12+ FUN things to do in Valdez, Alaska (+ trip planning logistics!)

In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Valdez, Alaska, plus important things to know to plan your trip.

Located on the head of a fjord on Alaska’s Prince William Sound is quite possibly the most scenic town in the state: Valdez. With towering peaks, coastal views, fjords, giant waterfalls, a scenic canyon, glaciers, and so much more, Valdez is an absolute treat for the eyes. In fact, it’s sometimes referred to as “Little Switzerland.” 

You may know of Valdez for being the site of the Exxon oil spill in 1989, which at the time was the largest oil spill in US history. And while the town is the southern terminus for the 800 mile long Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, it’s also an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Watch our experience in Valdez, Alaska, including seeing giant sea lions, exploring waterfalls, and witnessing some epic views! 

Here you’ll find beautiful hikes, boat tours, tons of wildlife, and incredible fishing opportunities. Besides its beauty, it also has an authentic, small town feel that despite being popular with tourists, doesn’t feel overly touristy.

It’s safe to say we LOVED Valdez. And we are excited to share some of the best things to do in Valdez, plus tips on where to stay, when to visit, and what to eat, so you can plan your own adventure in this beautiful region.

Looking for more things to do in Alaska? Check out our Alaska guides and vlogs!

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• The ULTIMATE Summer Alaska Packing List
• Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• The BEST things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park
• The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Denali National Park (Mile 0-43)
• 8+ EPIC things to do in Hatcher Pass in Alaska
• How to hike the Portage Pass Trail in Whittier, Alaska 
• Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail at Kenai Fjords National Park
• RVing Alaska: Our top tips & things to know! 
• The ULTIMATE guide to driving the Alaska Highway
• How to spend 7 days in Alaska (4 itinerary options!)
• All of our Alaska vlogs
• All of our Alaska guides

12+ FUN things to do in Valdez

As we mentioned above, there are many things to do in Valdez, Alaska! From hitting the trail to hitting the water, there is a little something for everyone. Below are 12+ fun things to do in Valdez, which will give you the chance to experience the variety of activities this area has to offer.

Not sure how to squeeze it all into one trip? We’re sharing a 3 day Valdez itinerary later on in this guide to help you out!

Drive through Keystone Canyon

If you drive to Valdez, one of the first introductions you’ll have to the town is the epic drive through Keystone Canyon.

This 3 mile narrow canyon has towering rock walls, a gorgeous river rushing through, and many waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet down. It is a magical sight to see! 

Driving through Keystone Canyon alone is amazing, but stopping and getting out of the car to see this wonder is even better. Here are the must sees in Keystone Canyon (in order from north to south)!

Rudleston Falls

The first waterfall you’ll come across when driving to Valdez is Rudleston Falls. Tucked into a little nook, you may miss it unless you know where to stop. Compared to the others we will list, it’s a bit smaller, but still worth a stop. Especially because it is next to something unique!

Railroad tunnel

While Keystone Canyon is known for its waterfalls, there is also interesting history to learn about! Right next to Rudleston Falls is an old railroad tunnel that you can walk through.

The history of this tunnel dates back to the early 1900s, when copper was discovered at the Kennecott Mine outside McCarthy. There was a race to build the first train tracks from the mine to the port town of Valdez. A handful of companies attempted to build through the canyon, but a gun battle was fought and the tunnel was never finished.

You can walk through the tunnel, which is dark and wet, so bring a headlamp and watch your step!

Bridal Veil Falls

At 600 feet tall, Bridal Veil Falls is the most popular of the falls and it sure is impressive! It is very easy to access, with a large parking area across from it. The waterfall is across the street from the parking area and there isn’t a way to access it besides from the side of the road. So make sure to be careful when crossing the road and standing alongside it!

Note: You will see Bridal Veil Falls trail on the map, but you do not need to hike a trail to view it.

Horsetail Falls

There are many smaller, unnamed falls along the drive, but the final named waterfall you’ll see is Horsetail Falls. Unlike Bridal Veil Falls, which is tall and narrow, Horsetail Falls is wide and has a few different streams. You can also get up close to it! 

