiring from the Chilkoot River Overlook, especially since you will be provided with spotting scopes or binoculars that enhance the views. The farther you travel, the more dramatic the scenery. Chilkoot Valley is particularly memorable as it sits among rugged glaciated peaks and is home to brown bears, river otters, mountain goats and bald eagles. Chilkoot Lake is another idyllic setting, as dark-green Sitka tree forests and craggy mountains surround it. A different side of Alaska presents itself along the coast, where you may catch sight of seals, sea lions and even whales breaching the water’s surface.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through one majestic landscape after another, taking in the natural beauty.
• Pause at the most dramatic lookout points for photos.
• Look for quintessential Alaskan wildlife such as brown bears and bald eagles.
• Gain a different perspective of Alaska when driving along the coast.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Behold some of Alaska’s most extraordinary scenery on this driving tour through a bald eagle preserve and up into the awe-inspiring mountains that surround Haines. After driving through Fort William Seward, which was built in 1902 as a display of power during a border dispute with Canada, you will soon reach the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the largest concentration of these American icons. Bald eagles thrive here because the open flats of the Chilkat River make it easy for the birds to swoop down and pluck salmon from the shallow waters. While pausing for photos, you might spot bald eagles hunting or perched regally in trees along the riverbank. The naturalist will describe their habits in detail. Later, you will cross the Canadian border and ascend above the tree line. At this elevation, the views of the glaciated peaks and alpine tundra will be magnificent. A picnic follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Watch bald eagles in their natural habitat.
• Enjoy sweeping views of glaciated peaks and alpine tundra from a Canadian mountaintop.
• Discover how bald eagles hunt from a naturalist.
• Drive through Fort William Seward, a National Historic Landmark.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Bring a valid passport, as you will cross the border into Canada.
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the native culture of the Tlingit people at Klukwan, the mother village of the Tlingit Nation and the only remaining village of the Chilkat people. For centuries, the Tlingits have lived off the bounty of this special place and today you can still see them fishing and smoking their catch at the river’s edge. You will learn about the tribal culture and history. You will experience how the fish is processed using ancient traditional methods. Your visit to the knowledge camp culminates with storytelling in the totemic clan house. You may also watch Chilkat artists practice their crafts in a museum-quality heritage center and see the invaluable Whale House Collection, which a Tlingit master artist created hundreds of years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Delve into the complexity of the Tlingit culture at the tribe’s mother village.
• Admire the Tlingit way of life by watching tribal artisans ply their crafts.
• Watch a storytelling in a totemic clan house.
• Drive through Fort William Seward, a National Historic Landmark.
• Enjoy a picnic while overlooking the unspoiled Chilkat River.
• Shop for Chilkat arts and crafts.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Hike an extraordinarily scenic forest trail near Haines that offers wonderful views of the rugged mountains and pristine Lynn Canal. On the way, you will drive through Fort William Seward, a National Historic Landmark. To enhance the experience, a guide will regale you with stories about the history of Haines, its role in the gold rush and the influence of the native Tlingits, who first settled here. You will soon arrive at a trailhead that leads to some of the most spectacular scenery around Haines. The views of Lynn Canal, the longest and deepest fjord in North America, will be breathtaking. The waterway served as the main route to the Yukon, where gold was discovered in 1896. As you make your way down the trail, look for wildlife that abounds in this area, including soaring eagles, playful seals, huge moose and even humpback whales breaching the surface of Lynn Canal.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Hike a forest trail that offers unspoiled views of the surrounding natural beauty.
• Drive through Fort William Seward, named for the Secretary of State that negotiated the purchase of Alaska.
• Become familiar with the area’s history and the culture of the Tlingit tribe.
• Look for bald eagles, moose and even humpback whales in and around Lynn Canal.
