Please check the top-level menu “Routes” for an overview of all routes link
Skagway Northbound
Skagway is a very high density traffic area. Multiple sightseeing and helicopter operations. Excellent maps and discussions on special flight routes in the greater Skagway area here. Please review!
Link to large route map here or medium sized map here.
Of all the routes to/from Alaska, [my opinion of course] this section offers BY FAR the most scenic, breathtaking scenery possible. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this section.
Whether you flew the Alaskan Highway to Watson Lake or Whitehorse, or the Trench, Cassiar or whatever route–branch off and head to Skagway. Weather may dictate you spend a few days in Skagway. If you’re patient and wait be assured you will have THE most memorable experience of your life on this section.
Weather Delay?
If you’re headed to Skagway, but weather along the coast prevents you from getting there on a given day, I recommend waiting at either Ketchikan, Carcross or Whitehorse. Each of those locations offer multiple activities. There are hikes, museums and restaurants.
Check TripAdvisor for things to do in Skagway or in Haines. Short walk to town from the airport in Skagway. About a 3+ mile walk to town from the Haines airport.
There are at least two aerial tour operators that operate in the area: Fly Drake and Mountain Flying Service. Both operated by super friendly, highly experience pilots. Take a few minutes to talk to each (if they have time between trips of course).
Skagway & Haines: Fuel Options
For as busy as Skagway is there is no fuel there (unless you buy an entire 50 gallon drum & hand pump it yourself).
You can fuel up in Haines (call out to Delta Western 907-766-3190…try to give them at least 30 min advance notice).
Gustavus Fuel Option
Fuel in Gustavus is often $0.50 or more less expensive than at Haines. Call the # on the fuel truck 907-697-2481 after arriving at Gustavus. They are usually within 10 min of the airport if not already there. They run the local grocery/sports store in Gustavus. If there’s something you forgot to pick up this is your last chance. Ask them on the phone. If possible they will happily bring it out to you For example, I forgot to get bear spray one trip and they brought some out.
Aerial Tour of Glacier Bay
Topographic Map
Tip: You can get a detailed topographic map perspective, with close-in river, creek, mountain, pass, etc names, free on-line. CalTopo is a great website for this (link to CalTopo).
Put your starting point in the search box at the top (e.g. city AND state). Zoom in/out to your heart’s content. You can create and download custom PDF downloads if you want an off-line version on your iPad or similar device (requires subscription).
Multiple Glacier Bay Routes
There are at least three ways from Haines that permit a phenomenal aerial tour of Glacier Bay Nat’l Park. My favorite is to initially fly up the Takhin River. Check the topo map & fly up the drainage that gets you over the Takhinsha Mtn Range (about 4,500’+) onto the McBride Glacier. Here is a link showing where to turn. It’s just prior to the unnamed airstrip shown on the topo map.
Mountain flying skills/experience HIGHLY recommended. Route # 1 as noted on the map (large size here).
Alternate Approaches To Glacier Bay
Head a few miles down the Lynn Canal to the Davidson Glacier airstrip, thence inland. Route # 2 as noted on the map (large size here). You’re sure to see cruise ships and perhaps kayakers. Look for whales further down the bay. Remember, you’re supposed to respectfully stay at least 2,000′ above any Nat’l Park for noise abatement.
Or, head down the Lynn Canal until clouds and your comfort level allow a direct route to Gustavus. Route # 3 as noted on the map. Pictures of Haines to Gustavus (link).
The Gustavus airport is several miles from the Park service Hq’s and town. No courtesy car as far as I know.
The Coast From Gustavus
Once optionally fueled up at Gustavus, there are two routes to get to the coast. Route A as noted on the map.
A Park Service pilot showed me Route A. Fly up Berg Bay, Dundas River, Abyss Lake then across a portion of the Brady Glacier (interesting article on the glacier here). Follow either the Finger Glacier or the La Perouse Glacier to the ocean.
