Alaska Inside Passage: Eastern Coves

Wake up to the glory of Windham Bay, a unique combination of lush rainforest, fresh and saltwater habitat with numerous estuaries. An animal and bird watcher's paradise, it is also where renowned naturalist John Muir noted the first Alaskan gold discovery in 1878.  The area soon became the largest gold discovery in the territory, and the miner population in Windham Bay peaked at about 200 in the early 1900's. Not all that much has changed here since.

Push your senses and your muscles with the exhilarating combination of sea kayaking and trekking. Or ride a skiff to the same shore and take a relaxing walk on the trail that boasts a 350-foot elevation gain.  Fairly easy Chuck River hiking trails lead to the Chuck River Wilderness where large black bear and bald eagles often feed on the salmon runs. Get there by kayak and enjoy the views.

After lunch, we move into the waters of Frederick Sound – the summer feeding ground for the largest concentration of humpback whales in the Northern Hemisphere.  Scan the water for movement and thrill as humpbacks, orcas and Stellar sea lions feed, swirl, jump and crash back down to the surface. Learn fascinating facts and behavioral theories about the whales from our onboard naturalists as you watch the action.  By the time dinner is over, we will be anchored inside the appropriately named Scenery Cove, listening to whales and hoping for sea birds like marbled murrelets, common loons, red-throated loons, Barrow’s goldeneyes and common mergansers at sunrise.

Kayaks are available all morning for unguided touring at your leisure. Additional morning activities include snorkeling and swimming.

Thomas Bay is known for glaciers, gold and quartz deposits, moose, brown bears, black bears, squirrels, wolves, birds and rabbits. It is also known as "The Bay of Death," due to a massive landslide in 1750, and the "Devil's Country" since 1900 when several people claimed to have seen devil creatures in the area.  Devils or not, Thomas Bay offers several ways to take it all in.

Take on the exposed terminal moraine of the Baird Glacier Trail, until you reach the top of the glacier itself. An impressive feat of nature, shorter hikes to Baird Glacier are also available. Soak it in through a 6-mile guided kayak excursion from Scenery Cove to Cascade Creek and then treat yourself to a short trek. Soar above the stunning mile-wide LeConte Glacier in a floatplane. Trek it your way on one of the several varied length hikes of the scenic Cascade Creek Trail. Or take a quiet day spent onboard, putting your feet up, getting a massage and staring at the gorgeous scenery. 

Dinner includes a reading from “The Strangest Story Ever Told,” a story about Thomas Bay and native bigfoot-like creatures call Kushtaka. Known to some as the “Land of the Kushtaka,” native lore is rich with Kushtaka stories and strange encounters have been recorded for many years here. Taking advantage of Alaska’s long daylight hours, you may choose to get in one more short kayak excursion before bed.

Varied length hikes up onto the Cascade Creek Trail are available all afternoon. Shorter hikes can be arranged around flight seeing schedule. Kayaks are available all day for unguided touring at your leisure. Skiff tours around anchorage available all afternoon. Additional afternoon activities include snorkeling and swimming.

Wake to the sounds of “bergy bits” and brash ice as they gently roll past the hull of the ship  as you ease through the ice-rich waters of LeConte Bay, home to the Northern hemisphere’s most southerly tide water glacier. Shake off sleep with a yoga class. Then rove through the ice-encrusted waters by kayak or skiff. A treasure trove of adventure and natural beauty, whether you choose a 4-hour guided kayak, a 1.5-hour kayak or opt for a skiff excursion, it is sure to please. 

After lunch, choose a leisure kayaking or skiff excursion, hiking at Ideal Cove, or an optional guided overnight trip via kayaking, hiking and camping ashore. Hiking on the 4.5 or 8.2-mile Three Lakes Loop Trail may take up the afternoon. Or a good book and a comfy chair may be in order. After dinner, don’t miss the sights as we turn toward Wrangell via the Wrangell Narrows, and are guided by over 30 bright red and green navigation lights, locally known as Christmas Tree Lane.

Shorter hikes on the Three Lakes Loop Trail are available all afternoon. Kayaks are available all afternoon for unguided touring at your leisure. Skiff tours around anchorage available all day. Additional afternoon activities include snorkeling and swimming.

