Canoeing, Kayaking & Rafting in Haines
5 Activities
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting - Departs from Haines
Treat yourself to a small group rafting and scenic driving tour through the famous Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Meet your expert guide and enjoy a riverside drive along the Haines Highway. The drive is incredibly scenic: glacier-clad mountains thrust to the sky, colorful wildflowers line the road, green riverside channels provide habitat for moose, bear and trumpeter swans. The highway was declared a National Scenic Byway in 2009. Arrive at the river in the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, approximately 45 minutes away. Don your life jackets, listen to your guide’s safety talk, board the raft and leave the road and civilization behind. You are immersed in the Alaskan wilderness, floating the silent river channels. This is a scenic float trip (no whitewater) through the home of the largest bald eagle congregation in the world. Thousands of bald eagles travel here to feed on salmon in the fall and winter. In the summer months, a healthy resident population of bald eagles lives along the river. Your expert guide will push the raft along, explaining the intricate balance of nature that makes this a unique and special place. You do not have to paddle; your hands are free for your camera and binoculars. Keep an eye out for other wildlife besides bald eagles. ……moose, otters, brown and black bear, and even wolves, call this Preserve their home. You will spend approximately one and one half hours floating the river. After rafting, your guide will select a scenic spot to enjoy a picnic lunch on your way back to Haines and/or back to your ship in Skagway.
Chilkoot Lake Bike & Paddle
Combine two outstanding activities on a 12-mile bike ride along a glacially carved fjord followed by kayaking across Chilkoot Lake! Head out from Haines by bicycle on a winding, paved road on the shores of the Lutak Inlet and take in the dramatic view of the fjord waters where whales, seals, and sea lions can be seen. We'll continue up the Chilkoot River, following the path of the spawning salmon where brown bears are frequently seen. From here, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, we'll get fitted for our kayak portion of the tour. We'll kayak the emerald waters of the vast lake which is uncrowded and surrounded by breathtaking views. Waterfalls tumble from thousands of feet above, and the lush green forest touches the shoreline. We’ll end the tour by driving back into town. After a quick drive through the small town of Haines, we’ll drop you at the ferry dock.
Available Timing
Wilderness Kayak Adventure Tour (Haines Departure)
This spectacular kayaking tour immerses you in the incredible beauty of wild Alaska! You will have the opportunity to see amazing blue glaciers, breathtaking waterfalls, and extraordinary wildlife and fauna! Join professional kayak guides for an exciting paddling adventure on the gorgeous Chilkoot Lake. This is a fantastic paddling excursion for all abilities and no experience is necessary. Your tour begins as you board a high-speed catamaran for a scenic 45-minute cruise along North America’s longest and deepest fjord to Haines. Along the way, you’ll witness spectacular views of waterfalls and ice-sculpted peaks as your guide points out marine wildlife. Upon arrival in Haines, you will board a motorcoach that will take you on a beautiful 40 minute drive to Chilkoot Lake. Once you have arrived at the water you will receive a brief safety orientation, be outfitted with flotation vest and rubber boots, and get familiarized with your sea kayak. At least the next 1.5 hours will be spent enjoying the breath-taking scenery that Alaska is famous for! While on the water, you will be surrounded with towering mountains, glaciers, rivers, and fabulous wildlife. There are frequent sightings of whales, otters, eagles, bears, and more. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the incredible scenery, take pictures of the astounding wildlife and enjoy a picnic style lunch! This is a great family experience and kids are welcome. Don’t forget to bring your camera! Note: We are able accommodate dietary restrictions with a minimum of 48 hours advanced notice, including gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, allergies, etc. * Timings: (~ 75 minutes) – Your friendly tour dock representative will meet you near the Skagway Small Boat harbor sign and restrooms. We will provide answers to any questions that you might have about your upcoming excursion and get you ready to board the ferry to Haines. We’ll help you board the comfortable ferry for the 50-minute narrated, scenic journey to Haines. (~ 60 minutes) – Upon arrival in Haines, restrooms will be available and you’ll meet your tour guide and driver for a breathtaking interpretive drive by the historic Fort Seward on our way to Chilkoot Lake. Along the way to the lake we’ll drive along the Lynn Fjord and the Chilkoot River which hosts a salmon run that takes place from mid-summer thru fall. (~10 minutes) – When we arrive at Chilkoot Lake you’ll have the opportunity to meet your other guides and take in the stunning views of the pristine lake. Your guides will help you get fit with a PFD (life jacket), spray skirt and paddle. You’ll then receive a thorough safety briefing and become familiar with your kayak and equipment before boarding your stable 3-person fiberglass kayak. (~90 minutes) – We will then take off on a paddle exploration of Chilkoot Lake. Chilkoot Lake is surrounded by mountains and numerous waterfalls. Salmon also end their journey from the ocean here to spawn on the sandy bottom in late-summer. The lake is well-sheltered from the wind and makes for excellent kayaking regardless of the weather conditions. (~50 minutes) – once we’ve paddled back to our dock you’ll have some free time to use the spotting scopes on our private deck to take in the views from a different perspective. We’ll then board our transportation and head down to the ocean for lunch. (~30 minutes) – At our private ocean side picnic area, where you’ll enjoy a picnic-style lunch provides great views of the Lynn Fjord in a private setting. (~60 minutes) – Once we wrap up with lunch we’ll head over to the ferry dock where you’ll have the opportunity to use the restrooms and take additional photos of Haines before enjoying the scenic ride back up the fjord to Skagway. (~15 minutes) – Upon returning to Skagway, a short walk will bring you back to our original meeting point, just a few minutes’ walk or shuttle to downtown Skagway and all three cruise ship docks.
