Yakutat: Coast, Glaciers, and Wildlife

Yakutat offers travelers an impressive combination of coastline, glaciers, and wildlife. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the season and your interests: bird migrations, salmon spawning, and the northern lights each offer different wildlife-viewing opportunities. Hiking, fishing, and kayaking also provide different ways to experience the area.

Coastal Landscapes and Wildlife Viewing

The Yakutat area encompasses 155 miles of coastline. Here, high mountains, immense glaciers, and temperate rainforest meet the sea. The landscape brings together several striking features within a relatively compact area, from forested coastal stretches to ice and open water.

More than 200 bird species have been recorded in Yakutat. Spring migrations begin in April. In fall, the spawning of hundreds of thousands of salmon in rivers and streams attracts gulls, eagles, ravens, magpies, and brown bears. Spring and fall therefore offer different wildlife-viewing highlights: spring focuses on bird migration, while fall brings salmon together with the animals drawn to them.

Winter offers a special viewing opportunity, too: on clear winter nights, you can see the northern lights in Yakutat. Clear skies are an important condition. When choosing your travel dates, you can consider this opportunity alongside seasonal wildlife viewing.

Hiking Trails, Lakes, and Beaches

The Harlequin Lake Trail ends at Harlequin Lake, about 0.75 miles from the parking lot. The Yakutat Glacier is visible from the lake. From the shore, you can watch massive icebergs calved from the glacier drift across the water; such sightings vary by season. If you plan to hike this trail, check local trail conditions.

The Russell Fiord Trail leads hikers to the open waters of Russell Fiord. In addition to the trail, tides are relevant to your plans; check local conditions. The U.S. Forest Service maintains several trails in Yakutat for visitors. Since trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check locally before setting out.

You can also hike along beaches in the Yakutat area. From Cannon Beach, you can walk for miles along the beach in either direction. Tides and beach conditions may affect access. Factor these into your plans rather than assuming the entire beach is accessible under all conditions.

Fishing and Kayaking

The streams and rivers in the Yakutat area offer fishing for steelhead, all five salmon species found in Alaska, and Dolly Varden. Charter-boat sport fishing in Yakutat Bay is different, with halibut and lingcod as the catch.

Sea kayaking in Yakutat offers views of the region’s dynamic geology and wildlife. Logistical conditions for remote waters can change, so take this into account when planning. Nearby, the protected blue waters of Icy Bay, with their glacier scenery and abundant wildlife, are also suitable for sea kayaking. Advance planning is required to access this remote area.

Cultural Connections and When to Visit

The trip via Tawah Creek, Summit Lake, and Lost River is part of the Yakutat to Dry Bay Ancestral Tlingit Canoe Route. Water conditions and portages vary.

The Yakutat Tern Festival is a multi-day event held in late May or early June. Check the exact dates before your trip. Along with the start of spring migrations in April, the festival dates offer another guide for seasonal planning, without replacing the wildlife-viewing opportunities later in fall and winter.

Getting to Yakutat

Yakutat is accessible only by air or water. Schedules and requirements can change, so check the connections and conditions that apply to your travel dates. This limited accessibility is an important practical consideration when planning your stay and the time you’ll need for trails, wildlife viewing, or activities on the water. To find a hotel in Yakutat, you can first choose travel dates that suit the seasonal highlights you’re interested in.

For the broader travel overview: Yakutat.