A Visitor's Guide to Valdez, Alaska (A Local's Best Things to Do)

Valdez is one of the snowiest places in the United States, and during the winter they receive on average 300 inches of snow each year! However, it's also one of the most beautiful cities in Alaska in my personal opinion, and if you're able to I highly recommend a stop here to explore the area. With stunning mountain peaks and beautiful wildlife filled waters, this is one place you won't want to miss.​

*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!

​​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Getting to Valdez and What to Expect

Like most places in Alaska, there are a few different ways to get to Valdez. One is to drive there, and the other is to take the Alaska Marine Highway - luckily I've done both. Driving from Anchorage will take about 6 hours each way, and to be fair it takes just about that long if you take the ferry as well.

Chances are taking the ferry will be significantly more expensive, and from my personal experience (after getting delayed 6 hours) our ferry ride ended up being completely in the dark and we weren't able to see any of the views or wildlife we were hoping for. (You can check the Alaska Marine Highway schedule here.)​

Because the drive can be quite long to get to Valdez, I recommend staying at least 1-2 nights to be able to fully enjoy a few adventures while you're there. If you do, there are a few places I would recommend staying at :

• Best Western - very centrally located, with some great lounge areas and included breakfast with some views of the harbor
• Valdez Glacier Campground - about 5 miles out of town, located very close to the Valdez Glacier Lake (see below) and perfect for those looking for a camping spot or secluded RV site
• Totem Hotel & Suites - as the newest hotel in Valdez, they provide eco friendly rooms with modern amenities

My Favorite Tour in Valdez :
- Stan Stephans Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

11 Best Things to Do in Valdez

1. Glacier View Park & Lake
Right next door to the Valdez Glacier Campground, you can find the Glacier View Park & Lake. There's a small parking area here, and after a short walk to the lake you'll be rewarded with stunning views of a glacier lake with mountainous backdrops. The area close to shore tends to get a little muddy, so if you're able to I recommend bringing a kayak and heading deeper into the lake.

2. Solomon Gulch Hatchery
If you head towards the Solomon Gulch Hatchery, you'll have the chance to see a variety of wildlife. Salmon, sea lions, bears, and even a stunning waterfall that are all fairly close. There's a large parking lot here for visitors, but during the summer months it can still get fairly crowded. Because of the large amount of salmon during the summer, it's essential to keep an eye out for bears.

3. Bridal Veil Falls & Horsetail Falls
​Located about 17 miles out of town, both of these waterfalls can be seen directly from the road! There's even a pull off here so you can stop and enjoy the views. Bridal Veil Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Keystone Canyon at a towering 600 feet tall, with Horsetail Falls just next door!

4. Drive Through Thompson Pass
As one of the most picturesque mountain views in Alaska, even if you don't plan to stop Thompson Pass is at least worth a drive. The top of the pass can get very windy - but trust me when I say the views are worth it!

5. Hike to Worthington Glacier
​Located about 30 miles outside of Valdez, Worthington Glacier is best accessed in the summer time once the snow has melted (even in the summer, chances are you could still see some snow!). The trail is well maintained and paved, but like other hikes it's important to remember to follow the signs and any posted rules they have. In order to make it to the lake front for views of the glacier, you'll need to walk about 10 minutes.

6. Drive (or Walk) the Marina & Kelsey Dock
​There aren't many other places you can drive out onto a dock, but Valdez has one. Here you can sit, enjoy a coffee, and search for wildlife out in the water - or just watch the local fishermen. If you're lucky, you might even spot a few whales, and if you're really up for an adventure, you can book a spot on the Alaska Marine Highway and head towards Whittier.

7. Do Some Shopping
In downtown Valdez you'll find a number of boutique stores and gift shops in addition to the downtown restaurants - personally, the gift shop inside Anadyr Adventures is my favorite!

8. Glacier & Wildlife Cruise
​This is my ultimate favorite glacier and wildlife cruise in Alaska - which is saying a lot given I've cruised with almost all the companies in Alaska. Stan Stephen's Cruises goes above and beyond, plus the views in the cruising area are truly stunning. While cruising with them we saw a calving glacier, multiple orca pods, and incredible wildlife.

9. Search for Wildlife (or Bunnies)
Did you know that the town of Valdez has pet bunnies? Maybe not actually pet bunnies, but if you walk around town soon enough you'll see a few hopping around. Valdez is also a great place to search for other wildlife, on a trip last fall, I saw 15+ black bears over one weekend! My favorite places to search for wildlife are the Solomon Gulch Hatchery and driving along the Dayville Road.

10. Try Fishing for Salmon
​Valdez is one of the most fun places to fish (at least in my husband Tyler's opinion). With the incredible tide changes, and the thick crowds during peak salmon runs - it's essential to stay aware of your surroundings and have a sense of what you're doing. Make sure to have your Alaska state fishing license, and head out to Alison Point with your waders! (Or boots if you're staying on shore.)

11. Grab Some Local Bites to Eat
​Just by walking around town you'll notice there are plenty of places to stop at to eat in Valdez. Although I haven't tried everywhere, some of my personal favorites are :

• Nat Shack - this outdoor eatery has delicious tacos and strives to bring the best "Cal-Mex" cuisine to Alaska (typically only open in summer months)
• The Coffee Co. - this local (and usually busy) coffee shop also has delicious breakfast options (baked goods, burritos, croissants)
• Valdez Brewing - they have great local brews and homemade sodas, plus Poor Bettys is out front serving delicious cajun food!
• The Roadside Potatohead - this is a sister restaurant of the original restaurant in McCarthy, and every time I've visited there's been a line out the door - they're best known for their hand cut curly fries!
• The Fat Mermaid - ok, this comes highly recommend from pretty much everyone, but I've found it can be a hit and miss, because this is where most tours go - it can often be overcrowded - and although it was delicious the first time, my two most recent visits were a bit disappointing

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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