Cancelation Policies
Sunny Cove highly recommends protecting your entire Alaska trip with the purchase of travel insurance.
Many businesses in Alaska have strict cancelation policies, and the investment in travel insurance may be worthwhile. We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparation for the trip including airfare, lodging, travel expenses, and other expenditures due to cancelation for any reason.
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Many businesses in Alaska have strict cancelation policies, and the investment in travel insurance may be worthwhile. We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparation for the trip including airfare, lodging, travel expenses, and other expenditures due to cancelation for any reason.
Reservations may be canceled for a refund, less 10% processing fees, up until 15 days before departure.
There will be no refund for non-participation on a reserved trip unless there is a medical reason and the cancelation is more than 72 hours in advance.
If there were a medical condition that necessitates cancellation, we would request a note from your doctor, and offer a 50% refund.
There will be no refund for the difference in price for switching to a different trip of lesser value within 14 days of the departure date.
If at the time of your tour, any member of your group decides they do not want to participate, for any reason, there will be no refund.
Although we rarely cancel trips we reserve the right to cancel any trip for any reason that would make the operation of the trip inadvisable or unsafe.
Weather cancellations will be left to our discretion based on field experience. If we cancel a trip you may reschedule to another date or time, or request a full refund. This refund will be the limit of our liability.
If the trip minimum of two people is not met, we may contact you to ask you to change to another date or time. If you cannot change to another date or time we may cancel the tour, and we will offer a full refund.
We will contact you 24 hours before departure if the minimum has not been met.
Sunny Cove does not cancel tours solely due to rain or low visibility. Sea kayaking is an activity that remains fun rain or shine.
We do not allow the use of single kayaks. All guests will be assigned a tandem kayak.
Odd-numbered group participants will be paired with another guest. We cannot pair small children or those with limited physical ability with our guides.
If you're coming from out of town, please be sure to check for construction or delays at https://511.alaska.gov. Your tour will depart on time, and a refund will not be available if you are late for arrival.
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Many businesses in Alaska have strict cancelation policies, and the investment in travel insurance may be worthwhile. We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparation for the trip including airfare, lodging, travel expenses, and other expenditures due to cancelation for any reason.
Fox Island tours are offered in partnership with Alaska Collection. All reservation changes or cancelations must be processed through Alaska Collection by phone at 1.800.808.8068.
Reservations may be canceled for a refund up until 15 days before departure. There will be no refund for cancelations by the guest 14 or fewer days before departure.
There will be no refund for non-participation on a reserved trip unless there is a medical reason and the cancelation is more than 72 hours in advance.
There will be no refund for the difference in price for switching to a different trip of lesser value within 14 days of the departure date.
If at the time of your tour, any member of your group decides they do not want to participate, for any reason, there will be no refund.
Although we rarely cancel trips, we reserve the right to cancel any trip for any reason that would make the operation of the trip inadvisable, or unsafe or if the trip number minimum of two participants has not been met.
Weather cancelations will be left to our discretion based on field experience. If we cancel a trip, you may reschedule (if space is available) or receive a full refund. This refund will be the limit of our liability.
Sunny Cove does not cancel tours solely due to rain or low visibility.
If you’re coming from out of town, please be sure to check for construction or delays at http://511.alaska.gov. Your tour will depart on time, and a refund or reschedule will not be available if you are tardy for your tour.
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Many businesses in Alaska have strict cancelation policies, and the investment in travel insurance may be worthwhile. We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparation for the trip including airfare, lodging, travel expenses, and other expenditures due to cancelation for any reason.
Reservations may be canceled for a refund, less 10% processing fees, up until 31 days before departure. There will be no refund for non-participation on a reserved trip unless there is a medical reason and the cancelation is more than 72 hours in advance
There will be no refund for non-participation on a reserved trip unless there is a medical reason and the cancelation is more than 72 hours in advance.
If there were a medical condition that necessitates cancellation, we would request a note from your doctor, and offer a 50% refund.
There will be no refund for the difference in price for switching to a different trip of lesser value within 30 days of the departure date.
If at the time of your tour, any member of your group decides they do not want to participate, for any reason, there will be no refund.
If the trip minimum of four people is not met, we may contact you to ask you to change to another date or time. If you cannot change to another date or time we may cancel the tour, and we will offer a full refund.
