Kenai Fjords National Park guide · 1 min read
Whales, Otters and Sea Lions of the Fjords
Humpback whales and orcas are among the animals you can look for on a wildlife cruise. The park's waters also hold fin whales, dolphins, sea otters, and seals, along with sea lions.
Since most of the park is ice and water, a boat is one of the main ways to see it.
Sea otters are frequently seen in the park's waters, and harbor seals are also commonly sighted there. Steller sea lions gather on islands that serve as haul-out spots, where they climb out of the water. Those islands are worth watching for as you pass by on a boat.
Seabirds are another highlight. The park's marine birds include tufted and horned puffins, along with cormorants, common and thick-billed murres, and marbled murrelets.
The fjords also form an estuary where glacial fresh water mixes with seawater. Glaciers grind rock into fine sediment called rock flour, which colors the water near the ends of the glaciers and carries minerals into the ecosystem. Those minerals feed tiny phytoplankton, which in turn support larger animals.
Kayaking is another way to explore the water. In Aialik Bay, paddlers can travel among the fjords and see glaciers up close from the water, which gives a very different view than a cruise deck.
