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Winter Activities

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Valdez Winter Itinerary

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Winter Trails

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Local Festivals and Events

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Wildlife Viewing

See amazing wildlife in Valdez!

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Valdez, Alaska

Wander Here. 

 

Guides & Tours

Orca and humpback whales, otters, sea lions, and birds are among the many animals that make their home in Prince William Sound. During the spring and summer, day-long cruises will take you to some of the best vantage points for viewing mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. Don’t have a full day? Helicopter tours can cover the same area in less time and even land you on top of a glacier! Adventurers can also spend the day kayaking glacial waters, exploring wildlife, ice caves, and waterfalls. It’s even possible to take a kayak out fishing if you have the right setup. In addition to the ocean, independent kayakers can paddle on Robe Lake, just off the Richardson Highway.

History, Arts & Culture

You might not expect a small, end-of-the road maritime community to have a thriving arts culture, but that’s exactly what the town of Valdez has to offer. Hugging a rough Alaska coastline, Valdez is home to hardworking folks with an entrepreneurial spirit who embrace all things artistic.

Valdez also offers three museums in town that present visitors with the full history of the region as well as one of the largest collections of Alaska Native art and artifacts in the world.

Eat

Valdez boasts a wide variety of restaurants amidst stunning surroundings. From seafood and burgers to coffee and baked goods, you’re sure to find something delicious and authentic to Alaska and all within walking distance of hotels, B&B’s, RV parks, and campgrounds. Dine on local Alaskan seafood from a secluded corner booth or with seaside views. The bounty of Prince William Sound and the Copper River will be available to you at our local seafood restaurants. Enjoy halibut burgers, beer-battered rockfish, salmon fillets, or Alaskan King crab legs. Valdez's seafood restaurants span from family-style to fine dining, and many of them are located right on the waterfront!

Stay

A full range of accommodations are available in Valdez. Several hotels are available in downtown Valdez, and all of them are less than a 10-minute walk from pristine Prince William Sound, where guests wake up near the waterfront where guests will wake up near the waterfront dining district and a small boat harbor, where glacier cruises and fishing charters depart. There are many options for camping in Valdez, including both campgrounds and RV parks. Visitors can choose from full hookup, partial hookup, and tent camping, and most of our RV parks have on-site convenience stores.

Shop

From gift shops and grocery stores to seafood markets and gear outfitters, you’ll be sure to find what you need in the shops in Valdez. Throughout the year, various open-air markets with specialty vendors come to town as well. While shopping in Valdez, grab some local art and souvenirs or snag some seafood to bring home. If you prefer to catch your own feast, our outfitting stores can help you gear up. The possibilities are endless! 

Plan

Drive: The drive to Valdez from Fairbanks, Tok, or Anchorage provides breathtaking views of glaciers, waterfalls, towering mountains, and incredible scenery. The picturesque Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway converge along the nation’s largest national park—Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve—holding nine of the 16 tallest peaks in the United States.
Ferry: Alaska's Prince William Sound is ringed by the coastal mountains of the Chugach Range and situated in the midst of the Chugach National Forest. Ferry services to Valdez to/from Whittier and Cordova are provided by the Alaska Marine Highway, but local operators offer water taxis to other communities, bays, and islands in Prince William Sound.
Fly: In just a short 45-minute flight from Anchorage, visitors can reach Valdez daily via local air services or private charters. Flights soar through the towering peaks of the Chugach Mountains and across vast glacial ice fields.