Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, Valdez (pronounced “val-deez”) is located on the north shore of a deep water fjord in Prince William Sound.
As the northernmost port in North America that is ice-free year-round, Valdez is one of the most important ports in Alaska. Freight bound for the interior makes its first landing here, and the port is also the last stop for oil from the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
Valdez is also a fishing port, both for commercial and sport fishing and is a haven for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.
Opportunities for salmon and halibut fishing are both excellent in Prince William Sound. Salmon fishing lasts from early July to the end of September, and halibut fishing lasts all summer long.
Tours to cruise to Columbia Glacier (the second largest tidewater glacier in North America) and the spectacular wildlife, from sea lions and puffins to humpback and orca whales are popular in the summer months.
Flightseeing provides another way to view Columbia Glacier and kayak tours are also perfect to see the glacier up close, and to explore the beautiful Prince William Sound.
Valdez also offers rafting in Keystone Canyon, hiking, jogging , mountain biking and even pipeline tours in the summer.
Hiking opportunities are plentiful in the many trails and there is plenty to see in the mountains, from Horsetail and Bridal Veil Falls to Keystone Canyon, thirteen miles out of Valdez.
In winter, with consistently abundant snow, Valdez offers a number of winter sports, from cross-country skiing to snowboarding and snowmobiling, not to mention dog sledding, and even the increasingly popular heli-skiing. In fact, Valdez is known as the "North Shore" of heli-skiing.
But there is more to Valdez than outdoor adventure. The history of the area can be explored at the Valdez Museum from the original settlers of the area to the 1964 earthquake and the more recent 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. There is a model of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and there are further details of the 800-mile pipeline at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal Visitor Center across the bay.
The Remembering Old Valdez exhibition shows a 1:20 scale reproduction of the town before the 1964 earthquake, and the Whitney Museum & Collection has a private collection of Native artifacts.
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