Half-Day Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Float Tour

Overview

The world-famous Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve boasts the largest gathering of bald eagles anywhere in the world! Your adventure begins with a spectacular drive along the National Scenic Byway through the awe-inspiring Chilkat Valley to the heart of the preserve. After a riverside picnic you will board 18-foot inflatable rafts and enjoy a peaceful float (no whitewater) down this ever-changing river.

Watch for eagles, bears, moose, and wolves who frequent the preserve to feed on the plentiful spawning salmon. With 7,000-foot-tall peaks towering above as you drift through picturesque landscapes, floating down the river is the best way to take in the grandeur of Alaska.

After your river trip, enjoy homemade cookies and hot and cold drinks by riverbank before boarding your bus back to Haines.

This is an unforgettable adventure into the wilderness of Alaska!

**Wildlife sightings not a guarantee**

City: Haines

Wed 31 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $169.79

Make a reservation

Wed 31 Dec

Starting at $169.79

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Rubber boots

Professional guide

Driver/guide

Lunch

Beverages

Rain ponchos if necessary

PFD (personal flotation device)

Additional Info

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
100% Refund will be provided if cancelled before 14 days of tour departure date
50% Refund will be provided if cancelled 14 days to 4 days prior to departure time
No Refunds will be provided if cancelled within 96 hours of tour departure time

What To Expect

Haines

Enjoy the simplicity and beauty of small-town Haines on your way to your rafting adventure. Along the way, your guides will regale you with local natural history, geology, and Gold Rush tales as they point out snow-capped peaks, thick timber forests, and the abundant wildlife.

Fort William H. Seward National Historic Landmark

Check out Fort Seward (Alaska's first Army post) on your way through Haines to begin your rafting adventure. Check out the historic structures that were formerly Army barracks stacked next to the picturesque Port Chilkoot overlooking the Lynn Canal.

Haines Highway

You will board a motor coach for a beautiful 40-minute drive up the Haines Highway, which is a National Scenic Byway. Watch for moose and swans in the marshlands as you head up the Chilkat River Valley, and always keep an eye out for bears!

Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

At the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, you'll experience the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world! Your specially-trained guides await to begin your rafting adventure (a gentle float, no whitewater!). You’ll float peacefully down the river aboard an 18-foot inflatable raft - the best way to observe the eagles drawn to feed on the plentiful salmon. Bears and wolves are also occasional guests at the feast. Not only rich in wildlife, the preserve is also a place of incredible beauty, with towering mountains, hanging glaciers and lush forests. After your hour and a half float, you will enjoy a riverside picnic lunch on the banks of the river.

Chilkat River

You’ll float peacefully down the river aboard an 18-foot inflatable raft on one of three rivers - the Chilkat, the Klehini, and the Tsirku. Rafting is the best way to observe the eagles drawn to feed on the plentiful salmon. Bears and wolves are also occasional guests at the feast. Not only rich in wildlife, the preserve is also a place of incredible beauty, with towering mountains, hanging glaciers and lush forests.

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Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (23)

Betsy G

Jun 2019

Liam was our bus transfer guide and did a wonderful job giving us Alaska information during our ride to the Chilcat Bald Eagle Preserve. Once we left the bus, we were each given good rubber boots and had our life jackets individually fitted. Our Zodiak guide/oarsman was Livvie. She was super! She had a marvelous depth of knowledge, and was great at safely managing our Zodiak as we floated on the fast-moving Chilkat waters. We enjoyed our riverside lunch at the conclusion of our adventure. We saw 6 wild eagles during our trip. My sister and I could not be happier with our experience with this tour company!

Victoria L

Jun 2019

This was a very fun tour. Ryan and Danny were knowledgeable and passionate about Alaska's wildlife, which I very much appreciated. I noticed that the entry to the foundation was $15.00 but the tour was $60.00. I wondered if we should have just walked over to the foundation and saved $90.00, but Ryan and Danny took us to a beautiful Vista viewing point, and we were able to ask a lot of questions of them about Haines, which was enjoyable. Also, Ryan made it clear, that without people like us taking the tour, people like him wouldn't have a job in Haines and he appreciated our support. We were more than happy to infuse a little money into their community.

wyler12

Sep 2018

My wife and I were able to enjoy a rafting trip through the Chilkat Eagle Preserve with Dr Ramsey and our guide, Preston. We saw some great scenery and dozens of eagles along with a couple of moose on our return home. I think this would be a great trip with any guides, but the end of the trip is when their character really shined. While I did not see precisely how it occurred, a few guests exited their rafts just off the bank rather than directly onto shore as was intended. The banks are made of rather tenacious glacier silt and quickly grab onto the feet of people attempting to wade through the shallow water. It is also quite cold water as it has all just melted off the glacier. With the lead of Scott Ramsey, he and all the guides immediately went to work, using their oars and supply lids to help displace the weight and help the guests loosen themselves from the mud and onto the shore. Once to shore, they continued to address the medical urgency as the guests were at risk of hypothermia. They had blankets and dry clothing to quickly help them change. Professionally, part of my responsibility is leading what people would know as a “Code Blue Team” in the hospital. In those emergencies, part of my job is insuring that everyone follows their training as the anxiety of the situation can quickly lead to chaos. What I saw that day on the river was a group of professionals who all knew what they were trained to do and worked together to rescue these people. I was on the cruise ship with two of the individuals who had become entrapped. They were smiling enjoying themselves when I ran into them the next day. If these guides were not so competent, I don’t believe it is an exaggeration to say with those water temperatures, things could have ended much differently. I am certain they will review what occurred and how to prevent a similar accident from happening in the future, but accidents do and always will happen, and it is good to be with a group of individuals prepared to respond when they do.