The Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a network of waterways running from Washington State’s Puget Sound in the south, northwards along the Pacific coast of British Columbia, and through the Alaska panhandle to Skagway, Alaska. The Inside Passage is a natural, sheltered sea route extending for more than 1,000 miles. It is the route generally used by coastal shipping to Alaska and is known for its scenic beauty and dependable smoothness.
The term “Inside Passage” is often used to refer to the entire region: the waterways, lands, and islands. The Inside Passage is made up of channels and straits between the mainland and the islands. These range from enormous islands covered in swathes of forests to tiny islets hosting a single tree, and include the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The region is characterized by thousands of islands, coves, and fjords that were carved out by glaciers during the last Ice Age. There are also numerous coastal towns and settlements along the route, each with its own character and personality.
The islands protect the passage from strong Pacific storms, and in most places, the channels are deep enough for all vessels. Many places are possible to anchor, and almost all navigation hazards have been identified through surveys. Ships using the route can avoid potential inclement weather in the open ocean and visit some of the many communities along the route. This, along with the naturally calm seas, means the Inside Passage is considered a safe sea route.
Alaska’s Inside Passage
Alaska’s portion of the Inside Passage covers 500 miles from north to south and 100 miles from east to west. This area encompasses over a thousand islands and countless coves and bays. People who sail Alaska’s Inside Passage witness some of the most astounding wildlife and scenery in the world. The coastal mountain ranges and islands offer chances for kayaking, hiking, boating, fishing, and camping. Wildlife viewing in the region ranges from birding, to whale watching, to bear viewing.
These awesome opportunities are why the Inside Passage is one of the most popular routes for cruises through Alaska. Major cruise ships travel from port to port, whereas smaller, more versatile vessels, such as the yatch we use on our tour, can anchor anywhere and explore less-visited islands and coves using skiffs and kayaks.
Wildlife in the Inside Passage
The 500-mile stretch of Alaska’s Inside Passage boasts lush island scenery, fjords teeming with wildlife, and magnificent glaciers. The Tongass National Forest covers the vast majority of the Inside Passage with swathes of spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees. The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States and the Earth’s largest temperate rainforest. This old-growth forest is home to a magnificent range of wildlife, including brown bears, moose, and all five species of Pacific salmon in the rivers.
This region has a mild maritime climate and nutrient-rich waters, making it a prime habitat for orcas, sea lions, and porpoises. Some of the largest populations of humpback whales in the world spend summer feeding in the lush waters of the Inside Passage. They swim up from their wintering habitats near Hawaii with their young calves and use the calm, food-rich waters as a safe place to raise them. In addition to these magnificent whales, roughly half of Alaska’s Bald Eagles live along the Inside Passage, feeding in the calm waters.
A mother and baby harbor seal
Places to Visit
Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a collection of tidewater glaciers spanning a huge 3.3 million acres. The area used to be referred to as ‘Thunder Bay’ because of the roaring sounds that came from huge chunks of ice falling into the pristine waters from actively calving glaciers. This vast area contains multiple different climatic zones and ecosystems that support an incredible array of wildlife, including humpback whales, marmots, peregrine falcons, harbor seals, mountain goats, as well as both black and brown bears.
Admiralty Island National Monument
Admiralty Island National Monument in the Inside Passage is made up of old-growth rainforest, alpine tundra, and rugged coastline. The island is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America. Admiralty Island National Monument has been home to the Tlingít people for centuries, and they call the island island “Kootznoowoo,” which means “Fortress of the Bear.” The island also boasts the highest concentration of bald eagles in the world; on average, there is one bald eagle nest found per mile along the coastline of the Seymour Canal.
Frederick Sound
Frederick Sound is a stretch of water in the Inside Passage that runs between Kupreanof Island to the south and Admiralty Island to the north. As you sail through the Sound you may see Alaska’s oldest light station, Five Fingers Lighthouse, as well as The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky shores.
Surrounded by the mountains of the Coast Range, which tower to 3,000m, the waters of Frederick Sound are abundant with krill, zooplankton, and herring. The rich, glacial waters of Frederick Sound are a popular feeding ground for migratory humpback whales. This makes it one of the best places in the world for observing humpbacks.
You may also encounter orcas, Steller’s sea lions, Dall’s Porpoise, and harbour seals as you journey through this abundant ecosystem. A rich diversity of invertebrates call the tide pools home, and seabirds thrive in the Sound. Huge flocks of seabirds can often indicate the humpback whales’ locations as the birds swoop down to polish off any food that the gentle giants might miss.
Baranof Island
Baranof Island is the location of the beautiful town of Sitka. The island offers the opportunity to soak in soothing, natural hot springs along the Baranof River, and enjoy the scenic views over Baranof Lake.
When it comes to the Inside Passage, it’s the geography that earns it the name, and it’s the experience that makes it so special. Enormous ice fields, glacier-carved peaks, steep valleys, and countless islands all add to the effect. This dramatic region of huge trees, towering mountains, and breathtaking fjords offers scenery and wildlife encounters like nowhere else.
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