If you dream of getting out into the fjords for more than just a quick visit... than this is the trip for you.

Northwestern is a raw and rugged fjord. The steep cliff faces have all been freshly carved by the seven glaciers you will see here. Three of these are tidewater, and you will watch large chunks of ice calve into the sea. There are also glaciers alongside which you can spend an afternoon hiking. Sea otters, sea birds, bald eagles, and seals are plentiful here. There is a good chance of seeing whales during the water taxi ride to and from the fjord, and you will certainly see puffins, sea lions and other sea birds during the boat trip. Northwestern is even more remote than Aialik - with only a few tour boats visiting each day. This is wilderness. There is a river that can be paddled up during high tide - which is teeming with salmon and bald eagles during the spawning months. Northwestern is a remote and wild place - rugged and gorgeous.
 

About your Three Day Adventure...

Please note: itineraries are subject to change due to weather and tides.

Day 1: Meet the water taxi at 8am for a spectacular ride through Resurrection Bay and out to Northwestern Fjord. You'll stop along the way to see Stellar Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks, and very often we'll spot orcas and humpbacks making their way through the frigid waters. We'll stop and enjoy these wildlife sightings, taking time for photos and learning along the way. The water taxi will drop us off at Southwestern Beach where we'll set up camp for the trip. After lunch we'll head off to explore the coast... hopefully watching waterfalls rush down the hillsides, and harbor seals swimming silently beside us. The peace and solitude of Northwestern will overwhelm and astonish you. It'll be a great afternoon of discovery, and a good introduction to paddling. All evening we can relax on the beach, watching and listening to the hanging glaciers as they calve off massive chunks of ice that tumble down the cliff faces.

Day 2: Today we'll spend the day paddling to three tidewater glaciers. Anchor and Ogive both spill down the mountainsides, flowing like rivers to meet the sea. They are both impressive and beautiful tidewater glaciers, and we'll spend a while sitting in front of them... hoping for a brilliant show. As we then paddle toward Northwestern Glacier, the king of this fjord, we'll stop on the way for lunch at Redstone beach. After a hearty lunch, we'll head out and paddle toward Northwestern. Once we've had our fill of impressive glaciers calving before our eyes... we'll make our way back to camp for the night. Then it's time for another relaxing evening surrounded by incredible beauty.

Day 3: Wake up to the rumbling of the hanging glaciers nearby. We'll do a short paddle to a nearby beach, and from there we'll change things up a bit. We'll go for an amazing walk alongside Southwestern Glacier - getting fantastic views over the fjord and the ice, and learning so much about how glaciers function. This is a pretty easy hike, but leads to such rewarding and memorable views. What a great way to wrap up the trip!

After our hike, we'll return to camp for lunch... and then pack up to prepare for the water taxi. On the ride home, we'll be sure to keep an eye out again for whales and wildlife - and we should be back at our shop in town around 6pm.

For the five day itinerary: 

We will be dropped off and picked up at the moraine, and spend the extra two days paddling the coastline of Northwestern. There are beautiful beaches, little coves, waterfalls, and so much wildlife to check out. If the timing and tides are right, there is a river we can paddle up at high tide... where we've seen black bears, harbor seals, eagles, spawning salmon, etc. You will love every minute of this adventure!

Please keep in mind that this is only a sample itinerary.  The real itinerary will be similar, but will be determined by the guide depending on tides, weather, and paddling abilities. Minimum of 4 people required for the water taxi transport to / from Northwestern.  Please call today to find out if other people are booked on the taxi for that day... and so we can get you listed on our web calendar to find others to join you!