Experience Valdez
Well you made it here, now what do you do? Despite the small size of Valdez, there are plenty of things to fill your day!
Outdoor Adventures
1. Hiking: Explore the numerous trails around Valdez, such as Dock Point Trail or Homestead Trail, both offering spectacular views and a chance to experience the local flora and fauna.
Dock Point Trail View
2. Kayaking: Paddle through the serene waters of Prince William Sound, where you can get up close to glaciers and marine wildlife. Guided tours are available for those looking to learn more about the area's ecology.
3. Fishing: Cast your line in the waters of Valdez, known for its excellent salmon fishing. Join a charter or try your luck from the shore.
Valdez Outfitters with boat rentals if you are comfortable taking your own boat out!
4. Glacier & Wildlife Tours: Take a boat tour to see the stunning glaciers up close. Many tours offer the chance to witness calving glaciers and may even include opportunities for wildlife spotting, like sea otters and seals.
Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises
5. Skiing and Snowboarding: In the winter months, hit the slopes at Thompson Pass, a local favorite for backcountry skiing and snowboarding. The area boasts incredible powder and stunning views.
Scenic Drives and Views
1. Keystone Canyon: As you approach Valdez, you'll travel through Keystone Canyon, a stunning area known for its breathtaking waterfalls, impressive geology, and intriguing history. This canyon stretches from miles 14 to 17 on the Richardson Highway. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the picturesque waterfalls. The most famous are Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, but you'll also find many others, including Rudleston Falls, throughout the canyon. We loved driving through this canyon, it was like entering a different world from the rest of south-central.
2. Valdez Glacier: Valdez Glacier is a stunning 20-mile valley glacier terminating right in Valdez. Its vast runoff creates a picturesque lake at the glacier's edge, which becomes a popular kayaking spot in the summer. Be sure to wear your life jacket, as this glacier-fed lake is around 640 feet deep. Various outfitters in Valdez offer guided kayak tours for visitors. In winter, Valdez Glacier Lake transforms into a frozen wonderland, where massive icebergs take on incredible natural sculptures. Activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling are available during certain times of the season. Just remember to check that the lake is completely frozen before venturing out for your safety.
3. Thompson Pass: Thompson Pass is a scenic mountain pass located along the Richardson Highway, near Valdez. It is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, including towering peaks, glaciers, and lush valleys. The pass is often heavily snow-covered, making it a popular site for winter sports and a challenging route for travelers. Thompson Pass is also known for its high snowfall, sometimes receiving some of the heaviest snow totals in North America, which makes it a key location for avalanche activity. The pass plays an important role in transportation between Valdez and the rest of the state, particularly in winter, and is a key feature of the area's natural beauty.
4. Dayville Road: This road actually runs parallel to the town of Valdez, across the harbor. If you are looking for an easy way to view wildlife, this drive is well worth it. There is plenty of parking spots to pull over and enjoy the view or fish from the shore and there is a small camping ground located at the end of the road too. The Solomon Gulch Hatchery is located down Dayville Rd, which provides plenty of fish for sea lions, bears, and birds to feast upon. But I will give this warning… It smells absolutely horrible!! So be prepared if you have a sensitive sense of smell.
Food & Brews
There are some wonderful places to eat and drink in Valdez. This small town packs quite the punch in the food and brew department. So if you are looking for some suggestions are where to eat, we definitely recommend the following places.
1. The Coffee Co.: We stopped here both mornings for coffee and breakfast treats. A great little spot with a lot of local artwork and goodies. Definitely give it a try!
2. The Nat Shack: Known for their epic take on the Crunchwrap, visiting The Nat Shack while in Valdez is a must! Its an outdoor eatery that serves fantastic Cal-mex fusion flare. We have some friends that begged us to go here and bring them back Crunchwraps (yes even with the 5.5 hour drive back). And I can safely say we would drive to Valdez just for those Crunchwraps. The Nat Shack is just that good!
3. The Potato: A fun little eatery where their dishes feature, you guessed it, potatoes! I had the Spudniks, which was like biscuits and gravy but sub fries for the biscuits. So delicous!
4. Valdez Brewing: Valdez Brewing, founded in 2013, is a craft brewery in Valdez, Alaska, known for its locally inspired, high-quality beers. The brewery values creativity, regularly offering limited-edition beers that showcase innovative flavors and brewing techniques. Oh and they are super dog friendly!
While we didn’t get to every spot in Valdez, here are some other honorable mentions that we hope to visit in the future:
