One of the more populous cities in the state, Valdez is home to over 4,000 inhabitants and is well connected to the rest of the country by the Richardson highway and daily flights by regional airlines. The city is also a popular stop for cruise lines and a local ferry connects Valdez with Prince William Sound. Valdez itself is found in the northwest corner of the Sounds at the head of a fjord and is circumscribed by the most heavily glaciated mountain range in the northwest, the Chugach range.
As a functioning city, Valdez is more than the location of quaint trading posts and local saloons. Oil is big business and this is a center for commercial fishing as well. However, with any town in such a stunning setting, tourism is a huge part of the economy.
This is a highly sought-after destination in Alaska; and with so much natural beauty surrounding it, there are as many festivals and events to celebrate Valdez as anyone could care to attend. There are fish derbies and 4th of July celebrations in summer; while walking around here in winter is truly a wonderland – with the Ice Climbing Festival, the World Free Skiing Competition, Alaska Big Mountain Masters Extreme Snowboard Competition and many others.
Being Alaska, the weather is a huge factor for anyone looking to visit Valdez or anywhere else in the region. Valdez in particular, located in the Sounds, can be unpredictable. A good waterproof jacket should be the first item on any packing list, and specialized equipment for whichever activity you will be partaking in, be it skiing, snowboarding, hiking, rafting, snowshoeing or what have you, should be factored in before you leave.
Highlights
Goat Trail: from the times of prehistoric peoples and military convoys to modern hikers, this historical route offers superb hiking.
Keystone Canyon: rock-climbing, ice-climbing, rafting, majestic waterfalls – the canyon offers the quintessential Alaskan experience.
Fort Liscum: is the fort that begat the town, and where you can trace Valdez’s history from its inception through to today.