There is a small parking area right by the falls, so it’s very easy to access!

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!

These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

Go on a glacier and wildlife viewing cruise

One of the most epic things to do in Valdez is a glacier and wildlife viewing cruise through Prince William Sound. 

Imagine this: you’re cruising along a beautiful sound, with insane mountains all around you, and then BAM the sound of thunder. But it isn’t thunder! It’s a glacier calving, which is when huge ice chunks break off and slams into the water. 

We got to experience this firsthand on a glacier viewing tour in Kenai Fjords National Park (photographed above). It was one of our favorite things we have ever done! Seeing glaciers calve was one of the wildest things we have seen in nature.

And beyond the glaciers, you can also expect to see lots of wildlife including puffins, eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, and maybe even dolphins and whales!

There are a couple popular glaciers to check out near Valdez. Here’s a rundown of each, so you can pick which is best for you!

Columbia Glacier Tour

The Columbia Glacier is the second largest tidewater glacier in North America, which is a glacier that meets the ocean. After wiggling through the Chugach Mountains for 32 miles, it finally meets Prince William Sound. 

It covers an area of about 400 miles and can be about 550 meters thick in some areas! This glacier has been in rapid decline over the past few decades and millions of tons of ice break off of its face every single day. Talk about mind blowing!

Stans Stephen Glacier & Wildlife Tours offers a 6 hour cruise to Columbia Glacier, from May to September. Lu Lu Belle is another cruise provider that is popular!

Meares Glacier Tour

The Meares Glacier is one of the only tidewater glaciers in North America that is advancing.

And on a Meares Glacier tour, the boat captain has more time to explore the coastline for even more wildlife. They will also explain some of the history of the Sound including early explorers, gold and copper miners, fishing, oil, and the 1964 earthquake. 

Stans Stephen Glacier & Wildlife Tours offers a 8 hour cruise to the Meares Glacier, from June through September.

Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Book it on Tripadvisor and use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off!

See the Worthington Glacier

The Worthington Glacier is one of Alaska’s most road accessible glaciers. It’s a valley glacier that is 4 miles long and encompasses 5,744 acres! 

The glacier is right along the Richardson Highway and it’s hard to miss when driving to Valdez. But to get a better glimpse of it than just from your moving car window, you have a couple options.

You can either visit the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site, which costs $5 to enter, or view it from the road. At the time of writing this guide (May 2023), the trail to get close to the glacier is closed and you can only get to the observation platform. So in our opinion, the best option is to pull over on the side of the road and view it from there.

Note: these photos were taken with a zoom lens.

Explore Thompson Pass

Located about 30 miles east of Valdez, Thompson Pass is a mountain pass that sits at 2,678 feet in the Chugach Mountains. It is known as the snowiest place in all of Alaska and possibly the United States, receiving an average of over 500 inches per year. It also holds the record for snowiest day in Alaska at 62 inches. That’s a lot of snow!

But don’t worry, if you visit in the summer, like we did, you won’t be stuck in inches of snow. Instead you’ll have panoramic views of towering, jagged mountains, flowing streams, glaciers, and tundra terrain. It is absolutely incredible! 

Similar to Keystone Canyon and Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass is another spot that you’ll drive through on your way to Valdez. We first saw this area at sunset on our drive to Valdez and it took our breath away. Seeing the alpenglow on the mountains is something we will never forget!

And while it is amazing to drive through, it’s even better when you get out and explore by foot! But before you do, it’s important to know that there aren’t any marked trails in Thompson Pass. You’re able to choose your own adventure! 

During our visit, we went to a popular, large overlook area and wandered around some matted down “trails.” This AllTrails route is around where we went. We also went across the highway to another area and wandered around a bit, which you can see on our trail recording.

Even if you just pull over to soak up the scenery, Thompson Pass is worth a quick stop. It’s one of our favorite views in all of Alaska!

Visit the Solomon Gulch Hatchery

An important part of Valdez is the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery, which is North America’s largest pink salmon hatchery. Its mission is to ensure sufficient numbers of wild salmon return each year, to increase the harvests of both sport and commercial fisheries in the Valdez area. They incubate, rear, and release 250 million pink salmon fry and 1.8 million Coho salmon smolt yearly!

