Icy Bay Sea Kayaking Trip

Discover Icy Bay. World Class Kayaking.

  • Spectacular views of Mt. St. Elias
  • Excellent nearby day hikes
  • 5 nights camping
  • Five days sea kayaking
  • Unbeatable camping, wildlife & scenery
  • A night in Yakutat
  • Private charter flight Yakutat to/from Icy Bay

A century ago, Icy Bay didn’t exist. Glaciers met the Pacific Ocean where we now paddle. Today, this brand-new bay offers some of Alaska’s most spectacular and least visited sea kayaking. You’ll likely have the entire place to yourself.

Welcome to our Icy Bay sea kayaking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Our guides are always excited to return here. You will be too.

Icy Bay

Icy Bay is one of Alaska’s best kept secrets. Icy Bay sees virtually no visitors. A shallow sandbar at the bay’s mouth keeps cruise ships out. You won’t share this place with anyone.

Paddle up close to calving glaciers and house-sized icebergs. Photograph seals, sea otters, and countless seabirds. Mt. St. Elias, the world’s tallest coastal mountain, towers 18,000 feet straight up from the shoreline.

Simply superb sea kayaking. Unmatched.

Enjoy all this with the very strong probability that you won’t encounter another human being the whole time. You’ll likely see grizzly bear tracks in the sand along the beach long before you see any human footprints!

Camping

A beachfront campsite with my favorite view in all Alaska. The world’s tallest coastal mountain towers overhead. Glaciers crawl from the mountain peaks down to the shoreline and the deep clear waters of Icy Bay lap at your doorstep.

We’ll camp here for five nights. Beach fires. Fresh-caught salmon if we’re lucky. Day hikes along the shore and into the hills behind camp.

Complete solitude. No one else around.

Why Sea Kayak Icy Bay?

Alaska offers world-class sea kayaking. Glacier Bay, Prince William Sound, and Kenai Fjords all deliver spectacular paddling. Glacier Bay draws thousands of visitors. Prince William Sound hosts dozens of operators. Kenai Fjords fills with tour boats daily.

Icy Bay is different.

Most Alaska sea kayaking guides have never been here. The bay is too remote, too new, too unknown. That’s exactly what makes it special.

Protected fjords. Calving glaciers.

No crowds to manage. Just wilderness sea kayaking the way it should be.

Icy Bay Sea Kayaking Trip Video

Who's This Trip For?

This trip is a great option for those looking for an easy vacation in a remote and beautifully wild setting. It’s also customizable enough to fit both novice paddlers and experienced kayakers and outdoors people.

Looking for a quiet getaway? This trip is for you. Solitude and a peaceful serene wilderness locale make the Icy Bay Sea Kayaking Trip the perfect summer destination. The relatively calm, glassy water of the fjords make it a nice place to paddle for those with little or no experience.

You might also take short easy dayhikes along the beach or through the woods. Explore the edges of the glaciers at the far reaches of the fjords. There are numerous small creeks and waterfalls to enjoy and photo opps around every bend.

For those folks looking for a more rigorous outing we’ll break camp each day and kayak the entire length and breadth of the bay. There are campsites along the beach near the glaciers. If you’d like we can make this an expedition adventure of the entire Icy Bay.

Trip Info

You’ll love five nights camping in Icy Bay, one night at a lodge in Yakutat. 5 days of paddling, hiking and photographing.

Camp by the beach and enjoy a nightly fire and great food. The view from dinner doesn’t get any better.

Paddling adventures will takes us across the bay and up the various fjords and passages of the bay. We’ll try to get up close to the various glaciers and icebergs but must treat them all with respect. Water in the bay can easily reach depths of 300 feet!

This is rated as an easy trip and we offer a flexible itinerary to accommodate you/your group.

Combine a few days sea kayaking with some hiking, beach camping, exploring and relaxing in one of the most impressive landscapes anywhere. Basecamp and enjoy paddling different fjords each day.

Or if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous we can break camp each day and paddle to a new location.

Your call.

Coastal Alaska

Icy Bay

100 years ago, this bay was covered in ice. A multitude of massive gainers crept southward from the St. Elias Mountains and met the shores of the northern Pacific Ocean along the Cape Yakataga shoreline. There was no bay here when Captain Cook sailed by in 1778.

Today, after a century of recent glacial retreat, Icy Bay is a cluster of cool, deep bays. As the glaciers recede further northward toward the lofty sanctity of the St. Elias Range, Icy Bay grows even larger.

Three large fjords constitute the best of our paddling domain, and we’ll explore the nooks and crannies of all of them; the Taan and the Tsaa in particular.

Icy Bay was labelled one of the 10 treasures of the world by National Geographic, and truly lives up to its reputation. Icebergs the size of a small house float by. Mountains soar overhead.

