Icy Strait Excursions

[RollTide73]

What to do in Icy Strait?  There really isn't much offered out there.  Suggestions?

[ImperialLady]

5 hours ago, RollTide73 said:

What to do in Icy Strait?  There really isn't much offered out there.  Suggestions?

We went to ISP last Sept. on a cold, rainy day. We roda the gondola to the top to catch a trams that goes through the forest and just missed the tram ..it ran hourly...there were tents available but open at both end and the wind whipped through. One fire, that security said we couldn't stand by..as it was for employees. There were several bon fires when we first got to the main area before going on the gondolas. We left, forgoing the tour as it was cold and windy and we weren't dressed for that weather. But the views from the gondola were fantastic. We took a free bus in Hoonah, a little fishing village. We went into the only touristy place that had souveniers and discovered the best find of our trip, Wild Bear Safari. We were too late to book them, but have booked them for our Sept trip. When we asked about the possibility of seeing bears with the Wild Bear Safari  while talking to some of the locals they told us about bears walking down the streets. And that here on  Chichagof Island, there were 2 bears to every human on the island. So they almost always saw bears. Check them out on trip advisor. We talked to locals who had gardens growing in huge pots, fishermen who went out daily, and told us Hoonah pier was a great place for whale sightings. We watched 2 elders carving a huge totem pole. While chatting with them they told us how the young people wanted to use electric tools to carve and that was not the way to carve a totem. There was a young man with them who was an apprentice. We walked back to ISP as we were cold, wet and hungry. We stopped for mini donuts and coffee at 'Oh So Goood' donuts in ISP and met a delightful Tlingit lady at a shop that sells authentic Alaskan made arts and craft. We loved our day at ISP and specifically chose a route for Sept that included it. So you don't have to book a tour to enjoy ISP. Hope this helps.

[cw2go]

I enjoy pulling out my inner child while in ISP. The zip rider, ocean raft and atv's are super fun. Whales are abundant and there are some trails to explore. I've had great weather when visiting. 

 

Patty 

[AKStafford]

I would do a whale watching trip there.

[Italy52]

Glacier Wind Whale Watching excursion is our first choice when we visit the port. 

[Cambria2]

If you can book the zipline it shouldn’t be missed. We have done it twice. Last year with our grandkids. Nothing like flying down the mountain @ 60 mph😂😂

[Panhandle Couple]

We did the whale watching in late Aug last year.

It was very good.  The boats are new, and designed for this type of tour.  An enclosed inside with large windows, and outside lower and upper deck for picture taking.  A 20 minute ride to the watching area.

It was cold, overcast and rainy day, yet we were comfortable for the most part, because of the inside area was heated.  Guides were generally good, and answered questions.