Kayaking Kodiak: Awesome Experience, Kayak with Puffins and Sea Otters

Kodiak is a big, huge island at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska, so it might not seem like the place to go kayaking, but you’re wrong! Kayak Kodiak gets people out into the protected waters of Kodiak where there is a ton of wildlife, both in the water and on the rocks. And the best part is you can go kayaking with puffins! That’s right! Paddling from the float plan harbor through the bay, Kayaking Kodiak is able to get you to an amazing puffin rookery (with other birds and wildlife too).

We have a lot to share about the Kodiak kayaking experience, including tips for having the best trip and even being able to bring a good camera along for wildlife photography. If you have any questions after reading about Kayaking at Kodiak or how to add this to your visit, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great trip to Alaska!

Why do Kayaking Kodiak with Puffins

Even though most people visiting Kodiak for wildlife are hoping for bears, the marine life that you can experience from the water cannot be overlooked. Going out with Kayaking Kodiak felt much more exciting of a paddle than I normally do, but then I got to actually see my favorite birds when we crossed the bay. I’m sure the whole experience is what left me feeling like I had the most unique wildlife paddle, but from start to finish, it was really one of the most lovely kayaking journeys I’ve done in Alaska.

Beginning your paddle with Kayaking Kodiak, you get to start at the floatplane base, watching seaplanes take off and land before you begin the wildlife part of your tour. Soon though, you’re paddling through the intertidal zone looking at colorful sea stars and sun stars while harbor seals swim by. And then there’s the kelp forest with sea otters popping up all around. Even though they can be skiddish, there were so many sea otters that we always had one within close view that we could watch and chat with. Have you ever seen a raft of sea otters? That’s when they hang out as a large group, and in the waters of St Paul Harbor and Chiniak Bay there are LOTS of sea otters to see!

For me though the highlight of paddling with Kayaking Kodiak was definitely the puffins and other seabirds. We saw both tufted and horned puffins, and they were all around. There were single birds flying around us, small groups on the water, puffins on the rocks… It was my dream kayaking experience and it was from KODIAK! Additionally we saw bald eagles, oystercatchers, kittywakes and more, but the two species of puffins really were the absolute highlight for me. I’ve never gotten to kayak with puffins in Homer or Seward, or even kayaking in Glacier Bay National Park, so this was extremely special.

Tips for Sea Kayaking in Kodiak

Kayaking is one of my favorite activities when I’m traveling or at home, but it’s not a normal motion for a lot of people. Even though paddling with Kayaking Kodiak is an easy paddle on calm water, you do cover quite a distance. Using tandem kayaks, the work is shared, which makes it easier if you’re not used to it, but you should still take a moment to stretch before you paddle four to five miles on the harbor and bay. And when you’re doing kayaking, be sure to stretch again. The motion of using your core, arms and shoulders may leave you a little sore the next day, but it’s worth it.

When you’re paddling with Kayaking Kodiak, the main goal is getting to see wildlife from the water. I mentioned before that sea otters tend to be skittish, and puffins can be as well. The best way to be able to see them and spend the most time watching them up close is to remain very quiet as you paddle. Unlike hiking in bear country, which is what you get on land in Kodiak, on the water, the animals can see you just fine and they’re aware of you, but if you become loud they’ll be untrusting and either fly off or dip underwater. It’s good to stay calm and peaceful as you paddle, because the good vibes really do impact that ability to see wildlife up close.

When it comes to planning for Kayaking Kodiak, try to book it for the beginning of your visit just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate and you need to be rescheduled. The ideal conditions will be sunny, warm and calm so that you can confidently paddle, but if that’s not how things are playing out your guide will make the call about either changing your paddling route or moving your kayaking to a different day. I think 3-5 days in Kodiak is perfect, so if you can book kayaking for day one you should have plenty of opportunities if things need to be rescheduled… or you can go out a second time!!

Being Prepared for Kayaking in Kodiak

I always say to dress for the weather you see and be ready for the weather you don’t. Having said that though, because kayaking occurs on the open water and bad weather can be dangerous if you’re caught out in it, you’ll likely be paddling in at least pretty okay weather. I like to dress in layers, with a good base layer that will keep me warm but can also be stripped down to for when it’s either wonderfully sunny or when you’ve worked up your body temperature from paddling. When you do sea kayaks with Kayaking Kodiak, you will have a splash skirt covering your waist-down, so that’ll also keep you a bit warm.

Now, I know you might not think of Alaska as a place to get sunburned, but when you’re on the water kayaking around Kodiak in the summer, you’ll get the rays bouncing off the water and you’re face may well get crispy. It’s smart to do some sunblock before you begin, and I also always wear a hat too. You usually don’t have to worry about bugs out on the water, as mosquitos are much more an on-land nuisance.

Wildlife Photography while Sea Kayaking

I am very cautious about bringing my fancy camera gear when I go kayaking, even on a calm lake like the Valdez Glacier Lake, so getting out on the salt water from Kodiak made me nervous. Luckily, we had a day that was calm like glass and Kayaking Kodiak knows how to read the weather and the waves, so we had a very dry paddle. Having said that, yes, I did bring my good camera. I used a medium sized dry bag that I could easily access during kayaking and brought along a 50mm, 25mm and 600mm lens with a 1.5 extender for doing wildlife photography.

Because I so rarely use a large lens at water-level, I wasn’t sure how doing photos would play out, but I’m so glad I brought it. It can be a challenge photographing marine life at water-lever because even on a calm day there is a swell that keeps you moving just a bit. Finding your focus can be difficult, but that’s why I brought multiple lenses and between the 250mm and 600mm I was able to adjust my methods for sea otters vs puffins, both with different movement levels. At the end of the day, it’s up to you if you want to bring camera gear on a kayak, but if you do, protect it! For the regular paddler, you’ll be able to get good photos and videos with just a camera phone, so don’t stress it.

Parking for Kayaking Kodiak Harbor Tours

Kayaking Kodiak does their guided tours on St Paul Harbor towards Chiniak Bay from Near Island. This is the island across the tall bridge from downtown Kodiak. The float plane base, which is where the kayaking tours leave from, has plenty of parking usually and it’s easy to navigate. From downtown, it’s just five minutes to the parking area, and parking is free (2026). When you’re on Near Island, you can also stop at the NOAA Fisheries aquarium (limited hours) or do some of the trails on the island. It’s easy to make a day out of kayaking and visiting Near Island. I love Kodiak for all of its adventures and access to nature.