
Haines, Alaska
A canoe slipped into the mouth of the Chilkat Inlet in November 1879, carrying Presbyterian missionary S. Hall Young and his friend, John Muir. Young told the Chilkat Indians that he wanted to build a Christian town. He chose space between two waterways, the Chilkat River and the Lynn Canal, and the town of Haines was born.
During the 1900s, a permanent army post was built and named Fort William H. Seward. The post was abandoned in 1946 and sold to a group of veterans who re-established it as Port Chilkoot. In 1970, the area became part of the City of Haines and when the fort became a national historic site in 1972, the name was changed back to Fort William H. Seward.
Haines is the home of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where as many as 4,000 bald eagles gather each fall to feast on spawning salmon along the Chilkat River. Naturalists and photographers come from all over the world to witness one of the most unusual and impressive sights in nature's kingdom. As many as 80 have been seen perched in a single tree and more than a hundred may be captured within the frame of a single photograph.
Points of Interest
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
- Hammer Museum
- Klukwan
- Kroschel Wildlife Center
Haines Offbeat Attractions: Hammer Museum & Art Studio
- Fort William H. Seward
- Hammer Museum
Haines was chosen by Outside Magazine as one of America's top ten locations to live and play. Get an insider's look at what makes this town special as you travel to unusual and out-of-the-way attractions, such as the Hammer Museum and Extreme Dreams Art Studio.
Easy Activity
$79.95
Alaska Raptors & Bald Eagle Foundation (Wheelchair Accessible)
- Fort William H. Seward
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
Behold the majesty of a raptor in flight with a visit to the American Bald Eagle Foundation. Discover how they're trained, how they eat and how they can swoop in at speeds up to 200-miles-per-hour. Then, watch an eagle enjoy a hearty lunch while learning about America's national symbol.
Wheelchair Accessible, Easy Activity
$89.95
Alaska Raptors & Bald Eagle Foundation
- Fort William H. Seward
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
Behold the majesty of a raptor in flight with a visit to the American Bald Eagle Foundation. Discover how they're trained, how they eat and how they can swoop in at speeds up to 200-miles-per-hour. Then, watch an eagle enjoy a hearty lunch while learning about America's national symbol.
Easy Activity
$89.95
Alaska Nature & Wildlife Expedition
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Renowned naturalists, magnificent wildlife and an exploration of six ecosystems - ocean, estuary, river, lake, muskeg and rainforest - await in this area aptly nicknamed the "Valley of the Eagles."
Easy Activity
$94.95
Easy Haines: Scenic Byway & Summit (Wheelchair Accessible)
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Grab your passport and get ready to travel the Haines Highway to the alpine tundra area of Haines Summit in Yukon, Canada. Along the way, enjoy a drive through Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, dramatic scenery, stop for photos, and enjoy tales of local history and culture.
Wheelchair Accessible, Easy Activity, Includes meal
$109.95
Easy Haines: Scenic Byway & Summit
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Grab your passport and get ready to travel the Haines Highway to the alpine tundra area of Haines Summit in Yukon, Canada. Along the way, enjoy a drive through Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, dramatic scenery, stop for photos, and enjoy tales of local history and culture.
Easy Activity, Includes meal
$109.95
Easy Chilkat Valley Scenic Drive
- Fort William H. Seward
Behold the unparalleled beauty of the Chilkat Valley with a leisurely scenic tour designed for small groups. Capture the unequalled sights of your spectacular setting with plenty of photo stops. And keep your eyes open for marine mammals like harbor seals and bald eagles soaring through the Alaska sky.
Easy Activity
$109.95
Bear & Eagle Quest
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Experience a limited, but quintessential Alaska adventure with an opportunity to get an up-close view of hungry bruins dining on salmon during the evening in the Chilkoot Valley on this late afternoon departure of Tour 420. This first-hand look at the food chain in action is only offered during salmon spawning season in August.
Easy Activity
$109.95
Glacial Fjord Bicycle Tour
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Set off on a leisurely bike ride along the ocean inlet to Chilkoot Lake. Photo opportunities abound on this breathtaking getaway.
Moderate Activity
$109.95
Best of Haines Highlights
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
Discover a picturesque town that few have the chance to experience. Haines promises pristine beauty surrounded by abundant wildlife - from the Chilkat River to the Chilkoot Lake. You'll tour the American Bald Eagle Foundation and snack on locally caught salmon.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$129.95
Native Culture Experience
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Klukwan
Experience the native culture of the Tlingit people on this unique visit to Klukwan, the mother village of the Tlingit Nation. Enjoy a guided walk as you learn the village's history and the villager's traditions. Visit the clan house, hear stories, watch a rousing performance, and witness highly prized Native art.
