Doorway To Tlingit Native Culture
Hoonah is a native Tlingit community, located in Alaska’s southeast at the base of White Alice Mountain, about 30 miles west of Juneau. Icy Strait Point is a favorite for cruise ships because of its spectacular setting, wildlife, and Tlingit hospitality.
This is a land of adventure, where you can take a magical tour, hike nature trails (be careful – there are more brown bears than people here), visit a 1912 salmon cannery and museum, shop Alaskan-owned retail shops, visit a beach, view the glaciers and even see whales from shore.
Hoonah / Icy Strait Shopping
Visit the Cannery complex’s shops near the dock. There you’ll find everything from fine gold nugget jewelry, warm fashions, and souvenirs that will bring fond memories of your trip. You can also buy and ship canned wild-caught Sockeye Salmon.
Hoonah / Icy Strait Activities
The best Icy Strait excursions are easy to find. You’ve got whale watching in Icy Strait, zipping on trails with an ATV or Jeep, world-class whale watching and fishing, or even a swim in the icy waters. Kayaking and hiking are available for the adventuresome and fit.
Take a ride on the world’s longest zipline, the Icy Point Zip rider. Afterward, stop by Icy Strait Brewing for a hand-crafted beer to calm your nerves.
Hoonah / Icy Strait Restaurants
While the Duck Point Smokehouse Restaurant at Icy Strait Point is considered the landmark of eateries, with stunning views of beaches and scenery, there are several other restaurants where you can grab a bite. The Cookhouse Restaurant serves fresh halibut straight from the docks, and The Crab House serves king, snow, and Dungeness crab from local waters.
About Hoonah / Icy Strait
Hoonah’s name derives from the Tlingit for "where the north wind doesn’t blow.” Hoonah is the largest Native Tlingit village in Alaska.
Icy Strait Point, built as a salmon cannery, is Hoonah’s private cruise ship destination.
Summer weather in Hoonah is generally in the low-to-mid 60s during the day and high 40s to low 50s at night.
Hoonah / Icy Strait ACTIVITIES
Guided Kayak Tour
The three (3) hour kayaking tour will take you into the waters of Port Fredrick while enjoying the beautiful Alaskan scenery and wildlife such as; Eagles, Seals, Sea Lions, Sitka blacktail deer, and possible Whales nearby! The tour will start off with some basic instructions on how to paddle your kayak. Then will launch from the George Hall Memorial Harbor. As we make our way toward Port Fedrick, we will kayak around Pitt (Graveyard) Island over toward the Long Island area. On occasion, you might be able to see brown bears on the shoreline. Enjoy the Beautiful Alaskan Scenery and Wildlife! Your Guide to Adventure: Cody Anderson Cody grew up in Hoonah, Alaska which provided him with many great adventures! He has over 10 years of experience kayaking the waters of Port Fedrick and local knowledge of the area. Cody is an American Canoe Association (ACA) certified guide/instructor. He also carries certifications as an EMT with the Red Cross and is a certified Lifeguard/instructor. Book your tour with Fairweather Kayak Tours and let Cody share his experience, knowledge, and passion with you.
Wilderness Island Bear Tour - 3 Hr
This tour is a 3 Hour driving tour with a few very short walks. When you exit ISP’s property, you will drive a beautiful scenic mile and a half following the shoreline before reaching the community of Hoonah. Our guides are lifelong residents of Hoonah and will give you a brief history as you drive through the town before starting your adventure in search of wildlife and beautiful sceneries. This adventure begins by driving down dirt roads used initially for logging timber. Now they are primarily used by the tourism industry. They are an excellent source for tourism to see what Chichagof Island offers. This Driving Tour will be using roads that originated for logging, now converted for tourism uses to view Chichagof Island and all of it's natural beauty and plentiful wildlife. Also feel free to take advantage of several short walks throughout the tour to pick wild berries and see other flora.
