- Most Popular!
- Best for 12+
- Multi-Day, Guided Overnight
Our Ultimate Aialik Overnight Trip starts on Lowell Point and heads to the heart of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Enjoy 1 night and 2 days (or more!)
Quick Details
Tonsina Beach is an amazing location that’s just a short paddle away. Walk among Sitka spruce, covered in large pillows of moss and other fungi that make up this unique forested trail.
This Tonsina Beach kayak tour leaves from Miller’s Landing on Lowell Point. Paddlers kayak to Tonsina Creek and view the beautiful ghost forest remains of the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. Cross one of the two salmon creeks into the stunning Chugach National forest to take a short walk through the forest to the far side of Tonsina Beach. If you’re around later in the summer, you’re able to view colourful salmon spawning in Tonsina Creek and eagles lurking nearby, awaiting a tasty treat.
Meeting Time |
Ending Time |
Meeting Place |
8 am and 5 pm Check in at the office for a parking pass and to sign necessary forms before your trip. We depart at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm |
8:30 am Trip: Get back around 11:30 am 5:30 pm Trip: Get back around 8:30 pm |
Meet at the main office, 13880 Beach Drive Seward, AK. Check in early to meet your guide and even enjoy a cup of coffee on our porch that overlooks the water |
Age Requirements |
Difficulty |
What to Bring |
We require a minimum age of 8 years old to take this trip | This kayak trip takes place on calm waters in a protected bay, so it’s good for newer paddlers, be ready to get out and explore Tonsina beach with your guide | Warm synthetic/wool layers Shoes that could get wet Rain gear Snacks Water bottle |
Start your trip gearing up and getting a paddle talk from your guide before launching and paddling south towards Tonsina Beach. Travel along sheer cliff lines, over emerald waters with seagrass and otters looking for a snack.
Arrive at Tonsina beach and walk through the beautiful temperate rainforest, over salmon streams, and admire the stunning views of the bay. Spot bald eagles, pick berries in the fall, witness spawning salmon in the summer and the new growth and diverse plant and fungi life in the spring.
Make your way back to your kayaks, gear up, and then paddle back to Miller’s Landing with your guide. Keep your eyes peeled for sea otters, an array of sea birds and even whales!
The water taxi ride generally takes 30 minutes depending on the weather, tides, and if we see any wildlife. While the water is usually calm, it can sometimes get bumpy if the weather comes in. We always do our best to make the ride comfortable, but we can’t control the weather!
On our full-day and half-day trips, we provide all kayaking and other necessary gear. Be sure to check the quick details to see if the trip supplies food or not, and let us know about any dietary restrictions.
We will supply kayaks, light carbon/fibreglass paddles, pogies for your hands, PFDs, spraydecks to keep your legs warm, splash gear when necessary, as well as a guide. Our guides are equipt with safety gear, first aid kits, marine radios/ spot beacons and a boatload of information they are ready to share with you!
Please note: Miller’s Landing encourages only guaranteed prepaid reservations. Unlike many other states, Alaska has a very short tourist season, which can make it difficult for us to rebook when we have cancellations without ample notice.
If you are booking a charter and lodging and your charter, water taxi, or kayaking is cancelled due to weather, you are still responsible for the lodging or camping reservations and the normal cancellation policy applies. All of our activities are possible during rain, so rain does not constitute a cancellation. Miller’s Landing is not responsible for vehicle breakdowns, personal emergencies, flight delays, health issues or other unforeseen hardships. We will try very hard to work with you, but the cancellation policy will need to be applied if we cannot issue a raincheck or find an alternative solution that appeals to both parties.
Please understand that Miller’s Landing also incurs a hefty financial merchant fee from our bank for the cost of charging your credit card and again for the cost of refunding it, and there is also a cost involved for the time involved in processing and refunding your reservation in employee costs. Our goal when taking your reservation is to have a solid, guaranteed prepaid reservation. We strongly discourage the practice of making reservations without having an airline ticket or making tentative reservations. Thank you for your understanding.
Our Guides come from all different backgrounds; from being ski instructors, snowmobile guides, wranglers, or passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Everyone comes from a customer service-rich background with a passion for interpretation, protecting the outdoors and safety. Our team is trained for two weeks to refine their skills together and learn all they need to know to safely guide our clients. We instruct and certify our guides as ACA II kayakers, practice cold water rescue techniques, and require that all guides have an up-to-date Wilderness First Responder Certification. Learn more about our training process by reading our blog from the 2022 training session!
Check it out here: Kayak Guide Training Summer 2022 | Miller’s Landing (millerslandingak.com)
Spend a summer outdoors and in the Stunning Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, teaching, guiding, and enjoying all the amazing experiences Alaska have to offer. Miller’s Landing is a family-run business that started operations shortly after Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and the tourism industry began to form in Seward. We work hard to provide every guest with a memorable experience, with a focus on safety, education, stewardship, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We begin our hiring process in the winter, between December and January, and suggest you apply in December. Our training begins May 1st and the season runs until September 15th. We ask that guides are able to attend training and can stay until at least mid-August.
Learn more about our requirements and the hiring process here: Kayak Instructor / Guide | Miller’s Landing in Seward Alaska (millerslandingak.com)
Our Ultimate Aialik Overnight Trip starts on Lowell Point and heads to the heart of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Enjoy 1 night and 2 days (or more!)
Kayak to North Beach of Caines Head from Miller’s Landing and hike to the historic Fort McGilvray!
Don’t have the time or the energy for the full day hike and paddle to Caines Head? Paddle out and we pick you up in the water taxi!