Explora Journeys in Valdez

Valdez is a small fishing and oil-terminal town ringed by the Chugach Mountains at the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound. The town rebuilt itself on higher ground after the 1964 earthquake, and the draw is the water just past the harbor: tidewater glaciers, sea otters, and seabird colonies a short boat ride out. Compact downtown means you can fold a glacier cruise and a town walk into one day.

What to do on a day in Valdez

• A Prince William Sound day cruise to Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in southcentral Alaska, with strong odds of sea otters, puffins, humpback whales, and bald eagles en route
• Valdez Museum on Egan Drive, covering the 1964 earthquake, the Gold Rush trail, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, an easy cultural stop downtown
• Dock Point Trail, an easy 0.8-mile loop near the harbor with views of Duck Flats, Port Valdez, and the Chugach peaks
• The Overlook Trail off Hazelet Avenue, a short steep climb with stairs and handrails to a panorama over town and the fjord
• The small boat harbor, a flat waterfront walk where sea otters work the docks and fishing boats unload

Getting ashore

Ships dock at Kelsey Dock, a 9 to 10 minute walk from the heart of downtown, with a free shuttle also running into town. Glacier and wildlife cruises depart from the adjacent harbor, so a half-day on the water plus a walk through the museum and harbor fills the day well.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to September (Alaska cruise season). Typically cool and changeable. Highs commonly in the 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit, June among the drier months and late summer the wettest. Long daylight, up to 18-plus hours near midsummer. Pack layers and rain protection regardless of month.