Valdez: Fjords, Trails and History

Valdez combines a distinctive coastal landscape with cultural history and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Valdez, you can plan your stay around the topics that interest you: fjords and glaciers, history, or activities on trails and on the water. The following places and offerings provide specific points of reference.

Fjord Landscapes and Trails

Port Valdez is a natural fjord that extends about 11 miles inland from Prince William Sound. The Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site also offers a scenic landmark: it is located at Thompson Pass, 28 miles north of Valdez on the Richardson Highway, and offers a chance to observe a glacier. Check the distance and facilities at the site before setting out.

Valdez has a municipal trail network with more than 20 miles of seasonal summer and winter trails. It offers year-round recreational opportunities, while individual trails vary by season. When planning your trip, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between year-round recreation and the seasonal nature of the summer and winter trails.

Valdez’s Cultural History

Valdez is located in the traditional territory of the Sugpiaq, who have inhabited the coastal areas of south-central Alaska for more than 7,500 years. The Valdez Museum on Egan features exhibits on early exploration, Indigenous culture, the Gold Rush and the founding of Valdez. Exhibits include restored turn-of-the-century fire engines and a lighthouse lens from Prince William Sound. Replicas of a prospector’s cabin and an early Valdez living room are also on display.

A dedicated exhibit, “Remembering Old Valdez,” uses a model to show what the town once looked like: it depicts Old Town Valdez at a scale of 1:20, with more than 400 buildings and 60 city blocks, as the town appeared just before the 1964 earthquake. The model thus offers a different way to explore the town’s history than the everyday objects and historical topics on display.

About four miles outside present-day Valdez is the original townsite, known as “Old Valdez” or “Old Town.” It has been preserved as a memorial site and as a walking tour through Valdez’s history. The museum and the original townsite therefore offer different perspectives: exhibits and objects at the museum, and a historical walk at the former townsite.

Outdoor Activities and Seasonal Offerings

The Alder Flow Trail in Nayurluku Park is designated for mountain biking. Those interested in kayaking will find a launch site at Valdez Small Boat Harbor for trips on Port Valdez. These are two different ways to experience the area actively: on a named trail or on the water from the harbor.

At Shoup Bay State Marine Park, near the mouth of Port Valdez, wildlife can be observed via an overgrown footpath or by boat. Another wildlife-viewing opportunity is along Dayville Road toward the Pipeline Terminal: bears and sea lions can be seen there in the late evening, especially when salmon return to the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery. This note links the location and time of day to a specific seasonal context.

Ice climbing is offered in Valdez year-round, except in April. The Valdez Gold Rush Days Festival takes place every August. If the festival is important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates.

Several tour companies offer day cruises from Valdez into Prince William Sound to Columbia Glacier or Meares Glacier. When planning, you can choose between these two named glacier destinations; specific operators and schedules may vary. It is therefore a good idea to check the respective schedules before making plans.

Planning Your Arrival and Stay

Valdez is connected to Alaska’s road network and can be reached by land, sea and air. You can consider how to get there as a separate part of your planning, whether you want to focus primarily on the museum and Old Valdez, trails and glacier viewing, or a particular activity.

Discover more destinations: Tatitlek, Copperville, Tonsina, Glennallen, Copper Center, Cordova, Slana.

Return to the broader travel overview: Valdez-Cordova Census Area.