This excursion begins with a short tour of the historic Fort Seward before embarking on a scenic drive from downtown Haines past Lutak Inlet and into the Chilkoot River Valley. Fort Seward was the first Army base in Alaska and still holds a commanding prsence along the beachway.

Enjoy the simplicity and beauty of small-town Haines on your way to Chilkoot Lake. Along the way, your guides will regale you with local natural history, geology, and Gold Rush tales as they point out snow-capped peaks, thick timber forests, and the abundant wildlife.

The Chilkoot River Valley offers incredible wildlife viewing. Brown Bears, eagles, mountain goats, and spawning salmon are commons sights. Our guides are expert naturalists and enjoy sharing their love and knowledge of the Alaskan wilderness.

At Chilkoot Lake, you’ll be stepping into a Voyageur canoe, which is stable, comfortable and quiet; perfect for observing nature’s splendor and the wildlife that abounds around this peaceful lake. You’ll be out on the water for about 1.5 hours exploring the inlets, coves, salmon spawning streams and numerous waterfalls that spill off the mountains into the lake. After a short tour of Fort Seward, a 30-minute drive from downtown Haines, leads us up the Lutak Inlet to the Chilkoot River Valley. The Chilkoot corridor offers incredible wildlife viewing. Brown Bears, eagles, mountain goats, and spawning salmon are commons sights. Our guides are expert naturalists and enjoy sharing their love and knowledge of the Alaskan wilderness. Once at Chilkoot Lake, we’ll head out in stable, motor-assisted Voyageur Canoes. Our Canoes are built using similar dimensions as the canoes used by trappers and gold miners at the turn of the century. Powered by either paddle or motor, this tour offers guests the opportunity to paddle in the serenity of Chilkoot Lake, while also having the advantage of relaxing and taking photographs when it’s time to take a break from paddling. We’ll be out on the water for about 2 hours and explore the inlets, coves, salmon spawning streams and numerous waterfalls that spill off of the mountains into the lake. After enjoying the beautiful views on the lake, we’ll return to Haines and serve a picnic-style lunch at a private ocean beach location. After lunch you will be transported back to the fast ferry and on to Skagway. We are able accommodate dietary restrictions with a minimum of 48 hours advance notice, including gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, allergies, etc. Timing: 00:00 - Meet on pier, complete waivers and answer any questions 00:00 - 00:10 - Depart pier by van for a short transfer to the small boat harbor 00:10 - 00:15 - Short walk to fast ferry, board ferry for trip to Haines (100 m) 00:15 - 01:15 - Catamaran ferry ride to Haines includes live presentation about local cultural and natural history. 01:15 - 01:55 - Board van/bus and have a guided driving town tour of Fort Seward, downtown Haines on the way out to Chilkoot Lake.  The road parallels the ocean coast and the scenic Chilkoot River. 01:55 - 02:10 - Canoe orientation, safety briefing and equipment fitting 02:10 - 04:10 - Experience pristine Chilkoot Lake from your canoe while paddling and utilizing the motor as a backup when you're ready to relax or if the wind picks up. 04:10 - 04:40 - drive back along the coast to our private beachside lunch site 04:40 - 05:10 - Beachside picnic lunch 05:10 - 05:15 - Short ride from beach back to the fast ferry dock 05:15 - 06:15 - Fast ferry ride back to Skagway and van transfer back to your ship