Shoup Glacier

Shoup Glacier is tucked away in Shoup Bay and is accessible by boat, kayak, and helicopter. Shoup Bay may also be reached by foot: experienced hikers can take the 8.5 mile hike to Shoup Bay for fabulous views and to see a kittiwake rookery. Please check on current conditions of the trail before hiking. Local tour operators provide transportation to view Shoup Glacier.

If using a private boat, please use the caution necessary for coastal Alaskan waters with respect to tides,weather, currents and your party’s abilities and experience level. The waters of Valdez Arm and Port Valdez are generally choppy in afternoons and can become hazardous to small watercraft. No mooring buoy exists at Shoup Bay. Anchoring is at your own risk. If pulling a kayak, inflatable or small skiff ashore, be sure to secure your boat to avoid losing it at high tide or tosurf conditions. A shallow channel connects lower Shoup Bay to the upper bay and should be attempted by boaters only at higher tides. This channel will flow as a river during incoming and outgoing tides and may be congested with ice bergs.

Shoup Bay State Marine Park

There are three public use cabins in Shoup Bay State Marine Park, approximately 8.5 miles from Valdez. These cabins are currently accessible by water only. The McAllister cabin, at the mouth of Shoup Bay, is best accessed by kayak or boat. There is a narrow channel that leads to the inner lagoon where Moraine and Kittiwake cabins are located. Cabin rentals are available by reservation only.

Contact the Valdez Adventure Alliance for reservations and more information.

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