Mt. St. Elias

Any commentary on Icy Bay inevitably includes observations on Mt. St. Elias.

Why? Because it’s a remarkable mountain, and a powerful spectacle. When the clouds clear and the mountain comes out, it commands our attention.

Rising over 18 000 feet directly from the shoreline, the mountain is the tallest coastal peak in the world. Sitting on the US/Canada border, it is the second tallest peak in both countries. Its presence above our camp and our excursions is constant. You’re ever aware of this mountain.

The Saint Elias mountain range is the world’s tallest coastal mountain range, and the scenery here is without equal. Snow-capped peaks surround you. You’ll also get great views of 4 glaciers, the Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall Glaciers being the most prominent.

Testimonials

June, 2018
Really wild Alaska!
Great trip amongst icebergs and glaciers. Campfires on the beach and no one else around except the seals ! Awesome small plane trip to drop you in there. A truly wild experience!
Icy Bay Sea Kayaking trip testimonial pic.
Meg Allan

Icy Bay Sea Kayak Trip

1 Trip
July 2017
Exceeded expectations. So much fun.
Exceeded expectations. So much fun. Rhane was amazing. The most well read and well educated young man we have ever had as a guide. He knew everything from Alaska history, to glacier astronomy, to South American adventures, to rock climbing, geology, otters, bears, and how to have fun.
Susie, Galen and Rhane at Icy Bay and Mt. St. Elias.
Susie, Kent and Galen Vincent

Icy Bay Sea Kayak Trip

2 Trips
July 2017
Awesome trip ...
One week of kayaking at Icy Bay, "ice-breaking" in our kayaks, moose, wolverine, seal and sea lion watching, glacier calving, good conversation around the camp stove, all at the foot of Mt St Elias. Incredible. The trip was, in a word "awesome". I would do this again in a heartbeat. Thanks Carl!
Tim Block Kayaking, Icy Bay trip review, Alaska.
Tim Block

Icy Bay Sea Kayak Trip

The Lost Coast

2 Trips

Where Are We?

Click on the map to interact and zoom or open map in new page.

Logistics

Depending on the exact trip itinerary and extension options you’d prefer, we depart from Yakutat to Icy Bay, or possibly from McCarthy. We’ll fly in to Icy Bay, land on a spectacular beach, and set up camp.

Weather issues

The Taan Fjord still shows on many maps as ice covered! The calm, protected pristine waters of these fjords make classic Alaska sea kayaking. Even in inclement weather we’re typically able to get out and paddle. We can venture up the various fjords towards the glaciers, hike the shore lands and poke around the glaciers as we explore this very dynamic area.

Gear Requirements

I’ll provide you with a detailed gear list upon your reservation. download the Free eBook Info Packet for a brief overview if you like.

Read More

Trip Options & Extensions

Want to extend your Alaska adventure? We can customize your Icy Bay sea kayaking trip with additional wilderness experiences in the Wrangell-St. Elias region.

Read More

Trip Itinerary

Caveat – don’t expect your trip to run exactly as I outline it here. This section is here to give you an outline of a typical itinerary, and is only intended as a sample.

Exact logistics will vary by year and by trip.

That said …. read on

Day 0 – You need to arrive in Yakutat the night before our trip begins.

Day 1 – We’ll meetup the morning of your trip departure date for a brief orientation and gear review. next, meet your pilot for a spectacular charter flight to Icy Bay. We’ll fly to Icy Bay, land on the beach, have a bite to eat, and then establish our campsite.

Read More

No Cruise Liners Here?

A shallow sand strip near the mouth of the bay keeps the area free of these monstrosities. We’re able to enjoy this incredible place in relative solitude.

Testimonial

Icy Bay Sea Kayaking trip Alaska Seb D“The place, the guide, the weather !!! Carl has successfully answered our expectations and even more. Don’t think, sign with him !!!“

– Seb Delhaye, France

What's Included?

Flexibility means I can accommodate most of your additional gear needs. Typically, I’ll include your kayaking gear, return charter flights to Icy Bay (from Yakutat), and general group gear. Let me know what you don’t have, or would like us to provide, and we’ll get to work on that for you.

Read More

Trip FAQs

  • Deltas 17s. Brand new in 2025. And we’re in the process of getting a few new boats, including tandems as well.

    These are SWEET boats – stable, comfortable, and perfect for multi-day trips in Icy Bay.

  • One reason Icy Bay is such a great sea kayaking destination is the distinct and very noticeable absence of cruise ships.

    None of the major cruise liners venture into the bay, which makes this remote wilderness area very different from Alaska’s more popular sea kayaking destinations like Glacier Bay or Prince William Sound. A shallow sand bar near the mouth of the bay has kept the area free of these monstrosities, and we’re able to enjoy this incredible place in relative solitude. In a typical season the only other vessel we MIGHT see in the entire week is a small private sailboat that drifted nearby for a few hours.

