Prince William Sound

The sound covers some 15,000 square mi—15 times the size of San Francisco Bay. It receives an average of 150 inches of rain a year and is home to more than 150 glaciers, 20 of them reaching tidewater. Along its shoreline are quiet bays, trickling waterfalls, and hidden coves perfect for camping. In addition to hosting brown and black bears, gray wolves, and Sitka blacktail deer, the sound thrives with a variety of birds and all manner of marine life, including salmon, halibut, humpback and killer whales, sea otters, sea lions, and porpoises. Bald eagles often soar overhead or perch in tall trees. The sound was heavily damaged by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The oil has sunk into the beaches below the surface and is sometimes uncovered after storms and high tides. What lasting effect this lurking oil will have on the area is still being studied and remains the topic of much debate.

Unless you have access to a boat and are competent in its use in challenging conditions, the sound is best explored by charter boat or guided excursion out of Whittier, Cordova, or Valdez. Even though the waters are mostly protected, open stretches are common, and the fickle Alaska weather can fool even experienced boaters. From the road system, Whittier and Valdez are your best bets for finding charter outfits to explore the sound.