8 Epic & Free Things to do in Valdez

Post Topic: 8 Incredible Things to do in Valdez, Alaska

Visiting Valdez was a bit of a last minute decision. This charming fishing village wasn’t originally on our Alaska road trip itinerary, but we ended up with an extra day so we decided to check it out and I’m so glad that we did.

Alaska has some of the most impressive scenery I have ever witnessed in my life, but there’s something extra special about Alaska’s rugged coastline. There’s just something about when the beauty of the ocean meets the beauty of the mountains. I can’t get enough of it.

Valdez is situated on the Valdez arm which connects to the Gulf of Alaska. Here, you will find glaciers, mountain views, and so much wildlife. Valdez is famously known as the land of waterfalls, and for good reason, you can expect to see many waterfalls here!

It’s not difficult to rack up quite the bill when traveling to Alaska. Alaska offers some of the most incredible boat or plane tours that will take your breath away but are not easy on your pocketbook. Not to mention that the cost of food in these small Alaska towns is almost outrageous. That’s why I have compiled this list of 8 Epic & Free Things to do in Valdez. It IS possible to visit these incredible places and not break the bank.

Is your trip to Valdez a part of a larger trip to Alaska? You may also like these articles:

The Perfect Alaska National Parks Road Trip

The Ultimate Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park

How to Get to Valdez

There are three ways that travelers can get to Valdez: car, ferry, or plane.

We arrived by car, Valdez is a five hour drive from Anchorage but the views the entire drive are incredible. You will drive past several glaciers and on a clear day you’ll be able to see some of the highest peaks in the United States.

Other travelers may choose to take the ferry from Anchorage, you can find more information on ferry routes and ports, here. We did not travel this way but I can imagine that the views from the ferry would be stunning.

The third option is to take a regional flight from Anchorage to the Valdez airport. Definitely the quickest way to get to Valdez from Anchorage albeit more expensive.

#1 – Worthington Glacier

If you’ve chosen to travel via car, then the trip to Valdez starts on the Richardson Highway. About 30 minutes before reaching the town of Valdez, you’ll see the imposing Worthington Glacier sitting directly on the side of the highway.

If you were to ask me what one thing surprised me most about Alaska, I would say the sheer number and accessibility of glaciers spread all over the state. I’d seen a few glaciers before Alaska but never up close. But in Alaska, glaciers are everywhere! It’s a real treat to get to see so many up close.

Worthington Glacier is found in the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site. There is a $5 daily parking fee in the state recreation site, but there are plenty of free places to pull off the highway and take in the view. I would recommend hiking the Ridge Trail (which happened to be closed during our visit) for a better vantage point and views of the glacier.

Even if you’re not traveling to Valdez via car, I highly recommend the 30 minute drive to Worthington Glacier from Valdez. Don’t miss it!

#2 – Keystone Canyon

My second free activity in Valdez also comes before reaching the town of Valdez. A few more miles down the road from Worthington Glacier and we entered Keystone Canyon. There are several trail heads in this waterfall-dense canyon.

Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls can both be seen off of the highway, but if you’re looking to explore the canyon by foot, check out the Keystone Canyon Pack Trail. This original “pack trail” was built by the U.S. Army in 1898 as a route to the gold fields during the Klondike Gold Rush. The trail is 2.6 miles one-way, plan for 2-hours each way.

We haven’t even made it to the town of Valdez and there’s so much to see already!

#3 – Visit the Salmon Fish Hatchery during Feeding

Probably my #1 recommendation during a visit to Valdez.

What is a salmon fish hatchery, you ask? Well, these hatcheries are breeding and raising centers that have been built primarily to enhance harvest of salmon in commercial and sport while reducing the impacts of development that destroys or degrades salmon habitats and blocks migratory routes. Essentially, hatcheries improve the survival of young salmon so that the species is conserved and mitigates the effect that the fishing industry has on the salmon population. If you want to read more about fish hatcheries, you can do so here.

Salmon have a 1-cycle life span, meaning that when they’re ready to reproduce, they head back upstream to where their life began to spawn and then die. All of the salmon that were once little eggs at the Solomon Salmon Hatchery make their journey back during spawning season. This creates a massive salmon traffic jam outside of the fish hatchery in July and August.

Who would rather be caught in a salmon traffic jam other than a bear or a sea lion? Nearby bears and sea lions know that they can catch an easy lunch if they visit the hatchery during mid-tide. We didn’t see any bears at the hatchery but they’re known to frequent the area. However, we did see about a dozen sea lions chowing down on their fish snacks.

It was so neat watching these wild sea lions feed on salmon. Definitely one of the coolest things that we saw on our trip to Valdez.

#4 – Valdez Glacier

By the time we made it to Valdez Glacier, we had seen many glaciers in Alaska but this was the first one that had a lake full of mini icebergs. I was so happy that on our last full day in Alaska, we finally saw a lake with floating ice chucks.

The glacier had receded so much into the valley behind the mountains that it was not visible to us on foot. I’m sure if you had a kayak with you then you could venture closer to see the actual glacier (just do so with caution).

Valdez Glacier is a great spot to stop for an Instagram photo, it’s so picturesque.

Keep in mind that the wind coming off of the lake is freezing cold. Be prepared and make sure you grab your jacket.

#5 – Take a Walk by the Valdez Pier

Make sure you spend some time down by the water in Valdez. This small fishing town has many great restaurants and gift shops to check out but also take the time to just take in the views.

#6 – Wildlife Spotting in Valdez

Not only did we see lots of sea lions having a salmon feast, but we also saw dozens of Bald Eagles nesting in the trees near Valdez. We even saw a few Harbor Seals and Sea Otters swimming in the Port. Moose and bears also frequent the area.

Bald Eagles were the #1 species that I wanted to see during our trip to Alaska. I just think they’re so majestic. Valdez seemed to be a bit of a hot spot for Bald Eagles, I can’t even count how many we saw. We even saw a couple of Bald Eagles nesting in one of the trees near the hatchery. Did you know that Bald Eagles mate for life?

Keep your eyes out and you’ll be able to see some very incredible wildlife during your visit.

#7 – Eat at the Fat Mermaid

Ok, this the only thing on this list that’s not actually free. But if you’re looking for a good meal in Valdez, check out the Fat Mermaid.

We stopped in for brunch and the portion sizes were huge, I don’t think we ate anything else the rest of the day. Sticking to one meal a day is another way to save money in Alaska. Lol.

The Fat Mermaid is located right on the water, so sit outside and enjoy the views.

#8 – Hike to Shoup Bay

The only thing in Valdez that I wanted to do but wasn’t able to do. Unfortunately, the trail to Shoup Bay was closed for repairs during our visit.

The trail to Shoup Bay Glacier is about 12 miles round-trip. However, you can also just hike the first portion of the trail (Section A) for incredible views of Port Valdez. You can find more information on the Shoup Bay Trail here.

More Alaska Adventures