We will contact you 24 hours before departure if the minimum has not been met.
Although we rarely cancel trips, we reserve the right to cancel any trip for any reason that would make the operation of the trip inadvisable or unsafe.
Weather cancellations will be left to our discretion based on field experience. If we cancel a trip you may reschedule to another date or time or request a full refund. This refund will be the limit of our liability.
Please note this trip into Kenai Fjords National Park requires rounding Cape Aialik and exposure to the Gulf of Alaska, including sea swell and wind chop. If the water taxi deems the sea conditions unsafe or inadvisable for this trip and we cancel the trip prior to departure you will receive a full refund. Rescheduling the trip will be dependent upon the availability of the charter and Sunny Cove staff.
There are times when the charter captain believes they can make it around the Cape and into Aialik Bay but may find the conditions unsafe once the trip is in progress. If the charter captain aborts the trip in progress due to rough weather, the boat captain will do their best to provide a tour and kayaking experience within Resurrection Bay, and you will receive a refund of 25% of the trip cost.
There may be instances where winds and/or the weather make it inadvisable to kayak near one of our tidewater glaciers. If this were to occur the guide(s) may modify the trip so that after visiting the glacier by boat the group would kayak in a more sheltered location. There would not be a refund under these circumstances.
Sunny Cove does not cancel tours solely due to rain or low visibility. Sea kayaking is an activity that remains fun rain or shine. Please come prepared with proper waterproof outer layers including both a jacket and pants.
We do not allow the use of single kayaks. All guests will be assigned a tandem kayak.
Odd-numbered group participants will be paired with another guest. We cannot pair small children or those with limited physical ability with our guides.
If you’re coming from out of town, please be sure to check for construction or delays at http://511.alaska.gov. Your tour will depart on time, and a refund or reschedule will not be available if you are tardy for your tour.
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Many businesses in Alaska have strict cancelation policies, and the investment in travel insurance may be worthwhile. We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparation for the trip including airfare, lodging, travel expenses, and other expenditures due to cancelation for any reason.
All multi-day tours require a 50% deposit at the time of booking with the balance due 30 days before tour departure.
If you cancel the reservation more than 30 days before the departure date you will receive a refund, less a 10% processing fee.
If you cancel the trip within 30 days of the departure date, there is no refund.
If for any reason you do not arrive before the boat departure on the trip date, there will be no refund.
Access to Aialik Bay / Northwestern Fjords in Kenai Fjords National Park requires rounding one or more capes and exposure to the Gulf of Alaska and outer coast sea conditions. Although trips are rarely canceled there is the possibility of a delay or rerouted trip due to unsafe seas and wind conditions.
Weather modifications will be left to the discretion of Sunny Cove and the water taxi operator based on field experience. Please plan your travels to allow a buffer day to reschedule a departure due to rough seas or in the event, that our pick-up is delayed due to unsafe sea conditions.
There will be no refund or pro-rated fees for trip starts or pick-ups that are delayed or altered due to weather. If weather prohibits the trip from getting outside of Resurrection Bay and instead becomes a multi-day trip inside the bay, we will refund the difference between the two tours.
Sunny Cove does not cancel tours solely due to rain or low visibility. Sea kayaking is an activity that remains fun rain or shine.
We do not allow the use of single kayaks. All guests will be assigned a tandem kayak.
Odd-numbered group participants will be paired with another guest. We cannot pair small children or those with limited physical ability with our guides.
Commonly Asked Questions
We know making plans to come to Alaska is tough from a distance. Hopefully this list will help you better understand what to expect when you choose to kayak with Sunny Cove. Do you have a question but it's not on the list? Suggest it to us at info@sunnycove.com.
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No kayaking experience is necessary for any of our trips. We paddle with first time kayakers every day. Sunny Cove provides kayaking instruction in every one of our tours. Our attention to safety and knowledge of local waters allows all levels of paddlers a comfortable, rewarding experience. Join us and learn a new skill!
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Kayaking is a low level aerobic exercise relying more on technique than brute strength. Our tours accommodate a wide variety of people and skill levels. Generally, shorter tours are easier, while longer tours may require covering more distance or hiking with an elevation gain. Read each trip description to discover which trip is right for you.
