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Kenai Fjords National ParkKenai Fjords Coastal Backcountry
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Kenai Fjords National Park
Boat Tours
Tour boat near Holgate Glacier.
© Jim Pfeiffenberger

Boat tours depart Seward’s small boat harbor daily in the summer months. It’s a good idea to make reservations in advance. Many companies offer full-day tours that venture out to the park’s tidewater glaciers and half-day tours that give you a taste of the park’s wildlife and scenery while staying in the more protected waters of Resurrection Bay.

Several companies provide a variety of tour options, schedules and amenities. Park Rangers provide narration on all Major Marine Tours and on Renown Tours' National Park Cruise. Rangers will also be presenting programs daily at Kenai Fjords Tours' day lodge located on Fox Island.

Smaller charter boats are also available. During the shoulder seasons and winter months, some companies offer tours traveling the shorter routes in Resurrection Bay. Contact the tour companies or visit the Seward Chamber of Commerce for more information.

 

Tips for an enjoyable trip:

Plan to dress in warm layers that include a windproof and waterproof outer shell, a warm hat and gloves or mittens. The best place to enjoy views of wildlife and scenery is out on deck, but the winds can be surprisingly cold, even on sunny days.

A broad-brimmed rain hat is also recommended as well as sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, film and binoculars.

Many tour companies provide meals and/or snacks, but if they’re not included with your tour, be sure to bring some food.
 
Orca whales  

Did You Know?
There are 3 distinct types of Orca whale that roam the waters around Kenai Fjords National Park: residents that eat fish, transients that eat marine mammals, and less frequently viewed offshore orcas that stay in open water eating fish - including sharks.

Last Updated: August 30, 2006 at 18:10 EST