Route B is around the coast (map). I’ve flown this coastal route several times in rain and low clouds. Cape Spencer is a rocky, windy point with no emergency landing options. A bit nerve wracking in bad weather. Suggest you wait for good weather where you can fly above/across the various points of land where you have some landing options.
Landing in Alaska Nat’l Parks
National Parks in Alaska allow aircraft landings (e.g. beaches, gravel bars). One of the above tour operators regularly lands on the beach by La Perouse glacier. I’ve landed this spot several times. Here is a video link of one landing. The views of the surrounding mountains here are amazing! You can easily hike to the toe of the La Perouse glacier.
This is Bear Country
The last time I was here there were hundreds of bear prints in the sand in this area. Be aware and carry bear spray when hiking. The Tips & FAQs page has more information on Bear Protection.
La Perouse Glacier Northward
From this point Northbound, there are endless beaches to land on if desired or needed. Stop and beach comb. Enjoy a break!
Shortly after La Perouse glacier you come to Lituya Bay. Take the time to fly around this area. Note evidence of the worlds highest recorded mega-tsunami (over 1,700′ !) that inundated the shoreline in 1958. There is at least one book about this event, numerous (here & here) articles, YouTube videos and webpages.
Very interesting history here from as far back as 1786 where the French explorer La Perouse lost 21 men at the treacherous entrance. Highly recommended flight tour.
Tongass Nat’l Forest Cabins
Shortly North of Lituya Bay you are in the Alsek River area where there are numerous Forest Service cabins and grass/gravel airstrips. Here’s a map and descriptions. All of these airstrips are well maintained. The cabins are welcome respites, especially in any kind of weather!
The Dry Bay airstrip, AK3, is used frequently by a commercial salmon fishing outfit as well as being a point for rafting pickup for those on the Alsek River. Look for other traffic and announce your intentions on 122.9. Pictures Gustavus to Alsek River AK76 (link)
Fuel up in Yakutat
Stop for fuel at Yakutat at “Yakutat Aviation Services.” Say hello to Bob who runs a great outfit. Super friendly. Highly recommended. Yakutat, like all of the coast, is an active earthquake area. A quake in 1899 uplifted some areas by 47 feet!
There is a decent restaurant at the Yakutat airport. No cell phone service!
Yakutat Options
At this point you have two choices–continue straight across Yakutat Bay, or take the scenic way around Russell Fjord and the Hubbard Glacier.
Straight Across Yakutat Bay
It’s a good 15 nm across. Have to be pretty high to glide in the event of an engine failure. I’ve done the “straight” option many times. Probably not the smartest but the shortest.
Russell Fjord & Hubbard Glacier Option
This scenic route is very interesting. The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in N America. At several times in recent history the Hubbard Glacier has surged (most recently 2002) and dammed up the outlet of Russell Fjord. Lots of very interesting articles about this here, here and here.
Once around the W side of Yakutat Bay, you fly over Strawberry Island, a popular excursion spot with Yakutat locals. Land on the beach/gravel bars and check it out! There is a backcountry cabin near Esker Stream (link). Beach access only.
Malaspina Glacier
In a land of superlatives, you now fly along (or over) the Malaspina Glacier–the largest piedmont glacier in N America! Views are breathtaking. There are trees and extensive vegetation growing on top of the ice along the edges. Many articles, for example here and here.
Icy Bay is Spectacular
Next up is Icy Bay. I personally believe this area offers perhaps the most spectacular scenery in all of Alaska. Icy Bay has a fishing lodge (active late summer?), and a couple of uncharted landing spots/airstrips along the SE side (no services or people). There is one kayak drop off beach strip at Kageet Point (soft sand).
There are a couple of other Super Cub type strips elsewhere in the bay as well (images here and here). Here’s one video of where I landed. Fly over and at least check out the massive waterfall! There was a mega-tsunami here as well in 2015. Article here. Icy Bay geology info here.