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We HIGHLY recommend booking your trip well in advance. It's very common for us to sell out of available space. Booking last minute might not work out and then you'll miss out on your amazing Alaska kayaking experience!
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Our tandem kayaks and gear can accommodate most people. Since we all come in different shapes and sizes, please contact us if you are uncertain. We're happy to assist you and answer any questions.
All kayakers need to be able to fit into an extra-large PFD (personal flotation device), wear a spray skirt with a maximum waist of 44" and be able to sit properly and comfortably in the kayak.
Kayakers over 6'5" may not fit comfortably in our kayaks.
Kayakers must also meet our age minimums and our weight minimum of 50 lb.
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You do not need to be a swimmer, but you should be comfortable with water. We use a fleet of very stable tandem (two person) sea kayaks. While it is possible to capsize any boat, it is unlikely you will tip over these very seaworthy crafts if you follow the instruction provided by our experienced guides at the beginning of your trip. We will also fit you with a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) to help keep you buoyant should a capsize occur.
We're happy to say capsizes are rare. Our guides will provide you with in-depth instruction to help insure each participant’s safety prior to kayaking. If you follow their instruction you should not have any trouble staying upright.
Once or twice a year we do have clients inadvertently capsize a kayak. Often this is due to horseplay, or disregard of provided instruction. Should a capsize occur our guides are well trained to resolve the situation with your participation.
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As we like to say in the kayaking world, 'tip your guide, not your kayak!' Sunny Cove is proud to employ some of the best guides in the industry.
Our kayaking guides enjoy sharing this beautiful place with you and strive to make each kayak tour unique and fun.
If you feel your guide made your time on the water more enjoyable you're welcome to express your thanks with a tip – this is greatly appreciated by your guide.
General rule of thumb for the outdoor professional industry is 15-20%. We would appreciate if you would tip your guide directly with cash or through Venmo.
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No, our Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise & Glacier Kayak Combo is our only day trip which visits a tidewater glacier.
For a more in-depth experience check out our multi-day adventures to Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord! -
We want you to see it all, and that's just not possible without a minimum of two nights.
Local charter transportation gets kayak camping trips to the park between 11am and 12pm the first day, and picks up between 12pm and 1pm on the last day.
A one-night trip would mean two relatively short half-days of kayaking, which is just not enough time to really explore.
We want to give you the opportunity to really immerse yourself in this beautiful place!
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Contrary to popular belief the bay water isn't always near freezing. May and June water temperatures tend to hover around 40-45 degrees, while later summer temperatures can near the upper 50's. The temperatures in Aialik Bay, and Northwestern Fjord tend to be colder due to tidewater glaciers.
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While we'll avoid directly approaching animals we're sometimes lucky enough to have a 'close encounter' with one of our local wild residents.
When this happens our guides will often have the kayaks gather close together. Then we enjoy the show, an experience few are lucky enough to enjoy!
We have never seen any type of aggressive behavior from any of our wild population, however, wild animals can be unpredictable. We never chase or harangue our wild residents.
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We can accommodate most groups. Give us a call and we'll set up a custom adventure! We love to kayak with friends, families, corporate outings, church groups and youth groups.
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Due to the remote nature of all of our trips, all of our guest paddle tandem (two person) kayaks on our adventures. If you're a solo paddler or have an odd numbered group, we'll pair you with a new friend. Single kayaks are reserved for guiding staff.
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All of our trips are fully guided using tandem kayaks - kayak rentals are not available. We do offer a guided rental option with most of our kayak camping adventures. This option is available to experienced campers who have their own camping equipment.
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Children 16 and older may join our three-hour excursions without an adult if a parent or legal guardian signs our waiver before participation. Otherwise children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on all of our excursions.
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Kayaking near a tide water glacier is a magical experience requiring a healthy amount of respect and space.
We avoid getting any closer than one half mile from tidewater glaciers. It's very common for these glaciers to calve (drop ice), and these ice falls can produce huge waves.
Our half mile cushion keeps us in water deep enough to avoid most wave action.
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Yes, all of the boats we utilize have marine ‘heads’. They are small but fully functioning bathrooms.
