Kayaking

 

Duration:

19 minutes, 52 seconds

This film features master qayaq builder Joseph Tabios and his son, Kris Tabios, as they build a traditional Sugpiaq qayaq (kayak). The qayaq was one of the most essential methods used for travel and the survival of the Sugpiaq/Alutiiq people in the Chugach Region. This traditional qayaq was built in a partnership between Chugachmiut Heritage Preservation and Kenai Fjords National Park. It now proudly hangs in the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center in Seward, Alaska.

 

The Beautiful Legacy of a Bountiful Coast

By dipping your paddle into these waters, you're participating in the long history of human powered travel along the Kenai Peninsula coast. You can experience the awe-inspiring power of a tidewater glacier, while dipping a hand into these frigid waters. And keep a sharp eye peeled for birds and marine mammals, part of an interconnected marine food web that has sustained people for generations.

Paddling in Kenai Fjords can be a once in a lifetime experience, but it requires proper skills and preparation for a safe journey. Learn what you need to know to kayak at Kenai Fjords below.

 

Kayaking gets you up close and personal (but not too close) with the marine environment at Kenai Fjords.

NPS Photo

 

Kayak Tours

For all their beauty, these waters are not for beginners. The fjords are exposed to the Gulf of Alaska, with only a few protected coves, leading to challenging landings and sea conditions. Fortunately, with a variety of afternoon trips in Resurrection Bay to longer day or multi-day trips in the park, there is something for everyone of any experience level. Fortunately, many guides in the community provide opportunities to explore this area by kayak. Check out our directory for guides with Commercial Use Authorizations for Kenai Fjords.

 

Essential Planning

• Kayak Safety
• Coastal Camping & Landing Beaches
• Visit Bear Glacier Lagoon
• Water Taxis
• Stay in a Public Use Cabin
• Outfitters & Guides
• Know Your Park Regulations

What You Need to Know to Kayak Kenai Fjords

Traveling with a guide is strongly recommended for inexperienced paddlers. The fjords are exposed to the Gulf of Alaska, with only a few protected coves. If you are not an experienced sea kayaker or looking for a guided trip, consider using one of many experienced guides when planning your kayak adventure in Kenai Fjords.

Landings often involve surf, particularly when afternoon breezes kick up from the south. Wind and rainfall can be excessive, and summer storms often push an ocean swell of three feet or more into the fjords. Think safety, and be sure to consider potential risks as well as your own limits when planning a paddling trip in this area.

Seward is a great jumping off point to explore the park and surrounding areas. Visit the various Alaska State Parks recreation areas in Resurrection Bay, with a day or more, you can reach beautful sites like Caines Head, Thumb Cove, or many more. 

Paddling to the park directly from Seward is not recommended. There are long stretches of exposed coastline with no landing sites between Callisto Head and the Aialik Cape, and the waters around the Cape can be extremely treacherous. Most kayakers access the park by with a guide, water taxi, or charter boat from Seward and get dropped off in Aialik Bay, Northwestern Lagoon or Bear Glacier Lagoon. Another alternative is to fly in to the less-visited Nuka Bay area from Homer.

 

Be Aware of Abandoned Mines Hazard

Abandoned mines exist on remote coastal park lands. Explosives, mine openings, unsafe structures and toxic chemicals may be present. Visitors should use extreme caution and avoid abandoned mineral properties

 

Discover More