Ice Strait Point will be your favorite cruise port in Alaska, or your least favorite cruise port.
You might enjoy Chichagof Island’s densely forested setting, which has the highest number of bears per square mile in the world and is surrounded by wildlife-filled waters, making it an ideal tourist destination. At Icy Strait Point, you can fly down a 5,495-foot-long zipline, sample fresh Alaskan seafood, and immerse yourself in the history and Native culture of Southeast Alaska.
However, if you like cruise ports that take you into the middle of real-life Alaska, Ice Straits isn’t for you. It’s a purpose-built cruise port (think: a cruise ship’s private island meets a ski resort) where everything is crafted to entice you to spend your money. You’ll need to walk or take a shuttle to Hoonah to see where real Alaskans live.
If you disdain this kind of port, I urge you not to give up on Ice Strait Point. I was impressed by how its creators made authentic Alaskan elements accessible to cruise ship guests in port. I didn’t have to go far to try the salmon pate and halibut pizza, paired with locally brewed beer. I visited the exhibit at the salmon cannery that once occupied the site. For a longer stay, I can go on a whale watching cruise in populated waters and get a 100% refund if no whales are spotted during the tour.
Additionally, port owner Huna Totem Corporation has deep roots in the local community. Many of the workers you meet at the port are Alaska Natives and live in nearby Hoonah; a popular place for high school students to work summer jobs. Huna Totem only rents retail space to local businesses (a gallery specializes in selling native Alaskan art), and proceeds from the on-site bookstore help fund school activities in Huna. Don’t miss the local Salvation Army-run donut shop, which uses profits to feed Alaskans in need.
Icy Strait Point transforms authentic Alaska into a beautiful and convenient port. Whether your ship is docked for a full day or just an evening, here are the top 12 things to do in port.
Ride the cable car
Icy Strait Point has two cruise terminals: Wilderness Landing (near the zip line) and Ocean Landing (near the port’s other shopping, dining and activity centers). A half-mile walking trail connects them.
You may certainly enjoy a leisurely stroll through the woods (keep an eye out for deer), but I think a gondola ride between the trees is more fun. There are two gondolas at Icy Strait Point—you’ll want to take the free Transporter Gondola. The four-minute drive takes you through the adventure trail area through the rainforest and port. If possible, time your ride to avoid long tour group lines.
Zoom out zipline
Icy Strait’s ZipRider is a top-notch ride. The port calls it “the largest glider in the world.” I’m not sure what that means, but I can tell you that the six side-by-side ziplines are 5,495 feet long and have an elevation gain of 1,330 feet. You were both strapped into a harness and sat on a swing chair, so you were upright but not dangling. You’ll soar 300 feet above the rainforest as you descend the mountain at over 60 mph.
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It’s really exciting – not just because of the height and speed, but because you actually have time to enjoy the ride and take in the views along this long route.
Bonus: You get a second lift ride on the Skyglider, which lasts 7 minutes and takes you to the top of Hoonah Mountain.
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Go whale watching
The area around Cape Adolf on Chichagov Island is famous for its summer abundance of humpback whales. Boats depart from Ice Channel Point on multiple whale watching excursions daily to these wildlife-filled waters.
In fact, the area is home to so many whales that Huna Totem said they have been seen on every whale-watching trip since Icy Strait Point opened in 2004. They are so sure you will see a whale that if you don’t, they will refund 100% of the tour cost.
looking for bears
If you prefer land mammals, Chichagof Island is also known for its grizzly bear population. You can see a bear (safely) in the wild by signing up for a bear search. These tours take visitors to the Spassky River Valley, where you’ll walk along designated trails to viewing points in hopes of spotting large brown bears. You may also see deer, hawks, and other wildlife.
