Alaska is often called the last frontier, and for good reason. With more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined, countless lakes, and glaciers that stretch for miles, it is a place made for paddling. Kayaking in Alaska gives people a chance to see the state’s wild beauty in a way no car or cruise ship can match. When you sit in a kayak, close to the water, you feel every ripple and notice every detail around you. Snowy peaks tower overhead, seabirds circle in the sky, and sometimes whales rise right beside your boat.
What makes Alaska kayaking special is the variety. Some places offer calm waters perfect for beginners, while others challenge even the most experienced paddlers with wind, ice, and tidal currents. You can choose a short afternoon paddle near a town, or load your gear for a weeklong wilderness trip far from roads. Wildlife is part of nearly every outing — sea otters play in kelp beds, bald eagles perch on spruce trees, and salmon leap in clear rivers. Every location offers something different, and together they form a list of world-class kayaking spots.
This guide covers twenty of the best kayaking locations in Alaska. From Glacier Bay to Tutka Bay, from quiet lakes to huge fjords, these spots highlight the state’s wild waters. If you are searching for “best kayaking in Alaska” or “top Alaska kayaking trips,” you will find them here. Each section explains what makes the area special, what kind of paddling you can expect, and what kind of wildlife you might see. Whether you are planning your first paddle in Alaska or returning for another adventure, this list will help you find the right spot.
Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park offers stunning glaciers, abundant wildlife, and calm waters ideal for kayaking. Paddle through Glacier Bay to see massive glaciers and floating icebergs. Wildlife sightings include humpback whales, seals, sea otters, and bald eagles. Bartlett Cove is a great starting point, perfect for beginners who want calm waters. Experienced kayakers can explore deeper into the bay for more adventure. Glacier Bay kayaking provides some of the most iconic experiences in Alaska.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park is another top kayaking location, known for its dramatic fjords carved by glaciers and abundant marine life. Resurrection Bay near Seward is ideal for beginner kayakers because of its calm waters. Experienced paddlers can venture into Aialik Bay and Holgate Glacier areas, famous for stunning glaciers and wildlife like orcas, puffins, and sea lions. Kayaking tours in Kenai Fjords offer incredible scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound is among Alaska’s best kayaking destinations. Known for its tranquil waters, icebergs, and majestic glaciers such as Columbia Glacier and Meares Glacier, it attracts kayakers from all skill levels. Popular launching points include Whittier and Valdez. While paddling, you may encounter sea otters, harbor seals, and numerous seabirds. Kayaking Prince William Sound is a must for nature lovers.
Kachemak Bay State Park
Kachemak Bay State Park, near Homer, offers an easily accessible kayaking experience ideal for beginners and families. Paddle through protected coves, explore hidden beaches, and enjoy wildlife sightings, including seals, otters, porpoises, and bald eagles. The beautiful mountain scenery and calm waters make Kachemak Bay kayaking unforgettable.
Sitka Sound
Sitka Sound is famous for its combination of natural beauty and historical sites. Paddle past lush rainforests, historical landmarks like Totem Park, and enjoy frequent sightings of whales, sea lions, and seabirds. Beginners can find calm waters around Sitka Harbor, while advanced paddlers can explore the more open waters around surrounding islands.
Misty Fjords National Monument
Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan provides dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, dense forests, and abundant wildlife. Kayakers frequently see bears, whales, and bald eagles. The remote location and changing weather make it ideal for intermediate and advanced kayakers seeking adventure and solitude.
Kodiak Island
Kodiak Island offers a wide range of kayaking experiences from gentle bays to challenging open waters. Paddlers can explore sheltered Anton Larsen Bay or take on the rugged coastline. Famous for Kodiak bears, whales, sea lions, and birds, this destination is popular among wildlife enthusiasts. The stunning landscape and varied marine life make Kodiak Island kayaking extraordinary.
Admiralty Island
Admiralty Island is known as the “Fortress of the Bears” due to its high density of brown bears. Kayakers enjoy exploring secluded bays, quiet coves, and dense forests. Popular areas include Pack Creek and Seymour Canal, where you’re likely to encounter wildlife like bears and eagles. Kayaking Admiralty Island promises exciting wildlife encounters.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, America’s largest national park, offers remote and spectacular kayaking adventures. Paddle around glaciers, rivers, and alpine lakes, and enjoy the wilderness experience. The park’s size and diversity make it suitable for all skill levels. Wildlife sightings include moose, bears, and numerous bird species.
Juneau and Tracy Arm Fjord
Juneau is a gateway to remarkable kayaking experiences in Tracy Arm Fjord. Paddle past towering cliffs, stunning glaciers, and abundant wildlife like seals and whales. The calm waters make it suitable for beginners, while breathtaking scenery provides an unforgettable paddling experience. Tracy Arm kayaking tours offer convenient access from Juneau.
Lake Clark National Park
Lake Clark National Park features pristine waters, rugged mountains, and incredible wildlife viewing. Paddling here is peaceful and rewarding. Explore turquoise lakes, crystal-clear rivers, and scenic bays. Wildlife sightings often include bears, moose, and bald eagles. Lake Clark kayaking is ideal for nature lovers seeking tranquility.
Lynn Canal
Lynn Canal runs between Haines and Skagway and is one of the longest, deepest fjords in North America. Calm mornings give glass-smooth water for easy strokes, while steep, snow-lined peaks rise on both sides and funnel fresh mountain air down the channel. Paddling here means bright waterfalls, drifting ice in early summer, and plenty of wildlife. Humpback whales roll on the surface, Dall’s porpoises play in the bow wave, and bald eagles perch on tall spruces. Search phrases like “kayak Lynn Canal Alaska” or “Haines kayak trips” often bring travelers to this quiet but grand waterway.
Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site
A fifteen-minute drive from Haines takes you to Chilkoot Lake, a clear green basin fed by glaciers and rimmed by thick old-growth forest. The lake sits in a sheltered valley, so wind is light and waves stay small—perfect for families and first-time paddlers who type “beginner kayaking Haines” into search bars. From late July to mid-September, pink and chum salmon crowd the Chilkoot River, drawing brown bears to the shoreline; paddlers often watch the action from a safe distance out on the water. Calm water, easy access, and rich wildlife make Chilkoot Lake a must-see stop.
Yakutat Bay & Hubbard Glacier
Yakutat Bay offers a rare chance to paddle near Hubbard Glacier, one of the most active tidewater glaciers in Alaska. The face stands more than 350 feet above the sea, and new ice calves almost daily with thunderous cracks. Kayakers leave from Yakutat and move through fields of blue icebergs, keeping a safe half-mile gap from the cliff-like wall. Sea otters float on ice pans, harbor seals nap, and black-legged kittiwakes circle above. Because of cold water and shifting bergs, this trip suits strong, well-dressed paddlers who search “Hubbard Glacier kayak tour” when planning big adventures.
Copper River Delta (Cordova)
Spread over hundreds of square miles, the Copper River Delta near Cordova is a maze of sloughs, tidal flats, and shallow lakes. Each May, as many as five million shorebirds stop here on their long flight north, filling the sky in huge dark clouds. Kayakers follow winding channels bordered by tall grass and bright purple fireweed, often spotting moose, beavers, and roosting bald eagles. The water is flat but tidal, so timing matters; paddlers use charts and phones to track the daily ebb and flow. Anyone searching “kayak Copper River Delta” will read that calm scenery and wildlife are the main draws.
Portage Lake (Chugach National Forest)
Only an hour’s drive from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, Portage Lake sits below hanging icefields and the light-blue snout of Portage Glacier. Early mornings bring glassy water dotted with fresh ice chunks that broke off overnight. As the day warms, a predictable wind funnels down the valley, turning the lake choppy, so most tours begin before nine. Wear warm layers and waterproof gloves; even in July the air is cool near the glacier. Searches for “Portage Lake kayaking” highlight the quick access, the short paddling distance, and the thrill of floating beside small sparkling bergs.
Eklutna Lake (Chugach State Park)
Eklutna Lake stretches seven miles beneath purple peaks just northeast of Anchorage. Motorboats are banned, so the surface stays quiet except for the sound of dipping paddles and distant gulls. Kayak rentals are available near the trailhead, which makes this spot popular with people who Google “Anchorage kayak day trip” at the last minute. On clear days, the turquoise water mirrors the surrounding ridges. Early fall brings golden birch leaves and bright red kokanee salmon near shore. A campground and several hiking trails let visitors combine paddling with an easy overnight in the woods.
Tongass Narrows (Ketchikan)
Tongass Narrows forms the busy marine highway beside downtown Ketchikan yet still offers enjoyable, easy kayaking. Floatplanes skim in for gentle landings, cruise ships glide past, and commercial fishing boats haul fresh salmon. Between the vessels, harbor seals poke curious heads above the surface, while thick forest hugs every rocky point. Spring and summer days often start calm before afternoon breezes rise, so local guides plan early departures. Tourists who search “kayaking Ketchikan Alaska” discover that Tongass Narrows delivers culture, wildlife, and working-harbor scenery in a single short paddle.
Mendenhall Lake & Glacier (Juneau)
Mendenhall Glacier, just twelve miles from downtown Juneau, flows into a small, iceberg-filled lake of the same name. A marked paddle route keeps boats away from calving zones while still giving close views of bright crevasses and deep blue ice caves. Young seals sometimes rest on bergs, and mountain goats cling to the cliffs above. Because the glacier sits in a broad valley, wind can shift quickly, so stable, sit-on-top kayaks are best. Travelers often search phrases like “Juneau glacier kayaking” or “Mendenhall kayak rental” when picking this half-day trip.
Tutka Bay Wilderness (Kachemak Bay)
Tutka Bay lies across the water from Homer at the edge of Kachemak Bay State Park. The bay twists through narrow arms bordered by steep spruce slopes and tidal flats rich with sea stars, kelp, and bright anemones. Sea otters float in groups, pups balanced on their mothers’ bellies, while black bears sometimes forage along the beaches at low tide. With no road access, visitors ride a quick water taxi from Homer and then paddle calm inner coves or follow the outer shore for longer mileage. Search words like “Tutka Bay kayak tour” bring up guided day trips and multi-day camping packages.
Kayaking in Alaska is more than crossing the water — it is entering a wild, untouched world. Each of the twenty spots offers something unique. In Glacier Bay, you hear ice breaking from glaciers. In Kenai Fjords, sea lions and puffins swim nearby. In Prince William Sound, you float past icebergs and steep peaks. Lakes like Eklutna and Chilkoot give safe, calm water for families and beginners. Whether you join a guided trip near Juneau or plan days in Wrangell–St. Elias, every paddle becomes a memory. Kayaking brings you into the landscape itself, with eagles overhead, whales surfacing, and peaceful coves that make Alaska unforgettable.