On the W side of Icy Bay there is an active logging camp and airstrip. This is a private operation. Don’t land unless you have prior permission.
Options: Icy Bay Onward
From Icy Bay you have at least two primary route options. If you’re heading to McCarthy, weather permitting, fly up the Yatsee Glacier and onto the Bagley Ice Field. The Bagley Ice Field is over 127 miles long, up to 7 miles wide and in places at least 3,000′ thick! I’ve flown over this area many times–with decent weather the views defy description.
While there are a myriad of paths leading to McCarthy, the easiest to perhaps follow is by exiting the Bagley Icefield out the Tana Glacier and valley. On good weather days there are several scenic flight operations out of the McCarthy area that traverse the Bagley region. Monitor 122.9 and announce your position frequently.
Icy Bay Onward Along the Coast
The other route from Icy Bay is along the coast. This offers a lot of wildlife (bear, eagle) viewing opportunities. Your next possible stop might be Cape Yakataga. There is a very well maintained grass strip here (no services). This is the site of a cold war era U.S. Radar site, as evidenced by the large radar reflectors. There was also a lot of placer gold mining along the beaches here, especially prior to WW-II.
Just past Yakataga you’ll see a derelict logging barge (ship) that ran aground in the 1970’s (I think). If able, land and explore.
Look for Wildlife
All along the coast you’ll see the occasional cabins, a few fishing lodges, and depending on whether the salmon are running many ATV tracks and likely fisherman. The plentiful and lush sedge grasses along the coast are popular with grizzly bears. I’ve seen dozens of bears in the grasses all along this section into Cordova.
Further along you’ll come across the abandoned oil town of Katalla (link) as noted on the trip map. This was the site of the first oil discovered in Alaska in 1902.
Approaching Cordova
As you approach the Cordova area there are two airports. Mudhole Smith PACV (paved, rental cars, but NO 100LL) and close to Cordova itself the municipal gravel airstrip CKU (camping, fresh water spring, easy walk to town and 100LL). The pass between PACV and CKU can close down with weather in the area.
Cordova: Many Activities
Cordova is a neat town. You can rent the “Skater’s Cabin” if you don’t want to set up a tent. The Baja Taco bistro by the harbor (link) has THE best food and beer in the town. Very informal; Highly recommended.
If you have a rental car the Heney Ridge trail is a spectacular hike (easy for a long ways, then steepens toward the ridge itself). Another great hike is to drive out to the end of the road (along Eyak Lake, next to the municipal airport) to the Power Creek Trail. Look for salmon and lots of eagles along the way! Great hike (very remote–take bear spray).
Aerial Sightseeing
For aerial sightseeing across Orca Inlet immediately East of Cordova is Shipyard Bay. Here you can still see at least one partially constructed wooden boat left on the SE side of the bay. Picture here.
Further SE is Kayak Island, with a very interesting lighthouse (link). Several local pilots highly recommend landing on the beach near here and checking this out.
Cordova Onward
From Cordova you have several options:
- Follow the Copper River up to McCarthy PAMX (separate Route page on that area).
- Continue up to Valdez PAVD thence Whittier PAWR and on into the Anchorage area
- Over to Seward PAWD across or around Prince William Sound.
I’ve done all the above options at one time or another. The scenery along the Copper River is outstanding. Stop at Chitina CXC, or on to Gulkana PAGK (fuel).
Continue to Anchorage (or McCarthy PAMX). Remember, if you’re flying into the Anchorage area you must be familiar with the various arrival and departure procedures as noted in the Part 93 Supplement!
Whittier & Seward
Whittier has an airstrip–winds can be very stiff off of the mountains! I have not landed there. Clouds do build up at Portage Pass between Whittier and Turnagain Arm.
Seward offers fuel as well as access to restaurants, motels and numerous activities. If you are in the Seward area highly recommend a visit to the Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords Nat’l Park!