Glacier Flight Seeing and Chilkat Eagle Preserve Raft Trip

From the start, you know this is special as you begin your journey with a spectacular scenic glacier flight over Lynn Fjord and the northern escarpment of Glacier Bay National Park is truly representative of the powerful beauty Alaska is so famous for.

Next step into a river adventure with a scenic float trip on the braided channels of glacier-fed rivers which flow through the "Heart" of the world famous Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines. The preserve encompasses 48,000 acres of some of Alaska's most spectacular scenery and it is dedicated to preserving the habitat of the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. During the fall and early winter months upwards of 4,000 eagles congregate in a concentrated area (the heart of the preserve) to feed on the thousands of spawning salmon available to them in this rich ecosystem. In the summer months substantial resident populations of eagles remain in the preserve and our rafts will quietly float through the areas where you are most likely to view these magnificent birds. Our rower/guides will position your raft to assist you in your efforts to capture that "once in a lifetime" wildlife photograph.

Time and water conditions permitting, your guide may stop the raft at a river-bar where you can stretch your legs, view wildlife tracks and photograph the nearby eagles. You can also expect to view the scenic grandeur of glacier-laden peaks rising 7,000 feet directly from the river valley and occasionally we will spot bears, wolves or moose along the riverbanks.

After a snack at the take-out site our van shuttles you to the catamaran ferry for a 35-minute crossing to the Skagway Harbor where your ship is moored. The catamaran features indoor view windows around the entire vessel and an upper deck provides maximum outdoor views of the Lynn Fjord's majestic water falls, sheer rock cliffs that rise directly from the sea, glaciers, as well as the sea life (often sighted: whales, eagles, seals). A naturalist provides narration that includes native history, early settlers' history, and a description of the sights and wildlife viewed in route.