Top Ways to Experience Klawock + 4 Alaska Cruises Not to Miss

As a town of less than 1,000 residents, idyllic Klawock is emblematic of a true Alaska pioneer town and Oceania Cruises will be the very first cruise line to call on this new Alaska port in 2023. Untouched and full of wildlife, it exemplifies the Alaska seasoned travelers yearn to experience.

Supported by logging, fishing and canning, Klawock is the site of the first cannery in Alaska. The town has also been a native Tlingit village for thousands of years and features one of the most extensive collections of totems in the world. Located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, Klawock is surrounded by the temperate rainforest typical of the Inside Passage. In fact, the adventure will begin as you sail into the port – you’ll be treated to scenic views of the surrounding fjord, lush archipelagos and soaring mountains as Regatta arrives. It is a natural sanctuary for marine birds and home to dense population of bears due to the abundance of salmon, all of which make it one of the premier birding and wildlife sites in North America.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to experience Klawock, plus top 2023 Alaska cruises this new and fascinating Alaska destination is featured on.

1. Experience Klawock’s amazing wildlife and learn about local mariculture farming. On a boat specifically built for wildlife viewing, our “Wildlife Triangle Tour” takes you on a memorable cruise to look for whales, sea otters, seals, a variety of marine birds and other creatures. You’ll also enjoy a visit a mariculture farm that grows kelp, a type of seaweed essential to marine life. Seaweed is so critical to local marine life that it is locally farmed, an endeavor known as mariculture or the cultivation of marine life for food. Humpback whales are commonly spotted in these waters breaching the surface, waving their flukes as they dive and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south. You will also observe sea otters floating on the water in groups called rafts. Chances are, they will be among clusters of seaweed as they use the vegetation for protection.



2. Discover Klawock’s surrounding natural beauty on a kayaking and hiking adventure. The “Kayak & Hike Tour” delves into the lush natural beauty that surrounds the village of Klawock. You’ll paddle around the surrounding islands and into the mouth of the Klawock River, where the scenery will be spectacular in every direction. Enjoy an even closer look at nature’s glory while walking the river trail through the Tongass National Forest while the guide describes the flora and fauna. Sitka black-tailed deer and great blue herons are commonly spotted, and the occasional black bear is sometimes seen foraging in the distance. The guide will describe fascinating characteristics of the animals such as how they adapt to the harsh winters. Be sure to keep an eye out for birds too. Ornithologists have identified hundreds of avian species on the island, ranging from majestic bald eagles to squat-looking horned larks.
3. Explore how Klawock’s history and heritage is being preserved with a visit to the first salmon cannery and by watching a master totem carver at work. On our “Klawock Highlights” excursion, you can do both. While visiting a hatchery that nurtures the salmon, you will learn how they are raised before their release into the Klawock River. You'll have the chance to take in the natural beauty as you walk along a river trail in the rainforest of Klawock, which has long been a center of Tlingit culture. Soon you'll arrive at a carving shed where you will watch a demonstration of totem carving, which was almost a lost art. Later you'll discover 21 totems in a nearby park that are replicas of the originals that once stood in Tuxekan, the winter village of the local Tlingits. The guide will elaborate on the meaning of the totems.



4. Choose your own adventures in Klawock and Craig, the largest town on Prince Wales Island. The “Klawock and Craig at Your Leisure” tour connects you with the buses that loop between these two towns. It’s the perfect for those travelers that want to strike out on their own and explore this unique and beautiful part of Alaska independently. Craig is the largest community on the island and has been developed around fishing and timber. Meanwhile, the indigenous Tlingit people have lived in Klawock for thousands of years and their influence is still highly apparent. You might stop there to admire the totems honoring Alaska Native veterans in the city park and explore some of the replica totems that were once part of a nearby village. Walking part of the trail that follows the Klawock River is another option.

2023 Alaska Cruises aboard Regatta Featuring Klawock, Alaska

Glitz to Glaciers
May 18, 2023 | Los Angeles to Vancouver, 12 Days

Gold Rush, Glaciers & Wildlife
June 23, 2023 | Seattle to Seattle, 10 Days

Wildlife & Frontiers
July 3, 2023 | Seattle to Seattle, 11 Days

Dazzling Alaska
August 8, 2023 | Seattle to Seattle, 10 Days

Explore more Alaska voyages here. Are you joining us in one of our 2023 Alaska cruises featuring Klawock? We’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to most – tell us on our Facebook page.