You will meet your expert naturalist Haines wildlife and nature sightseeing excursion guide right at the end of the cruise pier and set out along the Lutak Inlet on a drive to Chilkoot Lake State Park. The drive is very scenic: on one side, you have glacier-clad mountains scraping the sky, and splashes of colorful wildflowers along the road. On the other side, you have the Lutak Inlet, which is home to many types of marine life.
This park has it all: a turquoise lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, and important Tlingit cultural sites. Bald eagles, harbor seals, and brown bears are often seen here. In May, June, and July, the wildflowers are at their peak and eagles are busy caring for their young on the nest. Beginning in late July, the river fills with migrating salmon, while brown bears come down to the river's edge to feed. As the number of salmon in the river increases, the likelihood of seeing bears down along the river increases, with a good probability of bear sightings from early August through late September.
As you drive through the park, your sightseeing shore excursion guide knows the best places to stop for scenery and the possibility of wildlife spotting. Your guide is equipped with a powerful spotting scope to bring the wildlife in close and will help interpret the behavior of the local various animals and explain how the animals fit into Chilkoot's complex ecosystem. Make sure you bring your camera to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities.
On this private excursion, you will enjoy a scenic drive along the shore of a nearby river system, the Chilkat River. The mouth of the Chilkat River is broad (over one mile across) with dramatic glacier-clad mountains dominating the landscape. You'll make a photo stop at the Letnikof Cove Cannery and Rainbow Glacier viewpoint. Let yourself be surprised by the Rainbow Glacier which is a hanging glacier with an immense waterfall falling from its face. The landscape is simply stunning!
From here, you will return to downtown Haines along the scenic inlet road. Although wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, keep your eyes open as some animals can be spotted along the road and marine life in the nearby inlet.
For group excursion pricing and availability, please click on the links below:
Haines Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing Excursion (S1922)
Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve River Floating Excursion (S1925)
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