Sea Kayaking Trips In Alaska
So you want to plan a sea kayaking trip in Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords, or Glacier Bay? You've found the right spot!
We've mapped hundreds of dropoff spots and campsites. You can search them by feature, such as locations where you can paddle amongst glacier ice, or that have good nearby fishing or hiking. You can also search camping locations by size. We've also compiled dozens of expert advice articles to help you plan your trip.
Kayak Rentals
If you need to rent some gear for your kayak expedition, contact our friends at Alaska Outdoor Gear Outfitter & Rentals. Talk them about your trip and they'll recommend the best equipment.
Guided Options
Love sea kayaking, but not committed to camping or going it alone? See our list of guided options in Alaska, or tuck into a yurt with unlimited access to kayaking. There are two outside of Seward, Alaska. The first is Orca Island Cabins which boasts 7 yurts located on a private island in picturesque Humpy Cove, each with a private deck and bath. The other is Shearwater Cove, where you'll find two yurts tucked into a picturesque cove.
Filter Choices
Blackstone (17 Mile Beach)
A large, popular beach for camping and water taxi drop offs and pick ups. Only 17 miles from Whittier it is often a first or last camp spot for intermediate paddlers without a water taxi. This beach provides large durable camping areas and fresh glacial streams in the vicinity.
Spencer Glacier
Spencer Glacier rises 3,500 feet in a stunning, natural ramp from a lake of royal-blue icebergs in the Chugach National Forest just 60 miles south of Anchorage. It’s a family-friendly recreation destination featuring camping, hiking, glacier exploration, nature walks, paddling and sightseeing. Maybe best of all: You have to take a train to get there!
Blackstone (13 Mile Beach)
A popular drop off and pickup beach for water taxi, however camping is not an option on this beach. Most people choose to paddle a short distance towards the glaciers for durable and level camping.
Icy Bay
Icy Bay lives up to its name with an active tidewater glacier often clogging the fjord with icebergs. This remote fjord in Prince William Sound is a special spot for paddlers looking for spectular views of Tiger and Chenega Glacier descending into the sea. Beware of tight ice conditions changing with the tide and strong cold katabatic winds off of the Sargent Icefeild.
Olsen Island Campsite
A wonderful treasure for the paddlers wanting to be in the middle of Prince William Sound. This site is well protected between two halves of Olsen Island and has well established camping spots for many tents in the forest, and good trees for hanging food. The beach is steep and wide with oyster catchers patrolling the shore. Freshwater is not on the island, but can be found in the More...
Dual Head Campsite
Humpback whales commonly swim along the shore and you can hear them from your tent. With tidewater glaciers, wildlife, and many scenic paddles in close proximity, Dual Head is a good base camp. Fresh water can be found on the North end of the beach.
Decision Point
There is a small creek for fresh water, and wooden walkways in the trees. Tent platforms are tucked up on the inside of a small spit of land, and the drop off beach faces due East on the opposite side of the spit.
Meares Glacier Campsite
This is a true jewel at the end of Unakwik Inlet. Located just Northwest of Meares Glacier, this steep, sandy beach is about as close as a kayak dares to paddle towards an active tidewater glacier.
Unakwik Inlet Campsite #3 (Brilliant Beach)
This beach has all the amenities of a perfect kayak camp spot. A raging river splits the cobble beach in two, and a hanging glacier provides the perfect background for a few packed, grassy tent spots. Within a morning paddle distance from Meares Glacier, Brilliant Beach is an excellent launching point. The beach is safe from the highest tides, and is long enough for multiple parties More...
Blackstone 17 Mile Lagoon (Willard)
Facing Beloit Glacier, 17 Mile Lagoon and the nearby Eagle´s Nest beaches are popular beaches for kayaking trips nearby the tidewater glaciers. This point is easy to find as it lies just on the glacier side of the very shallow terminal moraine of Beloit Glacier on Willard Island.
Cascade Bay Campsite
Cascade Bay, at the Northwest end of Eaglek Bay, holds the treasure of the largest waterfall in Prince William Sound. There is no lack of freshwater in the Bay, with another reasonable water source coming in just to the East of the Falls. Be prepared for the noise of the falls, and tons of jellyfish!
Applegate Island S Campsite
A wonderful beach campsite for a calm day. Surrounded on two sides by the sea, this campsite has beautiful views out to Nellie Juan-College Fjord and over to Perry and Knight Island. Large durable camping area, but beware of high tides. Both beaches are steep unless at low tide and could be used as a water taxi drop off location.
Perry Island W Campsite
Tipping Point, on Northwest Perry Island, is a very accommodating beach campsite with excellent views out to Port Wells and Perry Passage. There is fresh water, beach camping for a few tents, and possibilities for hiking up on Perry Island.
Crafton Island Campsite
Crafton Island will amaze everyone! Overhanging cliffs and caves, green-blue waters, cobbled beaches, and fantastic views. You also get great exposure to Knight Island Passage and greater Prince William Sound. Few beaches are comparable to those on Crafton Island.
Barry Arm Boating & Sea Kayaking
A popular place for cruises and kayaking. You can stop along the shore, pitch a tent and enjoy the solitude and scenic views for a day or two.
Esther Passage (North Entrance)
As you cruise through it, this spectacular passage necks down narrower and narrower until you are looking straight up at lush green walls that seem to enclose the boat on both sides. You'll rarely see another boat in here.
Halibut Cove Lagoon
Although this can be a busy spot, it is a lot less congested than the Homer Spit. Things to do here include: taking small day hikes, paddling in the lagoon, camping, staying at one of the three nearby public use cabins, and the most popular, fishing for Kings during the month of June.