Fjords of the Inside Passage Kayaking Tour from Haines
Paddle with knowledgeable guides just outside of Haines, Alaska along the longest and deepest Fjord in North America. Experience beautiful views and enjoy opportunities to see marine wildlife from your tandem kayak. Upon arrival to Haines you will be greeted by your professional kayak guide for the ocean kayak trip of a lifetime. Your 2 person kayaks will be set up on the beach & will be a short 5-minute walk from the ferry pier. We’ll choose from a variety of beautiful ocean paddles depending on sea conditions and weather. Your tour guides will outfit you with a PFD (personal flotation device), spray skirt & paddles. After a safety briefing and equipment introduction/fitting, you are off and paddling. You will be on the water for about 2 hours. We have seen eagles, sea lions, seals, Dall's porpoise, humpback whales or other marine wildlife along our way. Your guide is an expert naturalist and will share their extensive knowledge about the fjord, marine wildlife and local geography. We will likely stop off at a remote beach to stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Southeast Alaska while enjoying a picnic style lunch. In an instance where ocean conditions aren’t suitable, we’ll head to our backup location on Chilkoot Lake which is a 30-minute van ride along the Chilkoot River. This backup location is surrounded by mountains with alpine waterfalls and salmon spawning beds. Itinerary * ~15 minutes -- Your friendly guide will meet you near the Haines Cruise Ship Dock where you will have the opportunity to get to know your guide and ask any questions that you might still have about your upcoming excursion. * ~5 minutes -- You will take a short walk to the adjacent beach where your 2-person kayaks will be waiting (1/3 km). * ~20 minutes -- Your guides will help you get fit with a PFD (life jacket), spray skirt and paddle at the onset of the tour. You’ll then receive a thorough safety briefing and become familiar with your kayak and equipment before boarding your stable 2-person kayak. * ~ 120-180 minutes -- We will spend the next 2-3 hours paddling on the ocean depending on the conditions and group preferences. There will be an opportunity to stop and get out of the kayak for a picnic style lunch before paddling back to your starting point. * ~15 minutes -- After arriving back at the beach, we will take the short walk back to our meeting spot at the Haines Cruise Ship Dock.
Chilkoot Canoe Wildlife Safari Tour (Haines Departure)
After meeting your tour representative in Skagway, you'll board a high-speed catamaran for a 45-minute boat ride to the town of Haines. Upon arrival in Haines, we'll take a short tour of Fort Seward, a 30-minute drive from downtown Haines, and then head up the Lutak Inlet to the Chilkoot River Valley. The Chilkoot corridor offers incredible wildlife viewing. Brown Bears, eagles, mountain goats, and spawning salmon are common sights. Our guides are expert naturalists and enjoy sharing their love and knowledge of the Alaskan wilderness. Once at the Lake, we’ll head out onto Chilkoot Lake in stable motor-assisted Voyageur Canoes. Our Canoes are built using similar dimensions as the canoes used by trappers and gold miners at the turn of the century. Powered by either paddle or motor, this tour offers guests the opportunity to paddle in the serenity of Chilkoot Lake, while also having the advantage of relaxing and taking photographs when it’s time to take a break from paddling. We’ll be out on the water for about 2 hours and explore the inlets, coves, salmon spawning streams, and numerous waterfalls that spill off of the mountains into the lake. After enjoying the beautiful views of the lake, we’ll return to Haines and serve a picnic-style lunch at a private ocean beach location. Following lunch, we'll load up back onto the fast ferry for the return trip to Skagway. * Timings: (~50 minutes) – Your friendly guides will meet you near the Port Chilkoot Cruise Ship Dock in Haines. Before departing you’ll be able to ask any questions that you might still have about your upcoming excursion and use the restrooms before you embark on an interpretive drive through historic Fort Seward and continue to Chilkoot Lake. Along the way, we’ll drive along the breathtaking shoreline of the Lynn Fjord and the wildlife-rich Chilkoot River. (~15 minutes) – When we arrive at Chilkoot Lake you’ll have the opportunity to meet your other guides and take in the stunning views of the pristine lake. Your guides will help you get fit with a PFD (life jacket), rubber boots, and canoe paddle. You’ll then receive a thorough safety briefing and orientation before boarding the 31’ long voyageur canoe for your adventure. (~90 minutes) – We’ll spend the next hour and a half experiencing Chilkoot Lake while our stable voyageur canoes. It is an excellent way to take in the fantastic views by water and if the wind picks up or you’re ready to relax, we will use the quiet 4-stroke motor to move around. (~15 minutes) – Once back at the put-in we’ll trade your rubber boots and PFDs back in for your shoes and you’ll have time to enjoy our private deck and spotting scopes to take in the views of the lake and surrounding mountains and waterfalls one more time. (~35 minutes) – We’ll then board our transportation and head down to the ocean for lunch. (~25 minutes) – At our private ocean-side picnic area, you’ll enjoy a picnic-style lunch that provides great views of the Lynn Fjord in a private setting. (~10 minutes) – Once we wrap up with lunch, a brief trip will bring us back to our meeting point near the dock which is a short walk from downtown and nearby shops and restaurants.
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