Icy Strait Point, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Icy Strait Point

1. The ZipRider

   Billed as the world's longest zipline, it is 5,330 feet long across six parallel lines, with riders reaching up to 60 miles an hour about 300 feet above the rainforest. The ride starts right after you get off the ship, with a shuttle to the top of the mountain, and bears, deer and eagles are often seen on the way.

2. The Hoonah Packing Company cannery

   A salmon cannery built in 1912, now a museum with artifacts from the trade that employed many Native Alaskans. Its old buildings and the water beside them make a good backdrop.

3. Whale watching on the strait

   The nutrient-rich water attracts humpback whales from late spring through early fall, and small group tours leave from the dock area looking for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions and porpoises.

4. The Transporter Gondola

   A high-speed gondola that carries guests to the first dock, at Adventure Landing Pier, where several of the attractions are. The ride itself gives a wide view of the harbor.

5. The waterfront and the shops

   Three waterfront restaurants with views serve fresh seafood, and every shop on site is Alaska-owned, so a picture of the water and the local goods says where you are.

How the light works

The whale boats are where the light matters: low cloud gives even, moody water, and a break in the clouds turns the strait silver. Keep your camera ready before the spout, not after, and shoot bursts. Ashore, the cannery's weathered boards look their best in soft, overcast light.

Before you go ashore

Icy Strait Point offers more than 20 shore excursions, from ATVs and biking to kayaking, nature tours and Alaska Native dance performances, and most leave close to the dock. The one excursion that needs a bus to reach the viewing area is the Wildlife and Bear Search tour. Book what you want before the day, because small group tours sell out.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

What is the ZipRider?

A zipline that Icy Strait Point bills as the world's longest, 5,330 feet across six parallel lines. Riders reach up to 60 miles an hour about 300 feet above the rainforest.

When can I see whales at Icy Strait Point?

Humpback whales are typically here from late spring through early fall, and small group whale watching tours leave from the dock area.

Can I see bears at Icy Strait Point?

Yes, on the Wildlife and Bear Search tour, the one excursion that takes a bus to reach the viewing area. Other excursions leave from near the dock.