The hatchery is open to the public and the best time to visit is between July through October, when the salmon return to the hatchery to spawn. You can do a self guided tour of the hatchery, as well as just watch sea lions, seals, bald eagles, and if you’re lucky, a bear, feasting on salmon.

Visiting this hatchery was one of the wildest experiences we had in Valdez. We loved it so much we went TWICE in one day and spent at least 3 hours here! 

We got to see probably 100+ GIANT steller sea lions catching and munching on salmon. It was a bit gory, but holy cow, was it cool! It felt like we were watching a National Geographic documentary, but in real life. You can see the epic footage we got here! 

We had read that high tide is the best time of day to visit for the best chance to see wildlife. During our visit, we went at high tide and also before low tide. And while both times had a good amount of wildlife, we actually saw more sea lions closer to low tide. So regardless of when you go, you should have some good luck! We never did see a bear though. 😞

Besides the hatchery, there is also a stunning waterfall right across the street that you can view from the road. Make sure to check that out too!

Check out Valdez Glacier Lake

Just a few miles outside of Valdez is Valdez Glacier Lake. This 640 foot deep lake (woah!) is where the 20 mile long Valdez Glacier terminates.

Unfortunately, the glacier has receded so much that you can no longer see it from the lakeshore, but you can see huge chunks of ice, some as big as city blocks, floating on the lake. 

You can view these icebergs from the lakeshore or out on the water with a kayak, SUP board, or raft! If you have your own, you can launch it here, but if not, you can rent a kayak through Valdez Play and Stay or go on a guided tour with Alaska Guide Co or Anadyr Adventures.

Go kayaking or rafting

Valdez Glacier Lake isn’t the only place you can kayak or raft in Valdez! The Prince William Sound is also a popular spot to get out on the water. 

Anadyr Adventures offers a bunch of guided kayaking day trips along the Prince William Sound, including to the Columbia Glacier, islands, and Gold Creek. You can also rent a kayak from Valdez Play and Stay to kayak on Robe Lake!

Eat at some delicious local restaurants

One of our favorite things to do when visiting a new town is try the local restaurants. And despite Valdez being a small town, it has some solid spots! Here are some of our favorites from our visit, plus some we want to check out next time.

The Coffee Co.
This is THE spot for coffee in Valdez! It has a nice wooden vibe inside, serves Kaladi Coffee (an Alaskan roaster), and makes some delicious drinks. We tried their seasonal drink, the Hipster Moose Mocha, which had chocolate, pistachio, and maple spice. And holy cow it was unique and delicious! We had to go back a couple more times for another. 😃

Nat Shack
This is a cool little trailer right across the street from the harbor. They have delicious crunchwraps (yes, like Taco Bell, but better!), tacos, and chips and dips. We tried the banh mi crunchwrap, chip and dip flight, and shack tacos and everything was so dang good!

And if you’re curious about the photo, we celebrated my 30th birthday at Nat Shack!

The Potato
The Potato first started in 1995 in McCarthy, Alaska and in 2014 opened up this location in Valdez. As the name implies their menu is built around their hand cut curly fries, but that’s not all they have. They offer burritos, sandwiches, chowder, salads, and more! 

We went to their McCarthy location after backpacking in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and loved it. We got a burger, burrito, and of course the famous fries and it was all delicious. And we aren’t just saying that because we ate backpacking meals for two days straight before it. 😉

Magpie’s on the Fly
This is a little cafe food truck with a menu focusing on local, fresh ingredients. They have home baked pastries, breakfast items, grilled sandwiches, and a few dinner items. They also offer a dinner theater, but more on that in a bit!

Northern Treats
This little snack stand in has ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, smoothies, coffee, and more! It’s cash only, so make sure you have enough cash. Otherwise, you’ll be like us and have to split one…the worst!

Valdez Brewing
Valdez Brewing is a small town brewery who makes over 10 different beers and 2 homemade sodas. You can also grab a po boy from Poor Betty’s while there. This looks to be a great spot to relax after a day full of adventures!

