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Prince William Sound is one of Alaska's finest sea kayaking destinations. Accessed from the small fishing port of Whittier, these highly protected fjords harbor calving glaciers, eagles, seals, and bird rookeries. Blackstone Bay is located 22 Water Miles south of Whittier and hosts multiple tidewater glaciers, as well as Yosemite-sized waterfalls. Watch house-sized icebergs calve off tidewater glaciers, creating mini tsunamis that sweep through the bay. We explore the rain forest, paddle through ice-choked bays, catch a salmon for dinner ... you'll wish you had a few weeks instead of a few days! Two guides will assist kayakers with any manner and prepare hearty meals, provide snacks, and a spirited beverage at the end of the paddling day. They are BCU certified, trained in coldwater rescue and Wilderness First Aid. While sharing their vast knowledge of the area guests will experience an enjoyable and safe adventure in Alaska. |
KEH#02 Blackstone Bay Kayaking | Prince William Sound
Tour Itinerary
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Day
01 |
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Whittier - Blackstone Bay Arrive in Whittier by 10:00 am. After an initial orientation by our guides we pack our gear into dry bags and board a water taxi to bring us to the mouth of Blackstone Bay where we start our paddling adventure. Willard Island is our base camp for the next two nights. Huge "gray wacky" beaches offer incredible camping; make bets with your tentmate on the number of icebergs that will be stranded on your beach by high tide. Throughout the night listen to the "White thunder" echoes as the glaciers calf in the distance. |
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Day
02 |
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Blackstone Bay Awake today immersed in a wilderness sanctuary of unparalleled natural beauty. Flanked by the verdant hills of summer, Blackstone Bay hosts seven glaciers, two of which meet the sea, the others hang high among the rocky cliffs. Hundreds of feet up the mountainsides, glaciers avalanche huge ice chunks and pour cascading waterfalls to the sea below, their waves reverberating throughout the narrow confines of the fjord. Thousands of Black-Legged Kittiwakes shadow the sky while flying to and from their cliff-side nests. Today we paddle to Blackstone Glacier and enjoy a delicious lunch at Mid-glacier Beach, before heading on to Beloit Glacier. There is nothing like the experience of paddling through glacier ice, with the thunderous sound of glaciers calving in the background, waterfalls cascading down huge rock walls, and playing peek-a-boo with numerous harbor seals and sea otters. On the eastern shore we enjoy a short hike before returning to base camp. |
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Day
03 |
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Blackstone Bay We will break camp, revisit the glaciers, and/or take a hike along Lawrence Glacier for a panoramic view of the ice fields and Blackstone Bay. These spellbinding sights and dramatic sounds leave you humbled and feeling insignificant amidst this powerful living landscape. Relax in the salty ocean breeze and splendor of this special place while enjoying an afternoon snack. From there we will paddle back to the mouth of the bay, or into Passage Canal and set camp. |
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Day
04 |
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Blackstone Bay - Whittier We will break camp and paddle the rustic shoreline of Passage Canal on our way back to Whittier. Expect to return in the harbor by mid-afternoon. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Blackstone Bay sea kayaking trip and where does it start and end?
It is a 4-day guided kayaking trip in Prince William Sound that starts and ends in Whittier. You arrive in Whittier by 10:00 am on day 1 and are back in the harbor by mid-afternoon on day 4.
Where do we camp on the Blackstone Bay kayak tour?
After a water taxi from Whittier, Willard Island is the base camp for the first two nights. On day 3 you break camp and paddle back toward the mouth of the bay or into Passage Canal, where you set up camp again.
What will I see on the Blackstone Bay kayak tour?
Blackstone Bay is 22 water miles south of Whittier and has seven glaciers, two of which reach the sea, plus waterfalls and icebergs. The page mentions black-legged kittiwakes, harbor seals and sea otters, and you paddle to Blackstone Glacier and Beloit Glacier on day 2.
Who guides the Blackstone Bay kayaking trip?
Two guides assist the kayakers. They are BCU certified and trained in cold-water rescue and Wilderness First Aid. The guides prepare the meals, provide snacks and offer a drink at the end of the paddling day.
Is Blackstone Bay kayaking a camping trip?
Yes. You pack your gear into dry bags, camp on the beaches and spend three nights in the wilderness, with two nights at the Willard Island base camp.