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No, we don’t allow pets on our tours. However, Seward Pet Services is a local, trusted company that will check in on and/or walk your pet for a reasonable fee.
General Information
Whale Seasons
Did you know we have several species of whales that live in or migrate through Seward? It’s possible to see Fin Whales, Grey Whales, and Minke Whales. However, our two most popular, and most viewable whales are Humpback Whales and Killer Whales. While we can’t guarantee whales will be spotted on our tours, we’ve made some recommendations below that will increase your chances.
Early to mid-May: Gray Whales migrate north along the coastline of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Best Trip for Viewing: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise & Glacier Kayak Combo
Mid-May to mid-June: Killer Whales often congregate for mating near Fox Island and the outer edges of Resurrection Bay.
Best Trip for Viewing: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise & Glacier Kayak Combo or any Fox Island Tour
Mid-May to mid-August: Humpback Whales feed along the coastline of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Best Trip for Viewing: mid-May to mid-June, any Resurrection Bay based trip, mid-May to mid-August, Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise & Glacier Kayak Combo
Late July to late August: Killer Whales feed on the Silver Salmon run in Resurrection Bay.
Best Trip for Viewing: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise & Glacier Kayak Combo or any Fox Island Tour
Seward Weather Information
Did you know Sunny Cove does not cancel tours solely due to rain? Do you know why? Some of the most beautiful days of kayaking are rainy days! Seward is located in the largest temperate rainforest in the world and we average nearly 70 inches of precipitation annually. We know sea kayaking is an experience that is great fun rain or shine. We encourage you to prepare yourself for Seward's 'liquid sunshine' by following a few guidelines.
Always bring layers, even if the sun is shining. We recommend a light, quick-drying (poly-pro or wool), underlayer, a quick-drying, insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof over-layer for both jacket and pants.
Avoid cotton and definitely skip the jeans. Once cotton or denim is wet you're cold and you'll stay cold. While we try to keep you dry, kayaking is a full-participation sport that brings you close to the water.
Bring an extra pair of socks (no cotton here either). We'll provide you with waterproof boots while kayaking, but sometimes your feet may still get wet. It's nice to have a dry pair of socks to change into after your tour.
Following the guidelines above will not only help you prepare for kayaking but will help keep you high and dry for all your adventures anywhere in Alaska.
Curious about Seward's weather? Check out these links:
NOAA Forecast: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts are often the most accurate here in Seward.
Marine Forecast: We like to keep an eye on not only the Resurrection Bay forecast but also the outer coast, Cape Cleare to Gore Point.
Seward Tides: Did you know we have 4 tidal changes a day? About every six hours, we see fluctuations of up to 15 feet!
Water Temperatures: No, the water isn't always freezing cold. We can see water temperatures upwards of 55° F late in the summer!
Seward Harbor Webcam: Curious about what is happening right now in Seward? Check out the webcam!
Aurora Forecast: When we're seeing clear, dark skies it's always a good idea to watch for the Northern Lights. Our best viewing is September through April.
Privacy Policy
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your Personally Identifiable Information unless we provide users with advance notice. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release information when it's release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others' rights, property or safety.
However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Third-party links
Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third-party products or services on our website. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.
Google's advertising requirements can be summed up by Google's Advertising Principles. They are put in place to provide a positive experience for users. https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/1316548?hl=en
We use Google AdSense Advertising on our website.
Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site. Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our users based on previous visits to our site and other sites on the Internet. Users may opt-out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google Ad and Content Network privacy policy.
We have implemented the following:
• Remarketing with Google AdSense
• Demographics and Interests Reporting
We, along with third-party vendors such as Google use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) or other third-party identifiers together to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions and other ad service functions as they relate to our website.
Opting out:
Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative Opt Out page or by using the Google Analytics Opt Out Browser add on.
California Online Privacy Protection Act
CalOPPA is the first state law in the nation to require commercial websites and online services to post a privacy policy. The law's reach stretches well beyond California to require any person or company in the United States (and conceivably the world) that operates websites collecting Personally Identifiable Information from California consumers to post a conspicuous privacy policy on its website stating exactly the information being collected and those individuals or companies with whom it is being shared. - See more at: http://consumercal.org/california-online-privacy-protection-act-caloppa/#sthash.0FdRbT51.dpu
According to CalOPPA, we agree to the following:
Users can visit our site anonymously.