Aunty Yum Yum’s Real Thai Food
If you’re craving Thai food, this spot overlooking the Valdez waterfront looks tasty!

Hike a trail near town

There aren’t as many established hiking trails in the Valdez area compared to other parts of Alaska. But if you’re looking to stretch your legs, here are a couple shorter hikes (more like walks) near town!

Dock Point trail

Miles (roundtrip): 0.9
Elevation gain: 118 feet
Reviews & Current Conditions

Located right in town, the Dock Point trail takes you around a peninsula that has amazing views of the mountains right across the Prince William Sound. You may also see some wildlife too!

Homestead trail

Miles (roundtrip): 1.2
Elevation gain: 89 feet
Reviews & Current Conditions

This short and easy hike takes you out to where Mineral Creek meets Port Valdez. The views at the end are incredible!

Solomon Gulch Viewpoint + Lake

Miles (roundtrip): 4.3
Elevation gain: 931 feet
Reviews & Current Conditions

This hike packs quite a punch for its distance. It takes you to a viewpoint overlooking Port Valdez, by waterfalls and a rushing river, before ending at the glacial blue Solomon Lake and dam. This is high up on our list for next time!

Want a more strenuous hike?

Alaska Guide Co offers a guided hike up in the alpine terrain, which is a great way to experience this area’s beauty!

Go on a guided fishing trip

With waters loaded with halibut, ling cod, rockfish, and salmon, Valdez is an angler’s heaven! There are a handful of charter companies that can get you out on the water to catch your daily limit, including Valdez Saltwater Adventures. Make sure you get a fishing license to fish in Alaska!

Attend a Far North Follies show

One of the more unique things to do in Valdez is attend a Far North Follies show. This is a local theater group that puts on vaudeville shows at Magpie’s on the Fly. You’ll get to learn some history about Valdez in a fun way, with singing and dancing. All while enjoying a meal!

You can see their full schedule here! During the summer, they tend to have shows every Friday and Saturday night.

Learn history at the Valdez Museum

Valdez has experienced a lot over the years. Once utilized solely by Native Alaskans, the area experienced a boom in 1898 with the Gold Rush. Thousands of people seeking gold stampeded into the area, only to be surprised that there was no town. They put up tents and began to build the town of Valdez. However, the original town they created is not the one you see today.

In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska, which is the largest magnitude earthquake ever recorded in North America. This earthquake destroyed Valdez and they actually moved the town 4 miles away to higher ground, where it is now.

And as we mentioned earlier, the area also experienced another horrible tragedy with the Exxon oil spill in 1989. A tanker cargo ship ran aground and soaked the Prince William Sound in 11 million gallons of crude oil, killing thousands of wildlife and had many negative impacts on the area. It took 3 years to clean it up and the area is still recovering and being monitored today by scientists. 

The best place to learn more about Valdez’s history is the Valdez Museum. This is currently two museums, located four blocks apart. By visiting both, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of this beautiful area and all it has overcome.

Visiting in the winter? Check out these winter activities!

While we personally loved visiting Valdez in the summer and think it’s the best time to experience all of what the area has to offer, Valdez is a winter lover’s paradise too!

With record breaking snow up at Thompson Pass and frozen waterfalls, there are some pretty epic adventures to be had in the fall, winter, and spring months. 

Ice climbing

During the winter, the waterfalls in Keystone Canyon freeze over, making for epic ice climbing opportunities. There is even an ice climbing festival (usually in February). While we didn’t ice climb in Valdez, we did go ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier and can vouch that it is super fun and exhilarating! 

Skiing and snowboarding

Valdez offers backcountry skiing and snowboarding, typically accessed via helicopters. There is even an annual 10 day skiing and snowboarding event called Tailgate Alaska!

But for those looking for something more accessible and affordable, the Salmonberry Ski Hill is located close to town and offers a chill, easier experience.

Get out on the water!

You may be thinking…in the winter? While the area around Valdez turns into an icy, snowy wonderland, Port Valdez doesn’t freeze over. So throw on some layers and head out on the water! Alaska Guide Co. also offers a guided tour if you want to have a local come along! 

Planning your trip to Valdez

Where is Valdez, Alaska?