  • Icy Bay is a great bird watching area, and we’ll see an array of ducks, sea birds, shore birds and raptors. Bald eagles are common, as are falcons as well. Both marbled and the endangered Kittlitz’s murrelets are found in Icy Bay.

    Harbor Seals come into the bay as well, hunting salmon, which are always a treat to see. With an estimated population in the bay of over 3500 seals, you’ll more than likely see quite a few!

    This is one of the few areas where they’re rarely bothered by orcas, so they’re often very visible in the calm waters, as well as loafing around, soaking up the sun resting on the icebergs. June/early July is birthing time, so it’s possible you’ll see some cute seal pups as well.

    If we’re lucky, we’ll also see mountain goats as well. Grizzly bears are abundant in the area, and it’s likely that we’ll see them as well.

  • This is a beginner-friendly sea kayaking trip. Perfect for the intermediate paddler and darn near perfect for experienced paddlers as well.

    That’s as honest as I can tell ya. Read the linked articles here for some tutorials.

  • The beauty of a basecamp sea kayak trip is the flexibility. We’ve done days with good, solid experienced paddlers where we covered almost thirty miles in a day. Other days, with other paddlers, 5 or 6 miles.

  • Absolutely! This basecamp-style trip is one of our most family-friendly adventures. The flexible daily distances and lack of moving camp each day makes it much easier for kids than a traditional expedition-style kayak trip.

    We recommend children be at least 12 years old for this trip, though we’ve successfully taken younger kids with strong paddling families. The key is whether your child can handle 4-6 hours of paddling and has the maturity to follow safety instructions around water and wildlife.

    Have a family adventure in mind? Let’s talk about whether this trip is the right fit for your crew.

  • We’ll have some tandems in 2026 yes.

  • I like to keep the group to five, maximum. Contact me to talk about bringing a larger group if you need to.

  • Flights on major airlines come through Anchorage or Juneau. Alaska Air will get you there.

  • Not too bad. Bugs vary a lot, anywhere in Alaska, and can vary a lot week to week. Just be prepared for bugs .. and be prepared for no bugs.

  • We have a comprehensive food form for you to complete and we’ll do our very best from there to put together a menu for the trip that you’ll enjoy.

    We do our best to accommodate most dietary requirements, tastes and preferences.

    Exact menu will be trip dependent. For a 12 day backpack and packraft you can expect a different constitution of food than you’ll see on a 5 day basecamp trip.

    Another thing to remember is Expeditions Alaska isn’t a simple “production line” outfit. Guides all have their own systems and menus and favorites, so we don’t have a generic “here’s your trip menu” at all. Menus vary trip to trip.

    What I can tell you is that we do the best backcountry food in Alaska. Bar none. You’ll enjoy good food. Really good food. Whether it’s a great pizza, a dish of Pad Thai or greek salad or a lentil soup, I assure you that you’ll appreciate your guides’ culinary expertise. Good food takes a bit extra effort, but can really help bring your trip experience up a notch. Or three.

    This is a common question we get, and an important one. So important, it warrants its own page.

    All your questions about our backcountry food answered right here.

  • Absolutely.

    Many of our guides are or have been vegetarian or have dietary needs of their own.

    Our food forms are comprehensive and cover any of your meal preferences.

    If you are a picky eater, we want to serve you what you want. Don’t be shy. Be as precise in your meal forms as you desire.

  • Would you like to?

    Sure. Here’s the form we have guests complete for us when they ask us to do food. It’s a pretty detailed questionnaire. We’ll compile that and make our trip menus from there. Nobody goes hungry.

  • This depends on the guide and their preferences, but our staple dishes include (but aren’t limited to)

    • backcountry pizza,
    • backcountry baking (fresh bread, garlic bread, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies),
    • fresh backcountry salads with fresh greens if available (arctic dock, mountain bluebell, wild berries),
    • fresh fish if available (arctic char and grayling),
    • curries,
    • pancakes,
    • hash-browns, and
    • burritos.

    Something you’d like to have? Let us know. Mike baked a birthday cake for a guest last summer.

  • Reserving your place on a trip requires a 50% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. All trips MUST be paid in full 45 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

    We can take online payments, either ACH or Credit Cards. Credit Card merchants charge a 2.9% processing fee which is passed on to you if you choose to pay with a card. We can also take Zelle payments, or a check or international wire.

    1. Credit Card – 2.9% fee
    2. ACH – No fees
    3. Zelle – No fees
    4. Check – No fees
    5. Wire – No fees

    Some trips will have a slightly different process, but that’s the gist of it for most of them. See our Cancellation Policy & Terms post for more info.

