Places to Go on Alaska’s Inside Passage (That Big Ships Sail Right Past)
Alaska’s Inside Passage might be one of the most famous cruising routes in the world—but the real magic happens off the big ship circuit.
Here, fjords twist deep into glacial valleys, bears fish beneath canopies of cedar and spruce, and humpback whales bubble-net feed within sight of your morning coffee. For those willing to trade casinos for zodiacs, Alaska reveals its wild heart.
Here are ten must-see experiences that only small ship explorers truly get to know:
1. Frederick Sound, the Whale Highway
Photo: Jeff Reynolds
Each summer, hundreds of humpbacks return to Frederick Sound after migrating thousands of miles from Hawaii or Mexico. Here, they feast on herring and krill—and occasionally treat lucky visitors to the rare spectacle of bubble-net feeding.
A symphony of spouts, flukes, and thunderous breaches: Frederick Sound is home to one of the highest concentrations of humpback whales in the world. Watching these giants feed beneath the snow-capped peaks of the Coast Mountains is one of nature’s grandest performances. Bring binoculars—and a sense of awe.
2. Five Fingers Lighthouse
Photo: Maple Leaf Adventures
Built in 1902, Five Fingers is Alaska’s oldest original lighthouse still standing. It sits at the crossroads of major whale migration routes—so much so that it once hosted one of the first research stations dedicated to studying humpback communication.
This century-old lighthouse, perched on a tiny islet, is a sentinel in the whale-rich waters of Frederick Sound. Few ever set foot here, but those who do are treated to sweeping views, playful sea lions, and the humbling sense of being very small in a very big wilderness.
3. Endicott Arm
Photo: Phil Stone
Seabirds wheel and dive in the nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska, a vital feeding ground that supports salmon, eagles, and orcas alike. The Swell quietly navigates these waters, bringing guests closer to the wild without disturbing it.
Glide through a fjord strewn with sculpted icebergs, some tinted blue, others white as bone. Then, as your ship edges closer to the glacier’s face, listen for the echoing crack of ice calving into the sea—a sound that vibrates in your chest long after it fades.
4. Pack Creek, a Brown Bear Sanctuary
Photo: Phil Stone
Admiralty Island’s Tlingit name, Kootznoowoo, means “Fortress of the Bears.” With roughly one brown bear for every square mile, it’s one of the densest populations on Earth.
Admiralty Island is known as “Fortress of the Bears,” and Pack Creek is its heart. With special access, small groups can quietly watch massive coastal brown bears fishing for salmon—just a few yards away, separated by nothing but mutual respect and a salmon stream.
5. Warm Springs Bay
Photo: Maple Leaf Adventures
The hot springs at Warm Springs Bay bubble from a natural fault line beneath Baranof Island. Locals have been coming here for generations, paddling from nearby cabins to soak beneath the same canopy that shelters bald eagles and salmonberries.
On Baranof Island’s rugged coast, steaming natural hot springs spill down a mossy hillside beside a roaring waterfall. Paddle in by zodiac, soak under the forest canopy, and watch bald eagles soar overhead. Forget the spa robe; this is Alaska-style rejuvenation.
6. Baranof’s Waterfall Coast
Photo: Phil Stone
Fed by snowmelt and hidden lakes, Baranof’s countless waterfalls tumble down granite cliffs that plunge straight into the Pacific.
A place so aptly named it almost sounds mythical—hundreds of waterfalls cascade down steep granite cliffs draped in green. It’s an epic backdrop for whale watching, photography, or simply sipping coffee on deck as you trace the rhythm of the falling water.
7. Kruzof Island
Photo: Phil Stone
Once an active volcano, Mount Edgecumbe last erupted roughly 800 years ago. Today, its slopes shelter old-growth forest, and its beaches face a stretch of ocean so vast that the next landfall west is Japan.
Hike across a mosaic of forest, muskeg, and meadow to reach Kruzof’s wild west coast—a sweeping black sand beach where surf pounds beneath the silhouette of Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. Sea otters bob just offshore, while seabirds wheel and dive through the mist.
8. St. Lazaria Island
Photo: Marcus Atkins
Part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, St. Lazaria hosts tens of thousands of nesting seabirds each summer. Its volcanic cliffs and sea caves provide crucial habitat in a region where life thrives at every tide line.
Thousands of puffins, murres, and guillemots turn the cliffs of St. Lazaria into a living cloud of wings and cries. Zodiac along its base at low tide to find vibrant sea stars, anemones, and the quiet hum of life where the Pacific breathes against volcanic stone.
9. Meyer’s Chuck
Photo: Maple Leaf Adventures
Once a hand-logger’s camp, Meyer’s Chuck is now a year-round home to a handful of residents who live entirely off the grid. The mail still arrives by boat, and the honor-system bakery has become a rite of passage for small-ship travelers.
Accessible only by boat or floatplane, this tiny coastal hamlet offers a rare glimpse of Alaskan community life. Stroll its boardwalks, chat with locals, and don’t miss the honor-system bakery—a cinnamon bun from Meyer’s Chuck has powered many an explorer.
10. Sitka, Alaska’s Cultural Crossroads
Photo: Jordan Lambe
Sitka was once the capital of Russian America before becoming a key Tlingit stronghold again. Today, its blend of monumental poles, onion-domed churches, and maritime heritage makes it one of Alaska’s most culturally layered ports.
Anchored between rainforest and ocean, Sitka blends Tlingit, Russian, and American history with a thriving arts scene. Visit its totem parks and marine centers—or simply wander, absorbing the rhythm of a coastal town still shaped by tide and story.
Sitka’s cruise ship port sits about six miles north of town, meaning even when the ships are in, it never feels overwhelmed. Unlike some Alaskan ports that feel purpose-built for cruise season, Sitka is the real deal—a working coastal town with a heartbeat all its own.
Ready to Trade Crowds for Coastlines?
Photo: Phil Stone
Maple Leaf Adventures has spent nearly four decades exploring the wild corners of the Inside Passage aboard classic wooden ships like Swell and Maple Leaf. With just a handful of guests and crew who know these waters by heart, each voyage feels less like a cruise—and more like joining a tradition of coastal exploration.
Step aboard with Maple Leaf Adventures and explore Alaska’s Inside Passage the way nature intended—by small ship, among whales, glaciers, and stories few ever get to see up close. Because the wildest places aren’t found on the map—they’re discovered along the way.
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