Icy Strait Point is unlike any other port in the VV Alaska network. It is wholly owned and operated by the Hoonah Tlingit people — specifically by the Huna Totem Corporation, the tribal corporation of the Village of Hoonah — with all profits supporting the Hoonah community. The destination was developed with deliberate intention: to create genuine economic benefit for an Indigenous Alaskan community while delivering authentic cultural experiences rather than manufactured tourism. The result is the most genuinely distinctive port day in Southeast Alaska.
The ZipRider
The ZipRider at Icy Strait Point is the world’s largest zip line by vertical drop — 1,330 feet of vertical descent, 5,330 feet of cable, over a mile of forested mountainside, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour, with Icy Strait below you and the Chichagof Island wilderness in every direction. Six riders go simultaneously. It is operated by the Hoonah community and it is extraordinary. VV Shore Things rates the ZipRider as a top-tier Alaska experience and it is exactly as thrilling as its reputation suggests.
Brown Bear Watching
Icy Strait Point has some of the most accessible brown bear viewing in Alaska. The Port Frederick waterway and the surrounding forests support a significant brown bear population that is visible from guided tours on a reliable basis during the summer season. The bears are fishing for salmon in the streams and are habituated to the presence of small guided groups without being tame or approachable. This is real bear watching in real bear habitat.
Humpback Whale Encounters
The waters of Icy Strait have some of the highest concentrations of humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. The strait is a critical feeding area during the summer months and the whale watching tours from Icy Strait Point deliver some of the best humpback encounters in the VV Alaska network — sometimes better than Juneau’s more famous whale watching, because the boats are smaller and the concentration of whales can be extraordinary.
The Tlingit Cultural Experience
The Hoonah Tlingit cultural program at Icy Strait Point includes traditional dance performances, clan house tours, and demonstrations of traditional crafts including beadwork, carving, and weaving. This is not performed for tourists by actors — these are Hoonah community members sharing their living culture. The experience is genuinely moving and culturally illuminating in a way that sets Icy Strait Point apart from every other Alaska port.
The Cannery
The historic Hoonah Packing Company cannery at Icy Strait Point, built in 1912, has been partly preserved and converted into visitor facilities. The cannery museum tells the story of the Southeast Alaska salmon canning industry, which was central to the economic history of the region.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Book the ZipRider the moment Shore Things open. It is the most popular experience at Icy Strait Point and sells out far in advance. First priority.
- The whale watching here can be extraordinary. Icy Strait has exceptional humpback concentrations. If whale watching is a priority on your Alaska itinerary, this is potentially the best port for it.
- Your spending directly supports the Hoonah community. All profits from Icy Strait Point return to the Huna Totem Corporation and the Hoonah community. Every Shore Thing booked here is a direct investment in Indigenous economic self-determination.
Ready to Visit Icy Strait Point?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Icy Strait Point is one of the most distinctive and meaningful port days in the entire VV fleet.
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