Why the Icy Strait Point Gondola is a Must-Ride for Tourists

The Icy Strait Point in Alaska is a hub for tourists because of the various activities that they can be a part of during their tours. For example, you can enjoy humpback whale watching, bear searching, exploring the village of Tlingit and talking to the Tlingit tribe, kayaking, and fishing. With thousands of tourists coming to the Icy Strait every year, the Native American entity decided to make transportation easier and thrilling for everyone.

There used to be a time when the Icy Strait Point only had buses and cabs for visitors. But after the installation of the aerial lift system, tourists can now travel to their favorite destinations in gondolas. They won’t need to rely on local transport anymore. This will make Wilderness Landing in Icy Strait a vehicle-free zone.

The Icy Strait Point gondola is one of the most thrilling rides according to locals and tourists. One of the reasons why the gondola is a must-ride for tourists is the route it takes. It moves through the lush green treetops located between the Wilderness Landing and the historic Cannery. The gondola is both scooter and wheelchair-accessible and can accommodate as many as eight people in one cabin. Here are a few more reasons that make the gondola ride unique:

  • The efficient, high-speed gondola offers you one of the most beautiful views of Alaska. You will be able to enjoy the top view of the forests underneath and watch the undisturbed Glacier Bay as you ride the gondola. Many say that the gondola is similar to the one in Walt Disney World’s Skyliner, but the one in Icy Strait Point has a much better view.
  • This electric gondola has the capacity to move as many as 22,400 passengers every day. If you don’t want to take a bus or cab to reach your next destination, you can ride the gondola and experience the ride of a lifetime.
  • You can take the mountain-top gondola to reach the Hoonah Mountain 360 Tram Tour. This one-and-a-half-hour tour shows you some of the most iconic places of Alaska from 1800 ft. above a cruise ship. If you love to get a bird’s eye view of a city, you shouldn’t miss the gondola and the tram ride.
  • The open-air trams give you a 360-degree view of the mountain ranges of Alaska and its Inside Passage that includes the muskegs, glacially carved reflecting ponds and first growth forest. The tram ride stops at various places allowing you to enjoy the serene beauty of Icy Strait and take photos. In fact, you can hike a little and hop on the next tram that comes. The tickets for the tram ride are available with the gondola tickets. Therefore, don’t forget to enjoy both rides when you are in Icy Strait Point.
  • The Alaskan Port is one of the busiest areas in Icy Strait. Although there are enough cabs and buses available, it takes time to reach the location due to the traffic. The installation of the gondola has now made it easier for tourists to reach the Alaskan Port. In fact, you can take the gondola from Wilderness Landing that goes to Adventure Landing and reach the Alaskan Port or the Cannery without making a stop anywhere.
  • Each seat in the gondola can fold up, thus making enough space for handicapped riders to travel comfortably. If you have any specially-abled member in your family, you can fold his seat and use the wheelchair instead in the gondola. It won’t make a difference to the speed of the gondola and you wouldn’t have to pay additional charges also.
  • Once you reach the Ziprider area with your family, you can ask for a wheelchair that is safe for the gondola. The operators will also take the original wheelchair at the same time and will take it out and keep it in the Drop Zone. This feature has made the gondola accessible to people who have mobility issues.
  • The network connecting the starting and ending point of the Icy Strait Point gondola has different walking trails. You can get down at one of the trails and take a walk and enjoy the breathtaking scenes of Icy Strait from the top. There is also a 340-feet suspension bridge that sways on top of a box canyon. The box canyon has a vertical drop of 900-feet. If you don’t like to go on the different walking trails, you can take a trip to the nearest tour departure center. The center will have options for various activities, such as helicopter flightseeing, ATV adventures, and bear searches.

The Norwegian Cruise Line that operates the Icy Strait Point gondola believes that this new mode of transportation is attracting more tourists than ever. Its ticket prices are affordable and you can save a few bucks if you buy a family or group ticket.

Duration
3 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
2 to 10

Icy Strait Birding & Nature Experience

Come experience the birds and nature of Chichagof Island, near Icy Strait Point! Every trip is an adventure in this lush rainforest where Brown Bears outnumber humans. While we love delivering stunning target birds like Varied Thrushes, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Bald Eagles, and Steller’s Jays, we aren’t just about birds on this tour. You will be led by an expert birder and naturalist who will set the stage by sharing the human and geological history of the area. You will then get to see how the birds, fish, mammals, plants, forests, rivers, and climate all weave together to create this lush, vibrant ecosystem!

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 30

Guaranteed Whale Watching Tours in Icy Straits - LEO, Military, Teacher Discount!

Join us for the best show in town, a 3-hour whale watching excursion (includes transportation time and approx 2.5 hours on the water) which begins when you board the bus that departs from the Icy Strait Point Excursion Hub, just a short 5-minute walk from your cruise ship. Travel just 1.5 miles through the picturesque landscape of Hoonah, Alaska. On arrival at the Hoonah Harbor, it's “All aboard!” and you’re off for the waters of Icy Straits and the ultimate whale watching experience. The area near Icy Strait Point, with its proximity to Point Adolphus and Glacier Bay, is home to one of the largest summer populations of humpback whales found in Alaska and the whale watching is second to none.

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 6

Saltwater Fishing Adventure

Join local maritime hero Captain Billy, a locally raised Tlingit of Hoonah, Alaska on this unforgettable fishing adventure. His knowledge of area waters is unsurpassed and his desire to share it with you is second to none! Southeast Alaska and Icy Strait in particular, is home to some of the best halibut and salmon fishing around. The biggest halibut on record was caught inside Icy Strait! Hoonah is just a stones throw from Icy Strait so no time is wasted getting to the fishing grounds and the hooks down!

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 12

Kayak Adventure

Your Kayak experience will take you into the peaceful waters of Port Frederick. Enjoy the serenity that can only be had while quietly gliding across the waters near Icy Strait Point enjoying the beautiful Alaskan scenery. Wildlife such as; eagles, seals, sea lions, Sitka black tail deer, whales, and even a bear on the beach are possible sightings. Take a journey into this serene kayak adventure on Icy Strait for an unforgettable experience!

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 14

Whales, Wildlife & Drones

This whale watching tour is personalized, as it takes out a maximum of 14 guests at a time. This allows for a great crew to guest ratio, ensuring your experience is personal. The areas we search near in Hoonah near Icy Strait Point and Point Adolphus are known Humpback whale feeding grounds. Josh has captained in this area for many years and knows the area well! He know how to find the whales! Add in the communication he has with other captains on the other boats, and it's a perfect whale finding system!

What really makes this tour unique is the Drone imagery. Drones are able to see below the water surface and broadcast live video back to the boat.
View pods of orcas effortlessly gliding under the waves, on rare occasions, see humpback calfs playing with their mothers, on rare occasions, the amazing phenomenon of "bubble-net" feeding by groups of humpbacks is seen. Your personal view of the whales is not repaced with drones; just supplemented! You will experience seeing and hearing these amazing animals with your own eyes and ears, and then we take you to the next level with our displays onboard.