  • Reserving your place on a trip requires a 50% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. All trips MUST be paid in full 45 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

    If the client cancels on a trip paid in full, 80% of the price can be deferred and applied to another trip that is scheduled to occur within the next 12 months, provided that all three of the following occurs: 

    i) Expeditions Alaska, LLC is able to fill the cancelled spot,
    ii) Expeditions Alaska LLC is able to fill the the trip that the client cancelled on, and
    iii) 30 days (or more) notice is given.

    If a client cancels a trip and Expeditions Alaska is not able to completely fill that trip, regardless of the number of original participants in that trip, Expeditions Alaska will not defer or refund any portion of the cancelling client’s payment. 

    Expeditions Alaska, LLC cannot guarantee that a spot will be available on a scheduled trip in the next 12 months.  If no spot is available and you cannot use your deposit in those 12 months, the deposit is forfeited and non-refundable. 

    If cancellation is within 30 days of the trip, only 50% of the fee can be carried over to a future trip. The remainder is forfeited and non-refundable.

    No refunds, credit, or other reimbursements are given for cancellations within 14 days of the trip departure. 

    Expeditions Alaska, LLC reserves the right to cancel and/or modify the itinerary of a trip for any reason. If Expeditions Alaska cancels a trip you will be refunded your payment in full, minus a $250 administrative fees plus any unrecoverable deposits Expeditions Alaska, LLC made to organize the trip.  If Expeditions Alaska cancels changes the date of a trip and you can no longer attend, you will be refunded your payment, minus a $250 administrative fees plus any unrecoverable deposits Expeditions Alaska, LLC made to organize the trip. 

    
If weather or other factors delay or impede your trip, there will be no refund of fees. Expeditions Alaska, LLC is not responsible for any other costs incurred by the client as a result of the cancellation, delay, or modification of a trip.

    Additional costs incurred through weather delays and itinerary changes are the responsibility of the client.

    Additional costs incurred by the client, such as changes to flights or additional costs, etc, are the sole responsibility of the client.

  • We’re excited to be part of your upcoming expedition. Your reservation reflects a commitment to an awe-inspiring Alaskan adventure. Our dedication to you includes careful planning, experienced curation, and a shared passion for adventure. It’s a commitment to the essence of Alaska.

    In the spirit of consistency and transparency, we want to address our no-refund policy for trip deposits. While we understand unforeseen circumstances may arise, our consistent policies ensure fairness to all adventurers. This commitment allows us to maintain trip quality, prioritize safety, and provide the best experience for every participant.

    With limited availability due to Alaska’s changing seasons, once you commit to a trip, we commit to it.

    Understanding life’s unpredictability, we strongly recommend considering Trip Insurance. This additional layer safeguards your investment, offering peace of mind for the excitement and wonder in the Alaskan wilderness.

    Your trust means a lot; our dedication to your adventure is unwavering. Let’s explore Alaska’s backcountry together.

    Thank you for choosing us for this journey.

    Thank you.

  • I know you do. I do as well.

    I recommend starting with the General Trip FAQ page

    More questions? Email me or call me  and we’ll go through them.

    Upon your reservation I’ll also send out a comprehensive trip information packet that covers just about everything and more you might imagine about your trip.

You May Also Like
Canning River Rafting trip in ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska rafting tours.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Canning River Rafting ANWR Trip

Put the Wild in Wilderness. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Categories Rafting
Duration 8-12 Days
Group Size 1-4 People
Difficulty  
Scheduled Dates
2026
Jun 25 – Jul 5, 2026
Jul 13 – Jul 23, 2026
2027
Jul 9 – Jul 20, 2027
Price
$7,800

Raft the Brooks Range to Arctic coastal plain. Ten days, three rivers, caribou country. Hiking, wildlife, serious wilderness. ANWR trip.

Come Explore the Canning
Backpacking trip Malaspina Glacier Cook tent and kitchen on Malaspina Glacier backpacking trek, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Malaspina Glacier Backpacking Trip

A Backpacking Trip Like Nothing You’ve Ever Done Before. Or Will Again. I Promise.

Categories Backpacking
Duration 8-12 Days
Group Size 4-8 People
Difficulty  
Scheduled Dates
Custom dates available
Price
$4,900

A trek like no other. A glacier like no other. We backpack across the largest glacier in North America. Beneath the highest coastal mountains in the world.

Trek the Malaspina
The Lost Coast backpacking trip, Malaspina Glacier and forelands, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

The Lost Coast

The Edge of Nowhere. The End of Everywhere.

Categories BackpackingHikingPackrafting
Duration 4-8 Days
Group Size 1-5 people
Difficulty  
Scheduled Dates
2026
Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2026
Price
$3,800

Backpacking on the shores of the Pacific Ocean we explore both the ancient spruce forests and edges of Malaspina Glacier. Bears, packrafts and nobody else.

Explore The Coast
Expeditions Alaska
Visit the wild