Valdez is located in southcentral Alaska at the head of a deep water fjord on the Prince William Sound. It is more remote and isolated compared to other popular places to visit in Alaska, but for those willing to make the trek, it’s 100% worth it.

How do you get to Valdez, Alaska?

Valdez is accessible by car, air, and boat. Regardless of which method you choose to arrive, you will be treated to some amazing scenery!

Driving to Valdez

The only road that takes you to Valdez is the Richardson Highway. This highway runs north and south from Tok, Alaska to Valdez. This stretch of the drive is a spectacle in itself. You’ll see panoramic views of the Wrangell Mountains, the Worthington Glacier, and drive through Keystone Canyon. 

If driving from Anchorage or the Kenai Peninsula, you will first drive on the Glenn Highway, before turning right onto the Richardson Highway. The Glenn Highway is also a gorgeous drive!

Ready to hit the road? Here is how long you can expect to drive from popular Alaskan destinations:

Glennallen: 2 hours (118 miles)
Anchorage: 5 hours, 15 minutes (299 miles)
Fairbanks: 6 hours, 15 minutes (363 miles)
Seward: 7.5 hours (423 miles)
Homer: 9 hours, 15 minutes (520 miles)

Taking a boat to Valdez

Another popular way to get to Valdez is via the Alaska Marine Highway system. The route from Whittier to Valdez is about 81 miles and typically takes around 6 hours, depending on conditions. Along the way you’ll have insane views of the mountains that line the Prince William Sound.

If you choose to take the ferry to Valdez, be sure to reserve your spot as early as you can. This route only operates 3 times per week in the summer and less in the shoulder seasons. It sells out very quickly!

Make sure to spend some time in Whittier before the ferry. Check out our guide to hiking the Portage Pass Trail, which is one of the best things to do in Whittier!

Flying to Valdez

Flying is the least common way to get to Valdez, but is a stunning option! You’ll pass over the glacial fields of the Chugach Mountains, with views of the Prince William Sound below. 

Ravn Air provides twice daily flights out of the Anchorage airport, which are just a short 45 minutes. Since it’s typically small planes that fly in and out, they will be heavily dependent on weather. It’s not uncommon for flights to be canceled several days in a row due to fog, blizzards, and cloud cover.

While this is the quickest way to get to Valdez, you will be without a car while there, which will limit what you can do.

When is the best time to visit Valdez, Alaska?

In our opinion, the best time to visit Valdez is between July and September. This is when the trails are snow free, the salmon are spawning, tour operators are running, and you’ll have plenty of daylight for adventures. June is also a good month, but you may not see as much wildlife at the hatchery.

We visited Valdez in early August. Our summer in Alaska was pretty rainy and Valdez was no exception. Our first couple days in Valdez were extremely rainy and foggy. But we lucked out with a nice morning on our third day, which turned foggy, but was rain free.

Even in the rain, the area is still gorgeous. But we do hope to go back and experience it on a fully sunny day!

How many days should you spend in Valdez, Alaska?

Due to how much effort it takes to get to Valdez, we suggest three days to truly enjoy the area! You can spend less time and still accomplish a lot, but three days will give you the chance to experience the best things to do in Valdez. Here’s a sample itinerary to get you started!

Have less time? Many people will stop at Worthington Glacier, Keystone Canyon, and Thompson Pass on their way to Valdez. This is a great way to cut this three day itinerary to about two days if needed. Since we arrived to Valdez late at night, we opted to go back and enjoy these spots properly another day.

Where to Stay in Valdez

Valdez is a smaller town, so the lodging options are a bit more limited. But it still offers something for every type of traveler!

Hotels

Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn
Totem Hotel and Suites

Airbnbs

Tiny Home (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Tiny Home 2 (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Kade’s Cabin (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)

Camping and Boondocking

Campgrounds

Bear Paw RV Park 
Located in downtown Valdez, Bear Paw RV Park offers full and partial hookup sites on flat, crushed gravel pads. There is a launderette, hot showers, and restrooms. 

