Marine Highway Route
select a community to start planning your trip
A ferry adventure can be one of the most amazing ways to journey north. You will have the opportunity to see some of the magnificent natural wonders and have a chance to stop in and visit some of the communities you might otherwise miss. From the ports just outside Vancouver, BC to the inside passage of Alaska, the Marine Highway Route is an exceptional choice in your northern adventure.
Via Alaska Marine Highway
www.FerryAlaska.com
1-800-642-0066
1-907-465-3941
A delightful array of marine wildlife and stunning natural displays await you on this journey.
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a bustling waterfront town with a population of more than 14,000 and a thriving fishing and tourism industry. You will want to explore the famous “Red Light District” which is now home to many art galleries, gift shops and coffee houses. A floatplane trip to the Native community of Metlakatla is another nice diversion, or visit Saxman Native Village just two and a half miles (4 km) down the South Tongass Highway. You can enjoy daily dance performances given by local Tlingit Natives, or stop by the carving house and watch totem carvers at work. For another great adventure, take the ferry system over to Prince of Wales Island and check out the numerous small coastal villages, enjoying activities such as scuba diving or spelunking at El Capitan Cave, located just north of Whales Pass off North Prince of Wales Road.
Wrangell, Alaska
Wrangell’s claim to fame is that of being the only town to have flown both Russian and British flags before becoming a U.S. territory. Take a tour and see bears at the Anan Wildlife Observatory, or enjoy a charter to catch a bird’s-eye view of LeConte or Shakes Glaciers. Shakes Island is home to a real Tlingit clan house and hand-carved totem poles, and Petroglyph Beach has a hidden cache of ancient rock carvings.
Petersburg, Alaska
Also called “Little Norway,” Petersburg is located in the Tongass National Forest at the north end of the Wrangell Narrows. Take a kayak tour to some of the secluded vistas of the Tongass National Forest, including glaciers and wildlife areas. If you happen to be there during the month of May, you will be able to partake in the annual Norwegian Festival, celebrating Norway’s Independence Day.
SIDE TRIPS
We’d like to offer you the option to explore different combinations of your waterway adventure. These are just a few side trip ideas that you might find interesting, as you enjoy your Marine Highway adventure on your journey north:
Valdez/Whittier/Seward to Within Alaska Route
Another great option is disembarking at one of these ports and driving the rest of the All Alaska Route. With well-maintained roads and stunning scenery, you’ll want to explore all the facets of the north country, and a ferry trip combined with a drive around Alaska is a great way to do so.
Vancouver/Prince Rupert or Hyder
Make your journey a water-and-land combination. Take the ferry from Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert or Hyder, and stop off at either port for a driving tour. You can drive the Stewart-Cassiar Highway from Prince Rupert or Hyder-Stewart, enjoying the awe-inspiring views that only this highway can offer. You will then venture up to Dease Lake continuing through Watson Lake and on to Whitehorse.