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fishing
The waters around Icy Strait Point are teeming with halibut, so if you’re eager to try Alaska’s saltwater fishing, sign up for a tour. Each fishing boat can accommodate up to six guests, and while you must handle your own fishing rod, you are required to release any fish you catch. (So, don’t think you can take your catch back to the boat for dinner.) The fishing tours here are also small wildlife cruises, so you might see whales, dolphins, sea lions, and other aquatic animals while you’re on the water.
boil fish
If you want a true Alaskan experience, don’t miss the “Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen” tour at Icy Strait Point. Under the guidance of a local chef, you’ll learn how to prepare local fish (most likely salmon and halibut), from filleting the fish to cooking it on an open-air grill. Back inside, you’ll be able to taste the dishes and take home recipe cards.
eat fish
Some people just want to enjoy Alaska’s abundant seafood without having to catch and prepare it. There are many ways to fill your belly with fish at Icy Strait Point.
You can sign up for a tour that includes a seafood feast of shrimp and crab, Andouille sausage, vegetables and s’mores for dessert. Alternatively, grab a bite to eat at one of the port’s three waterfront restaurants, food trucks and other food stalls.
The Duck Point Smokehouse restaurant next to the Ocean Landing Pier features cozy fireside indoor and outdoor patio seating, as well as a bar selling Alaskan beers (including delicious island-made Cannery red ale). Here I enjoyed smoked salmon dip and parmesan toast, as well as my first halibut pizza.
Next to the cannery, The Cookhouse is the place to go for halibut fish and chips and salmon BLT sliders, while the Crab House specializes in locally caught Dungeness crab and Alaskan snow crab. The drink of choice is the Alaskan Crab Bloody Mary, with crabmeat, shrimp, pickled Alaskan beach asparagus and real crab legs.
At the top of Hoonah Mountain, you can stop at a taco truck and buy shrimp and halibut tacos and other non-seafood options.
Learn about fish
Or, more specifically, learn about the salmon canning process in Hoonah and the history of the salmon industry. The Hooner Cannery Building, which now houses a restaurant and shop, was once home to a salmon cannery. Spend some time exploring the museum’s free exhibits, which feature photos, machinery and other memorabilia from when the buildings were once factories.
Buy souvenirs
While you’re at the Cannery, you won’t want to miss the chance to buy souvenirs at the store, which is owned exclusively by Alaska natives and Alaska Natives. The large store in the main part of the building sells all the signature souvenirs you’d find at Port Alaska, but check out the low-key shop just off the hallway for more original gifts. At Dei L’e.ann you can find works by Huna Tlingit artists, as well as soaps, ointments and lip balms from Tlingit Botanicals.
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Watch a dance performance
The Alaska Native Heritage Center near the cannery provides visitors to Cape Strait the opportunity to experience and learn about Tlingit culture. The theater performs an hourly “Tribal Dance Show” which you can book separately or as part of a tour (usually with a seafood feast). Tlingit people from Hoonah will perform songs, dance and tell stories to share their traditions with cruise guests.
Go for a nature walk
Stretch your legs and look for wildlife along Icy Strait Point’s various nature trails. From Ocean Landing’s Adventure Center, you can stroll along the nature trail (about a 12-minute walk) or walk the half-mile trail to another marina. From the top of the Sky Glider Gondola, you can enjoy the mile-long Hidden Lake Loop Trail (yes, there’s actually a lake there).
Alternatively, you can meander along the beach path (a great place to spot wildlife) or walk the mile-and-a-half route to Hoonna.
Visit Huna
Speaking of Hoona, it is the main city on Chichagof Island and home to many Tlingit and Alaska natives who work at Ice Strait Point. If you want to visit a real town rather than a developed port, you can take a boat, shuttle bus or walk the 30 minutes to Juna.
In Hoonah, you can shop for gifts and souvenirs at some of the local shops, sample local beers at Icy Strait Brewing, or enjoy comfort food all day at The Fisherman’s Daughter. You can also watch local carvers making totem poles or crafting canoes in the town’s workshops.
bottom line
You may have never heard of Ice Strait Point before taking a boat trip. However, combined with the neighboring city of Juna, it offers cruise ship passengers a wealth of activities and attractions. With only one night in port, I would recommend looking for a tour with a longer stay so you can go out on a wildlife tour and then have time to shop and eat within the port complex.
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