Headline News
New Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge Offers
Alaska Adventure Starting in June 2009
New for June 2009, Alaska Wildland Adventures, which has provided outfitter and guiding services since 1977, unveils its latest endeavor: Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. The new wilderness eco-lodge, surrounded by Kenai Fjords National Park, is the only lodge within the park.
The rugged beauty of Alaska's spectacular seacoast is balanced with the creature comforts of private cabins, an elegantly rustic main lodge and hearty groumet meals. With only 16 cabins surrounded by the 1,700-acre Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary, the Glacier Lodge offers a unique and uncrowded perspective of Kenai Fjords National Park. Guest cabins were designed to be minimally visible from the adjacent Pedersen Lagoon, while still commanding stunning views from within. The private cabins feature on-demand heat and electricity as well as full bath amenities.
Departing from Seward, a stay at the Glacier Lodge begins and ends with a marine wildlife and glacier cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Amazing wildlife spotting opportunities abound: seek out humpback and orca whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoise, otters and puffins framed against the dramatic backdrop of hanging and tidewater glaciers. Mountain goats, black bears and abundant birdlife such as bald eagles and puffins also call the area home.
Glacier Lodge allows for many outdoor adventures through a variety of ecosystems to meet your interest and energy level. Take a guided kayaking trip and paddle amid glacial ice and harbor seals. Board a motorized skiff to a glacier and wander among sparkling iceberg bits. Join a guide on an interpretive walk and learn about the fascinating Native culture of the Alutiiq people. Hike through extended stretches of spruce and hemlock forests. Beachcomb along miles of pristine shoreline and enjoy spectacular views of Pedersen Glacier. Each activity can be tailored to individual ability and energy levels; kayaking is available from short paddles to half-day excursions, while inland hikes can range from a short stroll in search of wildflowers to a guided full-day trek.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, open from June through early September, is only accessible by boat and hosts a maximum of 32 guests at a time. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com or call toll-free, (800) 334-8730.
Background of Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge
The Glacier Lodge and guest cabins reside within the Native-owned, 1,700-acre Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. These heritage lands, owned by Port Graham Corporation (PGC), an Alaska Native Village Corporation, represent a small portion of the ancestral homeland of the Alutiiq people who once lived along and roamed the entire coast of Southcentral Alaska. Alaska Wildland Adventures and PGC entered into a collaborative agreement to develop Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Together, Alaska Wildland Adventures and Port Graham Corporation are working to preserve and protect the rich ecological values of the area through cooperative management of Park and corporation lands.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge was developed with efforts to minimize the impact on the natural area, and is managed with a strong commitment to ecological sensitivity. By providing so many diverse and engaging activities at one ideal location, the Glacier Lodge reduces the energy footprint of travel. Additionally, the total number of guests at the Lodge is limited to minimize environmental impact.
Guest education is another important component: guests receive education in “Leave No Trace” practices, which strive to leave no signs of impact on land that is home to a variety of wildlife. Guests also have the opportunity to take part in local native culture and naturalist programs. By practicing this style of ecotourism, both management and guests at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge help ensure that the natural resources that form the basis for tourism in Alaska remain wild, diverse, and intact far into the future.