Population (2016): 3,862
Everything you came to see & do in Alaska all in the one place. Glaciers! Wildlife! Fishing! History! Tours! Hiking Whether you find yourself on land or sea, there’s always something to do in Valdez. Take a road trip to Valdez!
Valdez is the premier destination for winter sports in Alaska. Come challenge yourself on the Chugach Mountains. Experience heli-skiing, snowcat skiing, kite skiing, snowboarding, snowmachining. Unmatched beauty, terrain and snowfall like no other in the world.
Valdez boasts some of the most scenic and historic trails in Alaska. Ranging from various lengths and difficulty levels, our trails are sure to please most everyone.
Sport fishing The Prince William Sound in Valdez is a premier fishing destination. Open year round, our waters are home to all species of salmon, rockfish, lingcod, and some of the most accessible halibut in Alaska. You can drop a line from shore, take your own boat or take a charter into deeper seas. Either way, you’re likely to catch enough fish to eat for dinner or fill up your freezer.
Valdez is home to the oldest fish derbies in Alaska, awarding thousands of dollars in prize money each year. Young and old, all skill levels, the thrill of reeling in a recordbreaking fish will keep you coming back for more. Fish Hatchery Solomon Gulch Hatchery presents a unique opportunity to observe salmon as they return to spawn. The hatchery is located across the port on Dayville Road en route to Allison Point. Completed in February 1983 to ensure sufficient numbers of salmon return each year, the facility is licensed to incubate, rear and release 230 million pink salmon, and 2 million coho. With a concerted effort from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the City of Valdez, the Solomon Gulch Hatchery annually imprints and releases 105,000 king smolts from the Fish and Game Fort Richardson Hatchery. The Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) goals are to produce an annual return of 10 million pink salmon, 100,000 coho and 10,000 king salmon. The best time to view salmon at the hatchery is July through September. Bears, eagles, sea gulls and sea otters can be found feeding on the fish. Fishing is prohibited within 300 feet of the premises. Please respect all wildlife, especially maintaining a safe distance from any bears in the area. Bears are wild animals and can be dangerous.
Take the self-guided walking tour along the fish ladder and view how the hatchery spawns the fish. The self-guided walkway is open daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., from May to October.