This Keystone Canyon area is terrific and a great introduction to your time spent in Valdez,…read moreAlaska. Besides Keystone Canyon being a very photogenic section of Richardson Highway to appreciate...with towering walls hovering all around you, the two primary highlights while driving through here are Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls. Both waterfalls are situated right beside Richardson Highway, they cannot be missed! And...there are roadside signs for them just in case you're not looking around while driving and admiring the overall setting. Keystone Canyon sits 18 miles east of downtown Valdez, AK. So...just when you're all excited about getting to experience Valdez, you stop here briefly and get that "appetizer" starter that (at least for me) "sets the bar" for seeing Valdez, a pretty remote part of Alaska. First off is Bridal Veil Falls...a towering 600-foot waterfall plunge! I stopped on by in late afternoon of July and had the sun at my back which made for quite photogenic perspectives. Lol...and the sun, always in a tussle to cooperate with me when I'm trying to capture the best picture moments. So, obviously, I highly suggest you stop at Bridal Veil Falls in the afternoon time or otherwise if you come in the morning, the sun will be in your face. I needed 15 minutes at Bridal Veil Falls. I even got lucky enough to have a rainbow set at the base of the falls when snapping my pictures. And...right next door to Bridal Veil Falls is Horsetail Falls, maybe 1/4 of a mile away. So...you're afforded two awesome appearing waterfalls within one amazing setting. Horsetail Falls cascades down the mountainside for only 300 feet. It's not as stupendous as Bridal Veil Falls, but it's still picturesque. Even though I was standing beside it completely in the shade...my camera still took some memorable photos of Horsetail Falls. And, again, ya know...just taking 10 - 15 minutes to stare at such an undisturbed waterfall really had me in a positive mood. Nature is beautiful and I try never to take anything for granted. Lastly, I actually discovered this Keystone Canyon section including Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls through postcards at a gift shop. Otherwise, who knows if I would have driven past this area without stopping. See, lol, goes to show although no one ever uses postcards anymore...they can still come in handy! Alright, well, this Keystone Canyon part of Valdez is really worthwhile and also paired with Worthington Glacier situated just 10 miles northeast of here makes for fun times before even arriving in Valdez.

Just really neat to take your time and explore all the nooks and crannies of Valdez! Definitely…read morewill come back! Update: Incredibly beautiful and stunning! Can visit this over and over. It does get busy in the summer, but off season you can enjoy the stunning beauty without the crowds! Even though there are a lot of tourists it really does look untouched!

In 1978 me and my folks lived in Valdez, each time we traveled out of Valdez we would stop in…read moreThompson Pass. I remember it like it was yesterday, when people tell me "to go to my happy place", I always flash to Thompson Pass. It was so quiet up there, the air was thin and clean, and the views are the closest thing you can get to heaven. I am heading back to Alaska in 2024 and can't wait to spend some time at the Pass and going to visit blueberry hill.

Every time I drive through here, I think: "Man, why don't I do this more often?"…read more Although the elevation of the pass isn't high by lower 48 standards, it is by Alaska standards (I think it's the 2nd highest pass in Alaska, the first if you only count paved roads) In the winter, you definitely feel like you're not supposed to be here. You feel so close to the 360 degrees of snow that even a minor avalanche could sweep you off of the road! It's a skiiers paradise. It makes me want to learn how to backcountry ski. (but I'd have to, y'know, learn how to "regular" ski first) These landscapes are usually only seen by climbers and ski mountaineers, but you can see it from the comfort of your cozy car! In the summer, it's a great place to look out over the mountains and enjoy the midnight sun. I need to come back here and dedicate myself to some photography and videography. I'm usually just blasting through on the way to the Valdez Ice Fest, I need to dedicate some time to documenting just how gorgeous this place is. It's worth the 5-6 hr drive from Anchorage, trust me.

