Nestled along the head of a deep fjord in the Prince William Sound on the southern coast of Alaska is the small but essential community of Valdez. Because of its beauty and stunning mountain vistas, it’s sometimes called the “Switzerland of Alaska.”
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RVers may reach this community of 4,000 via the Richardson Highway, about a 300-mile drive from Anchorage. The town is also a port of call in the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system.
Valdez is a fishing port, both for commercial and sport fishing. Sightseeing of the marine life and glaciers, together with both deep-sea fishing and heli-skiing, make it an adventurer’s mecca.
Just north of Valdez on the highway is Thompson Pass, which has spectacular waterfalls and glaciers next to the highway. The heavily glaciated Chugach Mountains surround Valdez, which is the northernmost ice-free, year-round port in North America.
Striking it Rich in Valdez
Industry in this community has prospered because of its role as the southern terminus for the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. Of course, Valdez isn’t all work and no play. Today, the tourism industry offers recreation opportunities for all four seasons. From easy nature walks to extreme skiing, you can find it all in Valdez.
Summertime is adventure time in this area. Visitors won’t run out of land animals, sea life and birds to observe. Wildflowers bloom along the sides of endless nature trails in and around Valdez. You can also see humpback and orca whales as they make their homes in Prince William Sound. Take stills or videos of the towering glaciers that sit atop mountains or stretch all the way down to the sea.
Prince William Sound is surrounded by the Chugach National Forest, the second largest national forest in the U.S. Here, visitors will see tidewater glaciers, including the massive Columbia Glacier, which is the second largest tidewater glacier in south-central Alaska.
Going Glacial
Half- or full-day tours afford you the best vantage points for glaciers, whales, mountain goats, sea otters, seals, puffins, sea lions, shorebirds and so much more.
Hop on excursion vessels for glacier and wildlife tour boats. Rental boats, charters and sailboats depart from the Small Boat Harbor for fishing, sightseeing and lodge transport. You can also take a helicopter to see impressive mountains, glaciers, wildlife and Prince William Sound. Grab your paddle and take a guided kayak tour, or head for the hills on an extended camping trip.