brooks or cordova?
Mar 12th, 2005, 10:40 AM
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brooks or cordova?
I know I should have more time in alaska but my frequent flyer miles only allowed us (me, wife, teen son) 2-7 July. Thanks to this forum and the great advice I've read have come with 2 itineraries meeting criteria of a) wildlife b) glaciers c) slightly off the normal tourist circuit. I know they're rushed but have the following week relaxing in oregon.
Itinerary 1 (camping to offset high cost of getting to Brooks, but still expensive)
3-4 July Brooks Falls (camping overnight)
5-6 camp Miller's landing for kayaking and Northwest Fjord all dayboat trip
Itinerary 2 (bit cheaper - camping if we can but money for hotels if needed)
3 July 9am Glacier Sunrise boat tour ex Whittier, allowing me to catch ferry to Cordova in PM
4 July Cordova - explore delta, Childs glacier
5 July ferry to Valdez, stay around Copper Center
6 July take van for day trip Kennicott as car hire wont allow driving on McCarthy
7 July 6am start from Copper Center to make 230pm flight from anchorage (feasible? or should I stay nearer?)
Itinerary 1 (camping to offset high cost of getting to Brooks, but still expensive)
3-4 July Brooks Falls (camping overnight)
5-6 camp Miller's landing for kayaking and Northwest Fjord all dayboat trip
Itinerary 2 (bit cheaper - camping if we can but money for hotels if needed)
3 July 9am Glacier Sunrise boat tour ex Whittier, allowing me to catch ferry to Cordova in PM
4 July Cordova - explore delta, Childs glacier
5 July ferry to Valdez, stay around Copper Center
6 July take van for day trip Kennicott as car hire wont allow driving on McCarthy
7 July 6am start from Copper Center to make 230pm flight from anchorage (feasible? or should I stay nearer?)
Mar 12th, 2005, 11:47 AM
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If you go with the Copper Center route. You need to be at Anchorage airport and your car turned in with a 2 hour window, it is a VERY busy, slow and congested airport, so I would not plan on leaving Copper Center the day of your flight. I would stay in Palmer. Factually- Miller's Landing is a dump, my opinion only, not a place I would camp.
Mar 12th, 2005, 11:51 PM
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Both intineraries are pretty good, but I'd just stay somewhere in Seward other than Miller's.
Actually, No. 1 probably has a better blend of wildlife and glaciers, because Brooks Falls is a world-class wildlife site. You can camp at Caines Head and there are a couple of public-use cabins within easy water taxi range from Seward.
Both are good trips, it's just your chances at wildlife are much smaller on Trip 2.
Actually, No. 1 probably has a better blend of wildlife and glaciers, because Brooks Falls is a world-class wildlife site. You can camp at Caines Head and there are a couple of public-use cabins within easy water taxi range from Seward.
Both are good trips, it's just your chances at wildlife are much smaller on Trip 2.
Mar 13th, 2005, 06:17 AM
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I can only weigh in on Brooks. What an amazing experience that is. Bears everywhere! This could be a lifetime travel highlight for all of you, but I would think especially for a teenage son. I have a third visit to Brooks for 2006 booked. It is that good!
Reservations can be very tight, so if you do Brooks, you would want to get space right away.
Reservations can be very tight, so if you do Brooks, you would want to get space right away.
Mar 13th, 2005, 08:37 AM
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these replies are so helpful - thanks very much. leaning to brooks now (already have campsite booked anyway) but couple of other queries:
Caines Head SP looks very nice but am I right in thinking it only has boat or foot access? Also as I will be there july 5-6-7 is there a danger that we haul our gear and then find it full? If so, is there another alternative near to seward you would recommend?
On Brooks camping - we have quite a large family type tent, always a bit embarassing when I compare it with the sleek ground hugging models of real backpackers. It is worked fine in the other national parks I've camped in (thank you america for making these available!) but is this suitable for the size of plots and wind conditions at brooks? Have also read on web site that the park discourages use of insect repellant - is this widely followed and, if so, what are the mozzies like around the campsite?
Caines Head SP looks very nice but am I right in thinking it only has boat or foot access? Also as I will be there july 5-6-7 is there a danger that we haul our gear and then find it full? If so, is there another alternative near to seward you would recommend?
On Brooks camping - we have quite a large family type tent, always a bit embarassing when I compare it with the sleek ground hugging models of real backpackers. It is worked fine in the other national parks I've camped in (thank you america for making these available!) but is this suitable for the size of plots and wind conditions at brooks? Have also read on web site that the park discourages use of insect repellant - is this widely followed and, if so, what are the mozzies like around the campsite?
Mar 16th, 2005, 09:20 PM
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I should have mentioned this before, but Seward will probably have a little Fourth of July ``hangover'' traffic from the holiday. No town in AK does it bigger. I'd love to get back up there and ``run'' the Mount Marathon race again. It is probably the busiest time of the year on the Kenai Peninsula.
The good news is you're driving from Anchorage to Seward, you'd be going against the traffic rather than getting stuck in it.
Also there's camping right in Seward, but it's far from a quality wilderness experience that a first-time visitor might seek. Some is on the beach, some in a designated tent area and there's also a few spots near Spring Creek, which is beautiful . . . but also close to a prison.
http://www.cityofseward.net/sprd/campgrounds.htm
If you want to try the Seward area and need to save bucks, there are rustic sites available in Chugach National Forest, which are a bit up the road from Seward. Here's a link.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/sew...c/campgrounds/
I haven't stayed in any because I kept a boat in the harbor. Check out the location well, the ones along the Seward Highway are closest -- although Primrose, which is one of the closest isn't great. Trail River is a pretty area.
Cordova would be a lot more peaceful.
The good news is you're driving from Anchorage to Seward, you'd be going against the traffic rather than getting stuck in it.
Also there's camping right in Seward, but it's far from a quality wilderness experience that a first-time visitor might seek. Some is on the beach, some in a designated tent area and there's also a few spots near Spring Creek, which is beautiful . . . but also close to a prison.
http://www.cityofseward.net/sprd/campgrounds.htm
If you want to try the Seward area and need to save bucks, there are rustic sites available in Chugach National Forest, which are a bit up the road from Seward. Here's a link.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/sew...c/campgrounds/
I haven't stayed in any because I kept a boat in the harbor. Check out the location well, the ones along the Seward Highway are closest -- although Primrose, which is one of the closest isn't great. Trail River is a pretty area.
Cordova would be a lot more peaceful.
