We are going to Alaska in two weeks. Where can we do recreational kayaking? Looking for day trips, photography, scenic stuff, nothing too adventuresome ! :) Names of Paddle shops/ rentals/ day trips etc would be appreciated. We will be in Anchorage, Denali, Kenai, Homer and Seward. Kayaking in PA is the BEST now--don't want to miss my water fix! Thanks!
where in alaska are you going?
If you are going to Fairbanks you can paddle the Chena River that winds through town, Check with Beaver sports on College rd they can fill you in on other spots to go, I think they rent also.
You need to be more specific.
Where are you going to? What type of paddling are you looking for? What’s your paddling experience? If you’re going to South Central (Anchorage, Seward, Whittier, Valdez) and are looking for ocean paddling I’ve got some good info.
How big can Alaska be?
Alaska
is 570,374 square miles, 2.3 times the size of Texas and 1/5 the size of the entire lower 48. It’s also the largest state in the union.
Next…
BIG state…
It is important to know where you are going exactly…
Anch…rent from REI…kayaking in Homer
Fairbanks…rent from Ak Outdoors Adventure…kayak in rivers, lakes…
Valdez…Several different conpanies, rent for day trips…overnites, weekly trips
Google chamber of commerces…you will find loads of information about places to go, and companies that supply just the boats, and have escorted trips.
I kayak all over the state, but nothing beats Prince William Sound !!!
Lots of places
Hey, if you’re going to the anchorage area then do a little warm up on Eklutna lake (very scenic I assure you) before hitting Prince William Sound. There are nice day trips you can take out of Whittier up to Shotgun cove (about six miles) or across the passage canal to the kittiwake rookery. If your willing to drive a few hours south of Anchorage you can go to Seward, put in at Lowell Point and head south to the Caines head recreation area to put in at old islands with WWII era ruins (and sea otters). Overall, if the weather is good (which is a big if around here) this place will blow your mind.
Jeremy
c’mon
use the most used size unit: How many Rhode Islands does it contain???
was joking about this the other day…
Alaska kayaking
Thank you for your reply. This trip came up at the last minute and I don’t want to miss kayaking in the summer! We will be in the Anchorage, Homer, Kenai areas, so your info is very helpful. 
Alaska kayaking
thank you for the info. We will be in the Anchorage, Homer, Kenai and Denali areas. Totally love REI–they even have convertible pants for my 6 year old granddaughter! I’m in PA and in the Tarpon 160i at least once a week. 'Don’t want to miss my water fix while visiting my fiance’s brother up there! (Neither does he!!)
Alaska kayaking
We will be in the Anchorage, Kenai, Homer and Denali areas. I would love to hear about your suggestions. Thanks.
369.17
Your could probably fit 3 or 4 Rhode Islands just on the Kenai Peninsula.
Many Alaskans have to drive further than all the way across Rhode Island the long way to go to the grocery store. Most Rhode Islanders won't drive more than 20 minutes to go anywhere because "It's too far".
And there are more Rhode Islanders than there are Alaskans.
Quite a contrast!
Several places come to mind
You could paddle Prince William Sound out of Whittier (About an hour and a half from Anchorage), and paddle to Blackstone Bay, or charter a ride there & just paddle the bay.
Or, you could paddle out of Seward, where there are several close by areas to paddle in that are great.
I paddled PWS out of Whittier in 1998, and can’t wait until I can go back there.
Wayne
Just watch out for that one idiot
with the air boat who thinks he owns the river!
Cheers,
JackL
Blackstone Bay
is an awesome trip. I was there last summer and spent 3 days exploring. You can camp on Willard Island. There are several glaciers in the bay and a fricken ton of waterfalls. Water taxis are expensive because of the gas, but well worth it to take and it's a long way from Whittier to paddle. Day trips are offered here.
The best trip by far, though, if you have a more than a day, is to go into Harriman Fiord. Spent 4 days paddling her and didn't get to see everything. Harriman Fiord has huge calving glaciers and a couple of beaches were you can camp. You'll see lots of otters playing on the ice flows. We were greated by Dahls Porpoises near the glaciers.
Consider more than just a day paddle as there is SO much to see. The opportunity to go to Alaska doesn't present itself too often to most folks. Go balls out and do some glacier paddling! :)
And ifn you do end up going to Whittier I recommend Swiftwater Cafe for the best fish-n-chips around. In AK they use halibut, not cod. mmmmmm!
A.S.K. have alway treated me right and are a great bunch of folks:
http://www.alaskaseakayakers.com/