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes snack
$134.95
Haines Adventure Hike
- Fort William H. Seward
- Outdoor Adventures
Lace up your boots and get ready for a trek along Battery Point Hiking Trail, which follows the shoreline and promises breathtaking mountain and ocean views. Led by a naturalist guide, you're sure to learn about the area's flora and fauna as you make your way to a picnic on the beach.
Moderate Activity, Includes snack
$139.95
Chilkoot Lake Kayak Experience
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Join professional sea kayak guides on a tour of Chilkoot Lake, home to Pacific salmon, bald eagles, waterfowl and brown bears.
Strenuous Activity, Includes meal
$144.95
Haines Bike, Hike & Brew
- Outdoor Adventures
Get active in Haines' great frontier beginning with a bike ride along a scenic coastal path to the Battery Point Trailhead. Here, you'll hike through a beautiful rainforest that ends at a secluded beach. Back on the bike, you'll pedal to the Haines Brewing Company to sample locally brewed beers.
Strenuous Activity
$159.95
Nature & Wildlife Photography Experience
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Haines is known for its wildlife and stunning natural surroundings. This small group tour is for those that have a "smart phone" and want to learn how to take better pictures as well as for serious photographers.
Easy Activity
$159.95
Alaska Wildlife Canoe Safari
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Outdoor Adventures
Glide along the calm waters of the Chilkoot Lake in a Voyageur canoe on a wilderness adventure that offers incredible wildlife viewing in a lush setting. An expert naturalist accompanies your 1.5-hour float. Explore secret coves, salmon-spawning streams and thundering waterfalls. Enjoy a picnic-style lunch at a private beach.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$169.95
Kroschel Wildlife Refuge
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
- Kroschel Wildlife Center
Embark on a close encounter of the wild kind as you visit Kroschel Wildlife Center. This is a guaranteed wildlife tour offering the chance to see and photograph Alaska animals such as a Kodiak bear, wolves and wolverines.
Strenuous Activity
$169.95
Rock Climbing Adventure
- Outdoor Adventures
Reach new heights on the ultimate rock climbing adventure! Join professional Alaska mountain guides on the rocky crags of the Chilkat Valley and scale three to four different routes with varying difficulty ratings. Refresh with hot cocoa and a snack while taking in the breathtaking views.
Strenuous Activity, Includes snack
$179.95
Eagle Preserve Rafting & Wildlife Quest
- Fort William H. Seward
- Klukwan
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
Float silently down the river as you witness the wildlife and breathtaking beauty of the renowned Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$179.95
Wilderness UTV Adventure
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
Rev your engines on an exciting Razor-style UTV adventure through the remote Alaska wilderness and along trails with scenic mountain and river views. Bring a camera, as you'll stop at several viewpoints overlooking the Klehini, Tsirku, and Chilkat River Valleys. Savor a picnic lunch amidst this stunning scenery.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$189.95
Haines Wilderness River Adventure
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
A motorized boat tour deep into the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve offers a true wilderness experience. Eagles, moose and bear are often sighted for a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. The scenery alone is worth the trip for your very own Alaska wilderness experience.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$199.95
Whales & Lighthouse Tales
Get ready for a whale of an excursion! Witness Mother Nature's majesties as you cruise the waters of the northern Inside Passage. Humpbacks, sea lions, ice fields and hanging glaciers plus the man-made wonder of Eldred Rock Lighthouse are just a few of the breathtaking beauties you'll behold.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$199.95
Takshanuk Mountain Trail by 4x4
- Outdoor Adventures
Gear up for a family wilderness adventure on the Takshanuk Mountain Trail aboard a four-wheel drive Kawasaki "Mule." Witness waterfalls and breathtaking views of Lynn Canal and Chilkoot Lake, then sit by a warm fire and enjoy a delicious lunch in an exclusive mountaintop lodge.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$239.95
Ultimate Eagle Preserve Rafting & Native Cultural Experience
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
- Klukwan
Soak up history, culture, wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery on a rafting adventure through Chilkat Bald Preserve. After a leisurely picnic on the shores of the Chilkat River you'll float down to the village of Klukwan for a tour of its Heritage Center followed by Native folkloric drumming and storytelling.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$259.95
Glacier Point Wilderness Safari
- Outdoor Adventures
This outstanding wilderness expedition to the spectacular Davidson Glacier leads you through fjords, rainforests, colorful wildflowers and towering mountains.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$349.95
Glacier Point ATV Exploration
- Outdoor Adventures
Blaze a trail through the Alaska wilderness on an exhilarating ATV adventure! The fun begins with a scenic cruise down the Lynn Canal to the ATV base camp. Here, you'll be outfitted and ready to hit the road. A picnic lunch adds to the day's fun.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$379.95