I had the best time with Magdalena. I am so glad that I didn't go with one of the more popular…read morekayaking company as this was the highlight of my Alaska trip. She was very personable, helpful and I'm glad that we skipped the whole safety stuff and went straight to the kayaking. The tour is a 7 star. She went above and beyond, help me take photos and even brought hot tea to drink on our kayaking trip. Jim and Magedelena was very accomdating with my schedule as I was only here in town for one day and they made it happened for me. I could not recommend this company any higher!

We had the best experience with Valdez stay and play!!! We had a free morning in Valdez and wanted…read moreto rent bikes to explore the area. We were able to order the bikes online to have them delivered to our hotel! We got a quick briefing (and were also given gloves in case it got cold) and then proceeded to have the best e-bike ride of our lives. We rode from downtown Valdez to the hatchery, while stopping off on different trails along the way. We stopped for lots of photos and realized we needed more time to make it back, so we just called to request another hour on the bikes and it was all good. Valdez stay and play made our bike experience extremely convenient and fun!! We wanted to rent bikes again during out trip but didn't have the time. Next time I am in Valdez, I will definitely rent from them again. A special shout out to Ryan who delivered and picked up our bikes. He did an amazing job telling us what we should see and how long it would all take! My mom forgot her sunglasses, and he was able to find some for her to use for our trip. He was very friendly and made our experience that much better! Thank you!!!!!!

False advertising! Don't go there if you want to tent camp! Unless of course you want to pitch your…read moretent in a parking lot on the side of the road. Also there are no maps of the campground available and for good reason... The campground is scattered along the roadside like the garbage it is.

Shoreline salmon fishing steps away; awesome views; campfire pits; fresh water available; RVing…read moredoesn't get any better than this.

Food is comfortable and delicious, service is outstanding! The lodge is gorgeous and comfortable.read more

Was fortunate to be able to stay two nights at Tsaina off-season (late September) as we visiting up…read morefrom San Diego for a wedding being held at the lodge. The dining area is gorgeous, the food was amazing and as someone else noted, they have true (and unique) craft cocktails. Our room overlooked the Richardson Glacier, a sublime and million-dollar view. Rooms were cozy but well appointed, very clean and modern. Am making a vow to come back sometime in the winter and use Tsaina as a base of operations for some heli-skiing.

Incredible! This was awesome to just walk around and watch the water wash up on the shore. The…read moresunrise is gorgeous here!

Zach has such a personal touch to his work it almost feels 'easy'. He brought me up to a local…read morelookout spot and even worked through some wonderful learning opportunities for me as I adventured into the unknown. I look forward to having him guide a backpacking trip or a stay in the secluded Lodge he showed me on his website. I loved every moment of exploring Valdez with Zach! No Joke, find Zach and make him apart of your adventure!

I couldn't be happier to have found Zach as our glacier guide. We canoed through Valdez glacier,…read moreskimmed up along side large icebergs, hiked onto Valdez Glacier itself and hung from the ice, jumped over crevasses, and even saw Zach move large bergs so we could canoe farther back. It was stunning and some of the most beautiful scenery I've encountered in Alaska. Zach was personable, friendly, and fun and knew his stuff! He was very knowledgeable about our surroundings and the glacier itself. I trusted him with our safety and loved adventuring with him. Worth every penny and I would recommend him hands down. Best decision ever.

Anadyr Adventures kayak trips are the best activity in Valdez. Been on many day trips and multi-day…read moretrips over the past decade. Whenever a guest comes to Alaska, we make the trek to join their guides on an unforgettable kayak experience. Recent trips: Sawmill Bay - calm bay with salmon jumping out of the water. Our guide took us on two hikes, one to a lake and another to a magical meadow. Lots to explore in that area! During a warm summer day, it's a great swimming spot. Valdez Glacier Lake - always glad to have a guide in this area, with the icebergs moving on a daily basis, it can become a maze making your way around the lake. Safety is the #1 priority for Anadyr Adventures. Very grateful for this business and their care with visitors. p.s. check out their gift store, that's where all my holiday gifts come from.

Anadyr provided excellent service and support for a great travel experience sea kayaking near the…read moreglaciers. Both the kayak guide and boat driver assisted us in any way they could. I was especially grateful for the unexpected ride to the airport.