Charter Fishing Trip
Charter fishing in Hoonah (Icy Strait), Alaska is the trip of a lifetime. Experience Alaska at its finest. What trip to Alaska would be complete without a private fishing charters excursion? After all, the waters near Hoonah, AK that includes Icy Strait are premium fishing grounds. This means no time wasted getting the hooks in the water on your 3.5 hour excursion. We will pick up and drop you off at dock facility property. We might even do some wildlife viewing! We start at docking facility for pick up. Its a short van ride to city harbor. There we board the boat and are on the water!
Halibut Fishing Charter
*Duration: Tours are usually four hours long, but can be adjusted based on cruise schedule. More Information: Whether you are on an Alaskan cruise or traveling independently, we can accommodate your schedule. Don't see your preferred time for a tour? Feel free to contact us for custom trips and departure times. Our summer season is from May through September and involves fishing trips, whale watching, bear viewing, sightseeing tours or any combination of these. If you are not able to book due to booking minimums not being met please email us [email protected] Pickup InformationGuests on our first charter of the day will be picked up directly from the Excursion Hub at Icy Strait Point. Your tour will conclude in Hoonah, with a convenient shuttle available to return to Icy Strait Point.Guests on our second or third charter of the day will be expected to take the convenient shuttle from Icy Strait Point to meet us in Hoonah. Guests will be dropped off at Icy Strait Point at the conclusion of charter.
Chichagof Island Bear Tour - 2 Hr
Your Alaska cruise on the Eurodam with the Holland America Line or on the Seabourn Odyssey wouldn't be complete without an excursion in the Icy Strait Point area conducted by local, family-owned Wilderness Island Tours, LLC. Our shore excursion of beautiful Chichagof Island has been modified to 2 hours to take into account your 4-hour land time. This excursion will include short walks, picking wild berries, and scenic views of mountains, landscapes, and flowers. Come with us on an unforgettable adventure where you'll experience fascinating wildlife, breathtaking views, and amazing photo opportunities. Your tour guides were born and raised in the Hoonah, AK area and know their surroundings intimately. As the only land-based tour company originating from Hoonah, we offer you one-of-a-kind viewing and learning opportunities. During your time with us, we’ll educate you about the culture of the native Alaskans – the Tlingits – and identify local plants with medicinal properties.
Exclusive Whale Watching
What's included A great time out on the water. duration: 3 hours from pick up to drop off cancellation_summary: We need three weeks cancellation notice for a full refund. meeting_point: Excursion Hub Icy Strait Point min_age: 8 max_age: 100 group_size: 5 accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible. pricing: a description: a what_is_included: a what_is_not_included: a
Guaranteed Whale Watching
Our local captain, Duane, will guide you through an unforgettable and surreal whale and wildlife watching experience, describing the diversity of wildlife and its cultural connection and significance to the Hoonah Tlingit people. The high accumulation of natural food in these waters makes it a habitual feeding ground for one of Alaska’s largest resident humpback whale populations, providing for a unique experience of “bubble-net feeding”, flipper slapping, and spectacular breaching! Our custom-built whale-watching vessel is highly maneuverable with a low profile design and large windows that allow unrestricted viewing while getting up close and personal to whales and other wildlife, yet staying dry and out of the weather. Viewing platforms on the outer decks allow you to get outside and experience the whales with all of your senses – see them, hear them, and, yes, when they come up close and spout, that whale breath is an experience your nose won’t forget! We will meet you at Icy Strait Point and transfer you to our vessel, Captain and Crew. For 2.5 hours you’ll be traveling through the waters of Icy Strait – home to a wide array of wildlife including Orcas (killer whales), Stellar sea lions, sea otters, Harbor seals, Dall’s porpoise, and the magnificent humpback whale. Keep an eye out for brown bears and Sitka Black-tailed deer meandering the shoreline, and the noble Bald eagle perched on tree-tops. From the village of Hoonah to Pt. Adolphus near Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait Whale Adventures will delight in sharing the majestic beauty and culture that is Alaska!