• Pause at a small pebble beach to savor a snack of smoked salmon.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Canoe along the shores of pristine Chilkoot Lake and look for wildlife, which is abundant throughout the surrounding river valley. The naturalist guide will describe some of the iconic animals that live in the area on the fast ferry ride to Haines, during which you may spot brown bears, mountain goats and bald eagles. After a narrated tour of Fort William Seward – a now-decommissioned fort built in 1902 – you will continue on to Chilkoot Lake, whose sheltered waters are typically as smooth as glass. You will enjoy a unique perspective of the lake while riding in a Voyageur canoe much like the ones that trappers and gold miners used more than a century ago. Depending on the conditions, you may paddle or rely on the motor to power the canoe along the forested shore and into secluded inlets. In time, you will pause for a picnic lunch at a remote beach.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the gorgeous wilderness while riding a high-speed ferry from Skagway to Haines.
• Enjoy a narrated drive through Fort William Seward, 19th-century landmark in Haines.
• Look for wildlife while riding the ferry and driving on to Chilkoot Lake.
• Glide along the forested shores of the lake in a remarkably stable, motor-assisted canoe.
• Snap photos of the gorgeous scenery and relax while snacking on a remote beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spend hours peacefully kayaking around Chilkoot Lake, observing the unspoiled vistas and abundant wildlife. As you approach the lake, views of the pristine Alaskan landscape will be magnificent and include dark-green Sitka tree forests and craggy mountain peaks. The lake’s crystal-clear water is typically calm and ideal for kayaking as the surrounding wilderness shelters it from wind. During the orientation, you will discover how easy it is to maneuver in a kayak. Then, you will paddle off into the glacial waters. The native Tlingit people named the lake Chilkoot for a word that means “basket of bigger fish,” as the waters here are teeming with large sockeye salmon and trout. You may well spot seals frolicking in the lake and bald eagles soaring overhead. Larger animals such as moose and mountain goats are often seen ashore. Brown bears feeding on salmon in their spawning beds are another common sight.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Paddle a kayak through the typically glassy, glacial waters of Chilkoot Lake.
• Behold the glorious natural beauty in every direction.
• Look for wildlife such as bald eagles, seals, moose and brown bears.
• Drive through Fort William Seward, a National Historic Landmark.
• Enjoy a tasty snack along the shore of the lake.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

A high speed catamaran to Haines, a rafting adventure in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve and a riverside picnic make this a wildlife tour of a lifetime. Your tour begins as you board a catamaran for a scenic 45 minute cruise along North America's longest and deepest fjord to Haines. Along the way, you’ll witness spectacular views of waterfalls and ice sculpted peaks, as your guide points out marine wildlife. Upon arrival in Haines, you’ll board a motorcoach for a relaxing 40 minute drive up the Haines Highway, a National Scenic Byway, to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. You’ll see historic Haines and Fort William H. Seward on this narrated drive. Watch for moose and swans in the marshlands as you head up the Chilkat River Valley. At the preserve, experienced guides await to begin your rafting adventure (not whitewater). You’ll float silently down the river aboard 18’ inflatable rafts — the best way to observe eagles drawn to feed on the plentiful salmon. Bears and wolves are also frequent guests at the feast. After your float, you’ll enjoy a riverside picnic. Your tour concludes with a return cruise aboard the catamaran back to Skagway. You'll leave with a myriad of unforgettable memories of the day.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Begin with a scenic 45-minute catamaran cruise to Haines, traveling along North America's longest and deepest fjord.
• Enjoy views of waterfalls, ice-sculpted peaks, and marine wildlife as your guide provides commentary.
• Spot bald eagles feeding on salmon, with potential sightings of bears and wolves.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in layered clothing, a jacket, hat and gloves.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Look for iconic Alaskan wildlife in the Chilkoot Valley, an unspoiled landscape with an abundance of bears and bald eagles. A high-speed catamaran ferry will bring you across the Chilkoot Inlet to the town of Haines for a narrated drive through Fort William Seward. The now-decommissioned fort was built in 1902 as a display of power during a border dispute with Canada. On the way there, you can look out for seals, sea lions, porpoises and perhaps even whales. The Chilkoot River can attract bears and bald eagles , and you might observe them feeding voraciously along the river. Binoculars will be available if you want to look for mountain goats grazing in the distance alpine meadows. You will also stop at the river’s mouth, which is known for having the world’s largest concentration of bald eagles. Watching these majestic birds up close is quite the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for marine life on the ferry ride to Chilkoot Valley.
• Enjoy a narrated drive through Fort William Seward, 19th-century landmark in Haines.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.