Birdwatching in Haines
3 Activities
Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - Haines Departure
Meet your naturalist guide for a small-group driving tour to scenic and wildlife-rich Chilkoot Lake State Park. This park has it all: a turquoise lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, and important Tlingit cultural sights. Bald eagles, harbor seals, and brown bears are often seen here. As you drive through the park, your guide knows the best places to stop for scenery and the possibility of wildlife spotting. Supplied with extra binoculars and a powerful spotting scope to bring the wildlife in close, your guide explains how the animals fit into the Chilkoot's complex ecosystem. May, June, and July feature an explosion of wildflowers with bald eagles nesting along the lush river. Beginning in August, pink salmon-the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon varieties-begin their run up the Chilkoot River to spawn. This is the best opportunity to see brown bear as they are often witnessed feeding along the banks of the river. Make sure to bring your camera to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities.
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.
Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing Tour (Haines Departure)
Experience the natural world of Alaska with your own personal naturalist! Visit Haines and the wildlife rich corridor of the Chilkoot River. Haines is home to magnificent wildlife and breathtaking views of the natural world! With an experienced naturalist as your guide, you will see and learn about the plants and animals that make up the ‘wilds’ of Alaska. You will be met by your knowledgeable guide who will escort you to your transportation vehicle and begin your exploration of the area’s native culture, fascinating history and incredible scenery! We'll start with a narrated drive through historic Fort Seward, the first military base in Alaska. Leaving town, we will journey through the amazing Chilkoot Valley. On our journey to the Chilkoot River corridor, we take in coastal views along the longest fjord in North America, we may spot seals, sea lions, porpoise and whales feeding in these rich waters. The Chilkoot River is home to some of the best bear viewing in Alaska! The river’s huge salmon runs bring large numbers of bears every year. Situated amongst rugged glaciated peaks, it is home to numerous brown bears, mountain goats, salmon, river otters, and innumerable bald eagles. This area is a birdwatchers paradise with abundant local and migratory birds. Powerful spotting scopes or binoculars allow close-range views of mountain goats grazing in high alpine meadows and nesting eagles. After capturing images and experiencing the incredible natural beauty and wildlife of the Chilkoot River corridor, we’ll enjoy a seaside picnic of sandwiches, chips, fruit, and cookies. Following lunch, we will head to the mouth of the Chilkat River, home to the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world. Our final stop is habitat to all five species of wild Pacific salmon, drawing all of Alaska’s predators to its shores. The four ice-capped mountain ranges that surround the Chilkat River provide an unparalleled photography opportunities. A short drive back to Haines will return you to your vessel. Don't forget your camera! *Bear and other wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The tour stops can vary slightly according to maximum wildlife viewing potential.
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