Once this privacy policy is created, we will add a link to it on our home page or as a minimum, on the first significant page after entering our website.
Our Privacy Policy link includes the word 'Privacy' and can easily be found on the page specified above.
You will be notified of any Privacy Policy changes:
• On our Privacy Policy Page
Can change your personal information:
• By emailing us
How does our site handle Do Not Track signals?
We honor Do Not Track signals and Do Not Track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.
Does our site allow third-party behavioral tracking?
It's also important to note that we allow third-party behavioral tracking
COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)
When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under the age of 13 years old, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, United States' consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children's privacy and safety online.
We do not specifically market to children under the age of 13 years old.
Fair Information Practices
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information.
In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur:
We will notify you via email
• Within 7 business days
We also agree to the Individual Redress Principle which requires that individuals have the right to legally pursue enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.
CAN SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.
We collect your email address in order to:
• Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions
• Process orders and to send information and updates pertaining to orders.
• Send you additional information related to your product and/or service
• Market to our mailing list or continue to send emails to our clients after the original transaction has occurred.
To be in accordance with CANSPAM, we agree to the following:
• Not use false or misleading subjects or email addresses.
• Identify the message as an advertisement in some reasonable way.
• Include the physical address of our business or site headquarters.
• Monitor third-party email marketing services for compliance, if one is used.
• Honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly.
• Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email.
If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can email us at
• Follow the instructions at the bottom of each email.
and we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us using the information below.
www.sunnycove.com
Box 3332
Seward, AK 99664
info@sunnycove.com
Kayaking in Remote Locations
If you have any physical limitations or medical conditions that could affect your ability to participate in this group tour please contact us. Please be aware we will be in a remote setting and professional medical assistance is not readily available. Due to the remoteness, terrain, distance and weather there may be a delayed or no means of communication and/or prolonged delay in ability to obtain medical assistance.
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The launch site is approximately 2 miles south of Seward and is accessible by vehicle. We kayak along the coastline toward Tonsina Beach, approximately 1-1/2 miles.
There is no beach access until you reach Tonsina Beach. This location is accessible only by boat (weather dependent) or a 1-hour hike from the trailhead on Lowell Point. Wind and chopping waves can occur on weather days.
The closest medical facility is Providence Hospital in Seward but you may be referred to Anchorage for critical care. Anchorage is accessible by road/helicopter or plane from mainland Seward and is 130 miles north.
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This island is located 12 miles south of Seward and is accessible by boat only (approx. 1 hour each way). The coastline is rugged with very limited access to beaches.
On the west side of the island, there are two coves and the Spit on the north end that allow access to land. Once around the south end of the island, there is no beach/land access for approximately 4-5 miles until you come around on the north side of the spit. Wind, williwaws, and chopping waves can occur on weather days.
The closest medical facility is Providence Hospital in Seward but you may be referred to Anchorage for critical care. Anchorage is accessible by road/helicopter or plane from mainland Seward and is 130 miles north.
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Aialik Bay is only accessible by boat and is approximately 55 miles from Seward. There is a ranger station one-half mile south of Coleman Bay that is not regularly manned. Wind, williwaws, and chopping waves can occur on weather days.
If available, the Park rangers may be contacted on VHF 16. There are several tour boats that run into Aialik Bay daily (based on weather/tour operated that specific day, although no commercial boats in the evening hours.
The closest medical facility is Providence Hospital in Seward but you may be referred to Anchorage for critical care. Anchorage is accessible by road/helicopter or plane from mainland Seward and is 130 miles north. There are a number of days each season when the weather prevents boats and air transport in and out of Aialik Bay.
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Northwestern Fjord is only accessible by boat and is approximately 75 miles from Seward. Wind, williwaws, and chopping waves can occur on weather days.
There are two tour boats that run into Northwestern Fjord daily (based on weather/tour operated that specific day, although no commercial boats in the evening hours.
The closest medical facility is Providence Hospital in Seward but you may be referred to Anchorage for critical care. Anchorage is accessible by road/helicopter or plane from mainland Seward and is 130 miles north. There are a number of days each season when the weather prevents boats and air transport in and out of Northwestern Fjord.