- Great for ages 8+
Tonsina Trek & Tap
Quick Details
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Trips & Duration: Walk-in Friendly
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Ages: Best for 8+
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2 pm departure: we get back around 4 pm
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This Trip: Water taxi, nature hike and a drink!
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Offered: April 1st - September 10th
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Difficulty: This hike is easy with a couple switch backs going up on the way back to Miller's Landing, see below for details.
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Meeting Place: Meet at the front office, 13880 Beach Drive Seward, AK.
Per Person
$150
$ 150
Book the Guide!
Exclusive up to 8 People
$ 1200
Enjoy a relaxing water taxi ride and nature walk!
Tonsina Beach is an amazing location that’s just a short trip away. Walk among Sitka spruce, covered in large pillows of moss and other fungi that make up this unique forested trail.
This Tonsina Trek and Tap tour leaves from Miller’s Landing on Lowell Point. We take the water taxi to Tonsina Point and view the beautiful ghost forest remains of the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. Then hike through the stunning Chugach National forest to one of the two salmon creeks. If you’re around later in the summer, you’re able to view colorful salmon spawning in Tonsina Creek and eagles lurking nearby, awaiting a tasty treat. The guide will also leave time to explore the beach before hiking back to Miller’s Landing and may even join you for a drink after the trip! On this tour, guests often spot bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and a variety of coastal birdlife. Black bears are sometimes seen in the early spring, though sightings are very uncommon and become even more rare as the summer season progresses.
Essential Details
WHAT TO BRING
It’s important to wear quick drying, warm, synthetic layers or wool depending on the temperature and weather conditions. We ask that you avoid cotton clothing like jeans. Here is a small list of things to bring on your hike in Resurrection Bay.
- Water bottle
- Rain gear
- Synthetic or wool layers
- Comfortable shoes that could get wet, we pull and launch your kayaks from shore so you should not be stepping into any water.
- Depending on the weather consider bringing gloves, beanie, sun hat, extra socks, sunglasses, sunscreen.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Our water taxi has 16 seats inside and space for more passengers to stand. Your guide will be fitted with necessary safety and first aid equipment as well as snacks.
Before each trip we provide a short orientation on boat safety, as well as safety on the trial, so everyone is comfortable before we depart!
After the trip you will be able to grab a drink at the cafe, which includes anything in our collection of beer, wine, cider and non-alcoholic drinks, coffee and tea. We will also have snacks for the group at the end of the tour.
DIFFICULTY
This hike is 2 miles from where we drop you off on Tonsina Point, to Miller’s Landing. Offering scenic views of the bay, temperate rainforest, and beaches. It can sometimes get a little muddy on the trail, and there are a couple switch backs going up as you head back to our office but overall is a fairly easy trail to tackle.
More Information
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- Check in 15–30 minutes before your tour and meet your guide for your 2 pm departure.
- The water taxi waits for no one! Please be early or on time.
- Take the 15-minute water taxi ride to Tonsina Cabin. We’ll stop for wildlife like whales.
- Arrive at Tonsina and hike through temperate rainforest, cross salmon streams, and enjoy bay views.
- Spot bald eagles, spawning salmon (summer), berries (fall), and vibrant plant life in spring.
- The hike back to Miller’s is roughly 2 miles with some uphill portions and moderate terrain.
- Hang out with your guide and have a drink at the cafe at the end of the trip.
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- A $10 cancellation fee is imposed for all reservations canceled.
- Cancellations must be received by email only to [email protected]. The cancellation notice date is the date the email was received at [email protected]. Phone cancellations will not be accepted.
- Cancellations received by email 30 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a refund of 90% of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 15 to 29 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation charge and you will receive a 75% refund of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 14 days to zero days prior to arrival are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a 50% refund only if we are able to rebook your camping, cabin, fishing, kayaking, water taxi, shuttle, lunch, or activity. If we are not able to rebook your reservation, then no refunds will be issued and you will also be charged a $10 cancellation fee to your credit card.
- A 100% refund will be issued for any activity that was canceled due to weather by Miller’s Landing. Miller’s Landing reserves the right to determine weather cancellations. Rain does not constitute a cancellation.
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 canceled 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 break downs, 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.
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Gratuities are not included in the original sale price. A suggested 20% guide tip is greatly appreciated! Our guides work hard on building their knowledge and creating a memorable experience for you.
About our Guides
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Our Guides are all experienced in kayaking and in outdoor leadership before joining our team. They often come from all different backgrounds; from being ski instructors, snowmobile guides, backpacking guides, or passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Which we believe helps build a strong diverse team with many skills who are all able to thrive and learn from each other. Everyone 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 L2 kayakers, practice cold water rescue techniques, spend 6 amazing but grueling days in the backcountry as a team, and require that all guides have an up-to-date Wilderness First Responder Certification.
Check it out here: Kayak Guide Training Summer 2022 | Miller’s Landing (millerslandingak.com)
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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)
Related Activities
- Great for Families!
- Half Day
- Best for 10+
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!
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7 am Departure: Kayak, hike then take the water taxi back to Miller’s Landing, arriving around 1:30 pm
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2 pm Departure: Take a boat to Caines Head, hike, then kayak back to Millers Landing, get back around 8 pm
- Walk-in Friendly
- Best for 8+
Exploring one of Resurrection Bay’s classic coastal routes. Your guide will choose between landing at the dramatic Bridal Veil waterfall or the stunning Tonsina Point. Both routes offer calm paddling, scenic views, and opportunities to spot wildlife along the way.
We have 7 am and 7 pm departures, we get back between 10 and 11 am/pm.