Gold Creek Coastal Kayak Tour from Valdez
About This Experience
A six-hour paddle out of the Valdez small boat harbour and along the coast of Port Valdez to Gold Creek State Park - the trip for a day when the weather is not right for Columbia Bay, or when you want the fjord without the nine-hour commitment.
The paddling is coastal and mostly sheltered: seals, sea lions and sea otters along the way, the walls of the fjord above you, and a remote gravel beach at the far end for a picnic lunch. From the beach a short walk leads into old-growth coastal rainforest and up to waterfalls, with black bears and spawning salmon both realistic sightings in season.
You return the same way, which sounds like a compromise and is not - the light in Port Valdez changes completely between morning and afternoon, and the return leg looks like a different coast.
Highlights
- Paddle the sheltered coast of Port Valdez to Gold Creek State Park
- Picnic lunch on a remote gravel beach with no road access
- Walk into old-growth coastal rainforest and up to waterfalls
- Watch for harbour seals, sea lions, sea otters, black bears and spawning salmon
- All kayaking and waterproof gear provided, including state park fees
What's Included
- ✓ Guided sea kayaking with all equipment and on-land instruction
- ✓ State park fees
- ✓ Hot drinks and trail-mix or pretzel snacks
- ✓ Waterproof outer gear
Not Included
- Transport to the meeting point
- Lunch - bring a picnic
What to Bring
- A picnic lunch and water
- Warm non-cotton layers plus a spare layer in a dry bag
- Shoes you are happy to get wet, for the beach landing
- Camera and binoculars
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
Good to Know & Caveats
- Around six hours in total, most of it on the water, with a beach break and a short forest walk in the middle.
- Bears are a genuine possibility on the Gold Creek beach and in the forest. Your guide sets the rules for food and spacing, and they apply.
- Payment is due in full 30 days before departure; cancellations more than 72 hours before 8am on the day of departure are fully refunded, and no-shows are charged in full.
- Operator cancellations for weather are refunded in full or credited.
Not Suitable For
- Pregnant travellers
- People with back problems
- People prone to seasickness
Meeting Point
Meet your guide at the small boat harbour in Valdez, 107 N Harbor Drive, for gear and a land briefing before you launch.
What Travelers Say
Rated 5.0/5 by 5 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
It was awesome… even it was foggy we had a great time! Franklin was a great guide!
— Jenifer, August
Great! Rose was an amazing tour guide very knowledgeable and surprised us with hot tea on the water. Saw plenty of sea life on a beautiful day in Alaska
— Caitlin, August
Our trip with Mike and Emma was wonderful!! We had so much fun and were lucky enough to see otters and seals. The glaciers around Valdez are breathtaking!! I would book here again anytime.
— Saskia, June 29
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tour go anywhere near Columbia Glacier?
No, and it does not claim to. Gold Creek is a coastal paddle inside Port Valdez, a fjord away from Columbia Bay. Book it as a day in beautiful water, or as your fallback when the glacier trips are full or weathered out - not as a glacier tour.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. The water is sheltered, the pace is relaxed, and instruction is given before you launch. It is a common first sea kayak for people who then book the Columbia Glacier day.
Will I see bears?
Sometimes. Black bears work the creek and the beach when salmon are running, usually from midsummer onwards. It is a realistic sighting, never a promise.
Is lunch provided?
No - hot drinks and snacks are included but you bring your own picnic, which you eat on the beach at Gold Creek. Pack more than you think you need; paddling in cold air burns through food.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately. You are paddling for a good part of six hours with breaks, and there is a short walk over uneven ground at the beach. No experience is required.
