Glaciers & Other Natural Wonders
Just 15 minutes away from Haines by air, one can soak up the spectacular views of Glacier Bay National Park. But this isn’t the only place to view these incredible rivers of ice. Haines has a few glaciers of its own ‘hanging’ around. Chilkat State Park offers great views of the Rainbow and Davidson Glaciers. Local tour operators offer custom, up-close experiences of these and other glaciers that spill their violet-blue ice into the surrounding valleys.
Warm currents in the Chilkat River cause the latest salmon run in Alaska enticing the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. Every year from October through January, the numbers of eagles soar to almost 3500 in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. It is not uncommon to see a couple dozen eagles congregating in a tree or on a river sandbar. The Eagle Festival in November highlights this natural phenomenon.
On the shores of the longest fjord reaching depths of 800 feet, Haines is surrounded by the Lynn Canal with its many inlets and coves. Making up the 90% of water that surrounds Haines, this is just one of the many attributes that add to Haines’ stunning scenery.
