Southcentral Community: Valdez
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In the heart of Prince William Sound and less than 25 miles east of the Columbia Glacier you will find the city of Valdez nestled beneath the Chugach Mountains. The crashing glaciers and towering mountains that rise from the sea make Valdez absolutely picturesque, not only as a premier summer destination, but also as an incredible winter getaway.
Columbia Glacier is the second largest tidewater glacier in North America spilling 40 miles out of the Chugach Mountains and ending with a three-mile-wide face. Though the state ferry and large cruise ships pass the glacier, privately-run day and overnight cruise vessels spend considerably more time at the ice pack, threading their way through the icebergs where you often spot seals basking under the sun. This sea of ice, with the 300-foot face of the glacier filling up the background is an awesome sight and a photographer's delight. Flightseeing is another great way to view Columbia Glacier and the surrounding area.
Valdez is a premier fishing destination and open all year. Many of the biggest fish caught in Alaska are reeled in from Prince William Sound. Valdez offers an angle on a fishing trip that is right for everyone. The salmon runs are colossal - the pinks return in the millions and the silvers by the hundreds of thousands. One of the most popular ways to go in quest of them is on a salmon charter for either a full or half-day. Halibut charters from Valdez take you to the flatter waters of Prince William Sound. The longest-running derbies in Alaska are held for each of these and award tens of thousands of dollars in prizes each season.
With its protected waters, Valdez is also a kayaker's paradise. A number of operators offer guided kayak trips ranging from day trips to overnight paddles. Rentals are available as well as pick-up and drop off services to more remote locations including Columbia Glacier. Rafting the Lowe River that cuts through the impressive Keystone Canyon is yet another popular visitor activity.
Valdez's bustling Small Boat Harbor features a long boardwalk with benches and ramps down to the various docks. With an impressive set of peaks in the background, the harbor is an excellent place to hang out in the evening, especially during summer when you can watch lucky anglers weighing in 100 to 200-pound halibut right on the docks.
From the west end of the harbor it is a short walk past the U.S. Coast Guard Station to Our Point of View Park. The observation platform on the knoll is a good spot to view the old town site to the east, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal to the south and Valdez Narrows to the west. Nearby is the Civic Center with more picnic tables and panoramas of the area.
The Valdez Museum is packed with displays that include a model of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, a 19th century saloon bar, an exhibit on glaciers that usually includes a cooler full of ice from the Columbia Glacier and a photo display on Valdez. Opposite each other are two exhibits connected with the town's most important dates in history, the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the Exxon oil spill that includes a piece of the salvaged ship's hull.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal lies across the bay and is nothing short of remarkable as it contains over 15 miles of pipeline, 18 oil-storage tanks and four tanker berths. Oil is pumped out of Prudhoe Bay on the Beaufort Sea on the north coast of Alaska and travels 800 miles south through the pipeline to the terminal. Displays at the Terminal's Visitor Center provide details of the facility.
In an area surrounded by mountains and glaciers, Valdez provides good hiking. There are a number of developed trails ranging from easy to difficult. Check in at the Valdez Visitor Center for more information of trails. Thirteen miles out of Valdez is Keystone Canyon with its many waterfalls and unusual rock formations high above the road. Horsetail and Bridal Veil Falls are both magnificent, cascading straight down the sheer canyon wall.
Valdez has the freshest snow on earth. With a long-standing reputation for great snow, more than 300 inches is measured annually in the city. Nearby Thompson Pass has recorded more than 900 inches. As one might expect with this much snow, Valdez celebrates winter with alpine and cross country skiing on world class trails, as well as with snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice climbing. Access the backcountry on foot or by helicopter and snowcat for amazing big mountain skiing and snowboarding. Valdez guides provide vacation packages of the unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime order.
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Photo By: Michael DeYoung
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Hikers overlook scenic Horsetail Falls near Valdez
Population: 4,454
Location: Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deep-water fjord in Prince William Sound. It lies 305 road miles east of Anchorage and 364 road miles south of Fairbanks. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
Access: By road via the Richardson Highway, daily scheduled jet service, Alaska state ferry, all classes of cruise vessels.
Accommodations: 7 hotels/motels, 17 bed and breakfasts, 5 lodges, 5 campgrounds, 1 cabin, 8 restaurants/cafes, all services.