Icy Straight Point Hoonah Alaska Cruise Port Tour Tips & Craft Brew Review July 31 2026
Greetings fellow travelers join us at Icy strait point alaska is Alaska’s only privately owned, indigenously operated cruise destination, located on Chichagof Island just outside the Native Tlingit village of Hoonah. Developed by the Huna Totem Corporation, the port perfectly blends rugged wilderness adventures with authentic Alaska Native heritage, ensuring that tourism spending directly supports the local Tlingit community. The Port Layout & Getting Around The destination features two primary cruise ship docking areas connected by a short walking path or a ride on the Transporter Gondola: Ocean Landing: The historic heart of the port, centered around a restored 1912 salmon cannery. It contains the main shopping center, museum, and restaurants. Wilderness Landing: The newer development zone, acting as the gateway to heavy-adventure excursions like the zipline and mountain gondola systems. The Transporter: A free, high-efficiency green gondola system that moves guests effortlessly through the rainforest canopy between both landings. Top Things to Do & Excursions World-Class Whale Watching: Situated right around the corner from Point Adolphus, this area boasts the highest summer concentration of humpback whales in Alaska. It is incredibly famous for bubble-net feeding behavior. The ZipRider: Adrenaline seekers can ride the world's largest ZipRider, spanning 5,330 feet long with a heart-pounding 1,300-foot vertical drop over the dense evergreen canopy. Skyglider Gondola: This paid red gondola whisks visitors up to the mountaintop. At the summit, you can explore the mile-long Hidden Lake Loop Trail. Brown Bear Searching: Chichagof Island has one of the densest populations of brown bears in the world. Guided excursions take guests through the Spasski River Valley to spot them safely. The Historic Salmon Cannery: Walk through the free museum inside the beautifully preserved 1912 Hoonah Packing Co. facility. You can explore historic canning machinery and local craft shops. Tlingit Cultural Experiences: Visit the Huna Tribal House or book the hourly "Tribal Dance Show" to experience traditional native songs, dances, and history narrated by local residents. Exploring Beyond the Cruise Port If you want a more authentic, less commercialized perspective, you can take a 1.5-mile scenic coastal walk or ride a local shuttle bus into the town of Hoonah. In town, you can visit local master carvers shaping traditional totem poles, see working commercial fishing docks, grab a fresh pint at the Icy Strait Brewing company, or sample locally caught seafood at family-owned mainstays like The Fisherman's Daughter. thanks for watching , sharing and subscribing and as always we will see you soon on the next tour. #hoonah #alaska