Nestled in Alaska’s pristine Inside Passage is the hidden gem, Icy Strait Point. It’s a gorgeous cruise destination and only open when there’s a ship in port. Surrounded by lush rainforest, mountains and the clear waters of Port Frederick and Icy Strait, it offers direct access to wilderness, wildlife, and Native Tlingit culture. The Icy Strait Alaska tourist sites offer numerous outdoor adventures.
Icy Strait is home to the World’s Largest and Fastest ZipRider, plus has one of the largest coastal brown bear populations.
About 35 miles west of Juneau, this port of Hoonah is on Chichagof Island, the 5th largest island in the United States. Enjoying numerous port days here, I’m sharing my experiences and research. Thus, this article elaborates on the renowned ZipRider, along with the world-class Bear and Wildlife Excursions. Plus, I include tips about the shops, harbor, nature trails and Hoonah village.
Icy Strait Point Visitor’s Center – A Good Place to Start
From the cruise terminal, the extensive Icy Strait Point Center is nearby to plan your excursions. Icy Strait offers a variety of tours, such as, Whale Watching, Fishing, Wildlife, Ziplining & Culture Tours. Even if you plan no excursions, just wandering this area is full of stunning scenery, wildlife and culture. I walked from the cruise terminal to Hoonah and had one of the best days of my life.
“Hoonah” is the approximate pronunciation of the Tlingit name Xunaa, which means “lee of the north wind”, i.e., protected from the north wind. This port is in Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit village of Hoonah. Icy Strait Point is renowned for its responsible tourism, with its 20+ tours. Furthermore, it’s owned and operated by Huna Totem Corporation, Icy Strait Point is Alaska Native owned, with all profits supporting the local community.
Icy Strait Alaska Tourist Sites
This is a port where you have complete permission to not have a plan. On arrival there is the historic Cannery complex with 12 shops of unique, hand-crafted Alaskan gifts. Also, there’s a plethora of restaurants with ocean views and fresh seafood, such as, halibut, salmon, mouth-watering crab and chips. Additionally, hand-crafted beers from the local Icy Strait Brewery are on tap. I enjoyed my favorite seafood of halibut and chips with a craft beer at The Cookhouse, outside on the deck with an ocean view.
Conveniently, there’s a shuttle and walking path between Icy Strait and Hoonah. The 1.6-mile walking path along the harbor shores is amazing. I wandered this taking in the beautiful scenery and wildlife. It was elating to see a humpback whale swimming parallel to me, revealing its rainbow sprout in the sunny air. Additionally, I saw many eagles soaring above. I found the people of Hoonah friendly and informative about their pristine sanctuary of the Alaskan Inside Passage.
ZipRider – World’s Largest and Fastest Zipline
My favorite excursion in Icy Strait is the ZipRider . It’s the World’s Longest Zipline with 6 lines dropping 1,330 feet at speeds up to 60 mph. This one-of-a-kind experience can be great family fun, as a group of 6 descend together. Once on top of Hoonah Mountain, you take a short walk to old rainforests. Then, you receive a safety briefing before you go.
The lookout at the launching grounds is stunning and panoramic. I looked down to see the vast rainforest, harbor, my ship, and Hoonah below. After making the leap, I uncontrollably screamed out an adrenaline-rushed release for the first half. However, midway down, I even fumbled a photo of the view. I highly recommend that anyone doing this take their GoPro or find one to capture this unique experience. Finally, the ZipRider ends with a break-activated landing near the main visitor’s center.
Bear and Wildlife Watching Tour – Icy Strait Alaska Adventures
The Spasski River Valley on Icy Strait is famous for having one of the highest densities of coastal brown bears. Firstly, we took a scenic and informative drive to the valley, where we then crossed the muskeg to the viewing platforms. (Muskeg is a North American swamp consisting of a mixture of water and partly dead vegetation, frequently covered by a layer of sphagnum or other mosses.) Overall, I learned about the rainforest ecosystem, along with the flora and fauna of the region.
The platforms are located over the river at a safe yet reasonably close viewing distance. Quietly, we waited for about 15 minutes until seeing conspicuous wildlife. We saw 2 brown bears wading in the water and lingering along the banks. These bears were seasonably thin, as it was early springtime. Also, I saw a Sitka black-tailed deer wading in the river. I can only imagine how many bears are here once the salmon run. Also, this area is also great for bird-watching.
Tlingit Canoe and Cultural Experience
Lastly, I want to mention something that I did not do. However, this remains on my Bucket List and I wish to support the local community and culture. The Tlingit Canoe and Cultural Experience takes you into the strait waters in a traditional dugout canoe with a guide. It includes intimate views of the pristine harbor, while learning about the culture and stories of the Tlingit people.
Overall, Icy Strait Alaska Tourist Sites
This destination is a special place. If your time is limited, it’s advised to pre-book either online or through your cruise line. It would be a disappointment to arrive here and miss out on things like the Largest Zipline and highest populations of coastal brown bears in the world. However, if you prefer a day here with no agenda, that’s ok too. Because just being here amongst the stunning scenery, wildlife, culture and fresh seafood connects you to heart and soul of wild Alaska.
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