Kachemak Bay Wildlife Cruise

The highlight of any trip to this area is the cruise through Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. It’s an unforgettable experience, filled with an extraordinary abundance of sea life—whales of many kinds, porpoises, dolphins, and countless seabirds. One of the most spectacular moments is the journey up the fjord to watch a glacier calve towering sheets of ice into the water.

You’ll see whales circle and bubble-net feed, then burst from the surface, flip through the air, and sink gracefully back down with only their tails visible as they disappear. It’s easy to be distracted by the wildlife along the shoreline as well—mountain goats scaling steep cliffs, and the occasional moose or bear wandering the banks. Bears are even known to chase mountain goats, though the nanny goats often escape far out onto the rocky ledges where bears can’t reach them.

On your cruise, you can choose to sit inside, outside under cover, or out in the open air. A National Park Ranger will be on board to answer questions and explain what’s happening around you, alongside the knowledgeable captain. We use Major Marine Tours, which provides an excellent six-hour cruise filled with nonstop scenery and wildlife. Lunch is served on board, and you can even enjoy drinks made with glacier ice.

Another can’t-miss experience is the cruise on Tustumena Lake, just up the road from the lodge. The lake stretches 32 miles, surrounded by mountains with a glacier nestled at the far end. Moose and bears are often spotted along the shoreline or near one of the many creeks flowing into the lake. Birdlife is plentiful, and perhaps the greatest pleasure of this trip is the sense of solitude—feeling as though you are the only people in the world.

You can stop at many of the creeks, always with the hope of seeing wildlife—and always trusting your local guide, who has lived here his entire life and knows how to handle any bear encounters. Later in the season, you can also fish for silver salmon at the mouths of the creeks or even within the creeks themselves.