Kayaking Chilkoot Lake with Alaska Mountain Guides: Beautiful Views and Salmon in Haines

We love Chilkoot Lake State Park and spend lots of time here, but a really special way to experience both the beauty of the lake and the wildlife is by doing a guided kayaking tour on Chilkoot Lake. Unless you’re traveling with your own paddling gear, it’s not easy to explore on the water in Southeast Alaska, plotting out kayak rentals and the odd tour here and there. When you’re putting together your itinerary, whether you’re traveling by cruise ship or driving your own car, be sure to put guided kayaking on Chilkoot Lake into your plans.

Have you gotten to watch eagles catch salmon from a kayak or paddled to salmon spawning beds before? If not, Alaska Mountain Guides leads a beautiful, thoughtfully executed kayaking tour on Chilkoot Lake that you’ll love. If you have any questions about this fun paddling experience or planning your time in Haines, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a wonderful visit to Alaska.

Highlights of Kayaking Chilkoot Lake

I think one of the things that really made kayaking on Chilkoot Lake with Alaska mountain guides, a special experience was that they actually had the gear to suit myself and my two kids. So often when we do kayaking trips there are only tandem kayaks available, so I will only get to paddle with one of my kids and then one of the guides usually takes the other. Here in Chilkoot Lake State Park they know that the water is extra cold and that they need to be extremely ready for safety, so they have the larger kayaks available in the event there is a parent situation like ours. Kayaking with kids is so much fun and when you are on such a beautiful Lake, it just feels extra special.

Because I like to geek out, I think the other highlight of kayaking with the Alaska mountain guides on Chilkoot Lake was actually getting to paddle over to the salmon spawning streams. We have seen salmon spawn before both en masse and just a few fish here and there, but it’s usually from a bridge or an overlook. Kayaking on Chilkoot Lake meant that we actually got to paddle where these streams met the lake and sit in the clear water watching the sockeye salmon going through there spawning routine. They were both doing their fish dance at the edge of the lake water as well as swimming up the stream away from us. It was really cool to be immersed in it and not disturbing them.

Chilkoot Lake state park is really pretty and fun to visit on your own if you get the time. Since we were there for kayaking, that was our focus, but we did take little time exiting to be able to look for bears and watch bald eagles fishing in the river. Haines is such a beautiful area and I have to say that between the wildlife and the kayaking experience, getting to spend time at Chilkoot Lake State Park is one of my favorite parts of being in Haines.

Tips for a Great Chilkoot Kayaking Experience

When you book your kayaking tour on Chilkoot Lake, there are usually a few options for what time to go. I recommend going early in the day so that it’s not too hot, and you also get some wonderfully moody morning clouds. Wildlife is most active in the morning and evening, but there usually are not evening kayaking tours. If you’re visiting Haines from a cruise ship, be sure that you’re choosing a tour that will get you back to the dock on time. And yes, if you’re making port in Skagway there is usually a Chilkoot Lake kayaking tour that will fit with the schedule of the Haines Skagway Fast Ferry.

While there typically aren’t bad mosquito problems once you are out on the water, when you are in the woods and on the dock they can be a pain. Again, they aren’t so bad in the morning but later in the day they are. Apply. your bug spray in advance and do not do it on the dock or in the kayak. Both bug spray and sunscreen sprays can leave residue on gear or make things more slippery than they need to be.

Being Prepared for Chilkoot Lake Kayaking

Dress for the weather your see AND for the weather you don’t. While I absolutely hope that you get to have a beautiful clear day when you’re kayaking on Chilkoot Lake you need to be ready for the mist and rain. Southeast Alaska is a very moist place and if you’re doing a kayak tour it’s going out no matter the weather (unless there is lightning or extreme wind). It’s best to wear clothing that’s warm and wicking with a top layer that’s water resistant. When you’re paddling with Alaska Mountain Guides on Chilkoot Lake, they do provide kayak skirts to keep you warm and dry, but that’s just good for keeping your lower body dry. Just be prepared for a variety of weather and you’ll do fine.

I love to bring my big camera with me when I’m on the water, but usually that means that we’re kayaking in an open top craft or that we’re in a raft. When you’re using a sea kayak with a skirt, it’s very difficult to bring any camera gear, especially to bring it and keep it dry. I recommend going for small camera gear that’s waterproof, such as a GoPro or a good waterproof case on your phone. I know, you’ll want to bring a big camera in case you see bears along the edge or swimming in Chilkoot Lake, but really a big camera just isn’t an option for this tour if the kayak skirts are being used.

Parking for Alaska Mountain Guides Kayaking Tour

Pickup by Alaska Mountain Guides for the Chilkoot Lake kayaking is from the Deishu Dock just to the east of the Port Chilkoot cruise ship dock. This is the same place that the Haines Skagway Fast Ferry makes port, which is perfect because lots of people on a cruise to Skagway take this boat in the morning because Haines has so much to do.

If you’re driving yourself, there is a parking area across the street and it’s clearly marked where you shouldn’t park. You can park in the HSFF Long Term parking spots, as there are plenty available. You’ll meet your guide in front of the Port Chilkoot building and they’ll make sure you get on the right tour. The Chilkat River Bald Eagle Preserve float trip leaves from here too, so let the guides sort you into the right group so you can do the kayaking activity you signed up for.

More Things to do in Haines

I feel like Haines is kind of this sort of secret spot on the Inside Passage. Most of the cruise ships go to Skagway or Icy Strait Point and completely miss Haines, which makes it wonderful and quiet. I love this town because there is lots to do and it’s beautiful. There are a few museums, you’ve got two state parks, lots of options for fishing, boat charters, LOTS of Chilkat Tlingit totem poles, art and more. Haines is the version of Alaska that I wish still existed all through the Inside Passage and up into South Central AK.

When you’re planning your visit to Haines and your activities, I think spending 3-4 nights is perfect. This gives you plenty of time to hike and enjoy the wildlife and rivers, but then also you can have time in town and up along the Haines Highway. Everyone has a different style of travel and activities they look for, and I think that’s what makes Haines such a good destination to visit.

Here are some of our recommendations for things to do in Haines: