Nestled between rugged, snow-capped mountains, the fertile Chilkoot Valley provides an abundance of potential wildlife highlights including brown bears, bald eagles, mountain goats, salmon, harbor seals, and whales. Lying along the banks of the Chilkat River is the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the largest population of bald eagles – anywhere.
After meeting your naturalist guide in Haines, together you will travel by private vehicle through the Chilkoot Valley along the river, stopping at numerous points so that you can get out and experience the sights, sounds, and scents of this wildlife mecca.
At Chilkoot Lake, experience the temperate rainforest during a refreshing walk beneath magnificent old-growth trees. Your naturalist will interpret the environment along the way. Powerful spotting scopes and binoculars will provide you with close-range views of both bald eagles nesting along the shores as well as of wildlife such as mountain goats and brown bears. Birders will delight in the many migratory and resident birds like surf scoters, harlequin ducks, marbled murrelets, loons, and more which call this area home. And photographers will enjoy capturing wildlife, cultural and scenic areas, and may even take photos through the spotting scopes.