Whale Watching Cruise
See Humpback whales as they make their seasonal migrations through the Alaskan Inside Passage near Glacier Bay and Point Adopholous every year, and witness Orcas (Killer Whales) in their natural habitat. This wildlife tour also affords you the chance to see bears, seals, & other land and sea life. Our Whale Watching Adventure Tour is our premier sightseeing excursion. Hooked Adventures offers historical and wildlife information as we cruise near Hoonah, AK, and Icy Strait. Our Alaskan cruises are focused on educating visitors about how this port city was developed and the migration of spawning salmon that generates an upsurge in wildlife activity – all in search of food sources. Visit the historical Icy Strait Point Cannery, see current logging operations, and cruise out to Icy Strait, known for its humpback whales. Icy Strait is a great place to see wildlife – especially humpback whales – and soak up some of the age-old histories of Alaska. This tour is a must for all sea mammal enthusiasts. There are few places on Earth that can boast 112 different types of mammals, thousands of species of fish, and 489 recorded species of birds! Sit back and enjoy informative narratives, a pleasant boat ride, and many opportunities for wildlife sightseeing and historical Hoonah highlights all packed into one tour. Begin your historical and wildlife Alaskan cruise directly from the main docks of the cruise ships. When you exit your ship, your boat captain will be waiting for you! From there, we’ll guide you to your boat. We place a big emphasis on safety and comfort. Our boats have heat, walk-in heads, and several other amenities to make your trip a comfortable one From the gate of Icy Strait Cannery, we’ll journey southbound toward Hoonah City Dock. Experience the living culture of southeast Alaska’s locals. Here you can view the working fishing boats of the community and see the community that lives on their boats. The town is close-knit and the ride to our boats offers good viewing of the lifestyle of living in a secluded Southeast town. Unlike other sports, you won’t be bombarded by shops and vendors on the streets. All our captains and deckhands have lived, worked, and traveled in the state. Our historical and wildlife sightseeing cruises will answer (or try to answer) questions about living in Alaska. Housing, economy, travel needs for island communities, and much more. Proceeding out of the harbor, you will help the captain look for killer whales (orcas), humpback whales, harbor seals, and other wildlife. During the summer, large numbers of herring come into the bay and travel through the Icy Strait. This brings predators to feed. The yearly spawning of salmon also catapults the entire region into a feeding frenzy and brings all things into life. If the opportunity arises, our cruises will help you witness humpback whales bubble-feeding and orcas traveling in pods to teach hunting skills and feed their young.
Salmon & Halibut Fishing Charter
Come fish for Halibut and Salmon out of the beautiful Icy Strait! Port Frederick and Icy Straits has some of the best Halibut and Salmon fishing during the months of July-September. There is a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 guests. All guests must be 10 years of age and older per trip. If you don't have a party of 6 your charter may be combined with other smaller groups. For more information regarding fishing licenses in the State of Alaska, please see Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Icy Strait Whale and Bear Watching
Amazing whale watching and wildlife viewing await you during your visit to Hoonah, Alaska, near Icy Strait Point. I can't wait to share my knowledge of the humpback whales and the Hoonah area on this special tour! Our tour starts from the George Hull Boat Harbor in Hoonah, Alaska, which is only one mile from the Icy Strait Point cruise port.
Hoonah / Icy Strait GIFTS
Offered by Dei L'e .ann & Tlingit Botanicals
Tlingit Botanicals Natural 1/3 oz Salve
FEATURED STORES
Game Creek Guides
Hoonah, Alaska
Hoonah / Icy Strait Top 10
Alaska’s Longest Zip Line
Hoonah Whale Watching
Witness the unbelievable sight of whales breeching.
Hoonah Fishing
Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends
Located in Icy Strait Point, experience Native dancing, music, and cultural immersion with daily performances.
Icy Strait Brewing
Enjoy a cold one at Hoonah's local brewery.
Hoonah Canoe and Kayak
Local waters are perfect for paddling and seeing wildlife.