Bear Paw RV Park II 
This campground is another Bear Paw RV Park, located right on the water, with mountains surrounding you. This is an adults only, quiet campground. Some sites are right on the water where you can watch boats come in and out of the harbor and you can even fish.

Allison Point Campground
This campground is a bare bones campground managed by the Army FMWR (Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation). It is located near the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery and offers some of the best shore fishing in Alaska. The sites are first come, first served and $20 per night (less for those in the military). The camping season is open from May to September, but check their website for exact dates.

Valdez Glacier Campground
Located just 10 minutes east of town, near Valdez Glacier Lake, this campground offers RV sites with hookups, cabins, and non-electric campsites. The sites with hookups are reservable starting in March while the non-electric sites are first come, first served. 

The camping season is open from May to September. Be sure to check the website for exact dates. 

Valdez KOA Journey
KOAs are always a great spot to stay, although they tend to be pricier. This KOA is surrounded by 18 acres of wilderness, with a stream flowing right through the campground. It offers typical KOA amenities, like laundry, showers, WiFi, and a playground

Boondocking

Haul Road
We camped at this spot on Haul Road, which takes you out to Valdez Glacier Lake. It is just a pull off on the side of the road, but there is very little traffic on the road. The views of the river flowing by and the mountains in the distance are hard to beat for the price!

Thompson Pass
An EPIC spot to camp is up near Thompson Pass! We saw a bunch of rigs out here, but since we needed cell service to work (and Starlink wasn’t working in Alaska at the time), we couldn’t stay here.

Valdez Riverbed
This spot is located on a dry riverbed close to town. You may need 4×4 depending on where you want to go, but there are spots accessible by most rigs.

What to bring with you to Valdez

To see everything we take hiking, check out our hiking gear as well as our guide about how to make a 10 essentials kit. But for this specific area, we have a few items we really want to stress bringing with you.

Hiking shoes

Kathryn rocks Lowa Women’s Renegade GTX on the trails and she LOVES them! Adam wears the ALTRA Lone Peak 6 Trail Running Shoe, which is a trail running shoe, so they are less bulky than boots, but still great for the trail!

If you plan to hike or walk in super muddy areas, Xtratuf boots are SUPER popular in Alaska. These will keep your feet from getting wet!

Bear spray

Alaska is home to a variety of wildlife, including both black bears and grizzly bears, with grizzlies being the more aggressive of the two.

Although we didn’t see any bears in the Valdez area, they are around, so carrying bear spray is highly recommended. We always have our bear spray strapped to our hip or chest when hiking on trails, plus next to us in our tent at night.

Not only is it important to have bear spray on you, but you need to have it readily available and know how to use it. We’d recommend watching this video that explains how to use bear spray, if you aren’t familiar. 

AllTrails Map

When hiking in the area, especially around Thompson Pass, we highly recommend having AllTrails maps downloaded. This will ensure you do not get lost while navigating unmarked areas, especially without cell service!

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership? Click this link or use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Bug Repellent 

If you haven’t heard, the common joke is that the state bird of Alaska is the mosquito. Although we didn’t have an issue with mosquitos during our adventures in Valdez, we may have just gotten lucky. In order to not have a miserable time swatting mosquitoes all day, make sure to bring bug spray with DEET!

Garmin InReach

When you’re in and around the town of Valdez you’ll have plenty of cell service, but when you venture north in Keystone Canyon and Thompson it can get iffy. Having some sort of satellite communication device, like a Garmin inReach Mini, will be extremely valuable in case you need help. We take this with us everywhere and it has come in handy several times on our adventures, mostly to text family (not for SOS reasons thankfully)!

Trekking poles

Trekking poles may be useful when hiking in Thompson Pass. We have the Black Diamond Equipment Distance Z poles and highly recommend them!

Layers

Weather in Alaska can be extremely unpredictable. Carrying some layers will help you be prepared for all conditions in Alaska, especially when going from sea level to higher elevations.

Rain jacket 

We experienced a lot of rain in Valdez, so make sure to pack rain gear! Kathryn wears the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket and Adam wears a Columbia rain jacket. 

Ready to experience the beautiful town of Valdez?

Pin this guide with the best things to do in Valdez to help plan your trip!