Once under the jurisdiction of the Russians, the British, and the Americans, as well as originally a Tlingit territory, Wrangell has the unique status of being the only Alaskan city to have been governed under four "flags". Today, it is home to native culture, wildlife and wonder.  Rise early to go after abundant King Salmon just waiting to be hooked.  Brush up on your Tlingit culture at Chief Shakes Tribal House for native storytelling and visit Kiksetti Totem Park on Front Street to view recently carved totem poles and hear their unique story. Or hitch a ride on the jet boat tour up the Stikine River to pick up the overnight campers.  Bear-lovers may choose to travel by jet boat to view the black and brown bears fishing for salmon at Anan Creek.

After lunch, Canoe Pass offers one of the most scenic kayaking opportunities of the trip. Along the Eastern shore of Etolin Island within the South Etolin Wilderness Area, Canoe Pass is a smooth, narrow, 5-mile stretch of pristine Alaskan water. End the day with a soak in the hot tub or maybe a DVD as the vessel cruises toward Yes Bay on the northern end of Behm Canal.

Kayaks are available during the day for unguided touring at your leisure. Skiff tours around anchorage available all day. Additional afternoon activities include snorkeling and swimming.

It is tough to say “no” in Yes Bay. Maybe that is why wildlife abounds in Yes Bay and the surrounding Tongass National Forest - humpback whales, orcas, porpoise, seals, sea lions, black bears, brown bears, mink, marten, eagles and otters. Say yes to a kayak tour up the bay and choose your wildlife-seeking hike: Wolverine Creek Trail and the scenic hike following the river to Lake McDonald – also a perfect spot to cast a fly for trout.

After lunch, wile away the hours over a good book, take out a kayak for a leisurely paddle or indulge in the good fun of platform diving contests and swim races around the ship. Or take to the skies for magnificent views of brown and black bears at Traitors Cove/Margaret Creek or Anan Creek on an add-on flight tour. By dinner, saying yes to bed will be easy to do.

Short hikes to Lake McDonald are also available. Between July and September, add-on flight tours to Anan Creek are available. Guided fly-fishing can also be arranged for you through Yes Bay Lodge. Kayaks are available all day for unguided touring at your leisure. Skiff tours around anchorage available all day. Additional afternoon activities include snorkeling and swimming. After lunch, indulge in platform diving and rope swinging contests, judged for style by the crew, and swim races around the ship.

Watch the sun rise over the steep and sometimes sheer walls of the Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area, a haven for ducks, brown and black bear, mountain goats, Sitka deer, mink, river otters, and in a few places, moose. Humpbacks and orcas, porpoise, sea lions, and seals ply the waters of Behm Canal and the inlets. Glide through Walker Cove by kayak(close-in or long distance) and stop at shoreline beaches to stretch your legs. Or explore it all by skiff, soaking in the splendor of this utterly wild, roadless and largely forgotten corner of the world.

In the afternoon, we anchor inside Rudyerd Bay and Punchbowl Cove to leisurely take in its famous scenic waterfalls and vast granite walls. Man the rope swing, race around the ship and show off with a platform dive, if you dare. Or judge the activity from the dry decks of the ship. This evening, you will be greeted with cocktails and a cheery camaraderie as you join the Captain in a farewell toast.  Enjoy a sumptuous Alaskan seafood and prime beef dinner. After dinner, share in conversation with all the new friends you’ve made on your journey and show your video footage on the lounge's flat screen TV's.

Kayaks are available all morning for unguided touring at your leisure. Skiff tours around anchorage available all morning.  Before cocktail hour, indulge in platform diving contests, judged for style by the crew, and swim races around the ship.

Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is located on the edge of the Tongass National Forest. A Bon Voyage breakfast ends our ship journey; however there are many enticing ways to extend your journey from here.  Transfer directly to the Ketchikan airport,local accommodations or arrange for an add-on overnight land tour to Juneau, Ketchikan, Wrangell or Alaska’s interior. Parting can be such sweet sorrow, and if your schedule allows it, please feel free to join us as we cruise an entirely different route on the return trip from Ketchikan to Juneau.



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