- Great for ages 8+
Tonsina Beach Guided Paddle
Quick Details
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Trips & Duration: Walk-in Friendly
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Ages: Best for 8+
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8:30 am departure: we get back at 11:30 am
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5:30 pm departure: we get back at 8:30 pm
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This Trip: Kayak and Nature Hike!
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Offered: April 15th - September 10th
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Difficulty: This paddle is very easy, see below for details.
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Meeting Place: Meet at the front office, 13880 Beach Drive Seward, AK.
Per Person
$150
$ 99
Book the Guide!
Exclusive up to 8 People
$ 792
Enjoy a relaxing paddle and nature walk to Tonsina Beach!
Tonsina Beach is an amazing location that’s just a short paddle away. Walk among Sitka spruce, covered in large pillows of moss and other fungi that make up this unique forested trail.
This Tonsina Beach kayak tour leaves from Miller’s Landing on Lowell Point. Paddlers kayak to Tonsina Creek and view the beautiful ghost forest remains of the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. Cross one of the two salmon creeks into the stunning Chugach National forest to take a short walk through the forest to the far side of Tonsina Beach. If you’re around later in the summer, you’re able to view colourful salmon spawning in Tonsina Creek and eagles lurking nearby, awaiting a tasty treat.
Essential Details
WHAT TO BRING
It’s important to wear quick drying, warm, synthetic layers or wool depending on the temperature and weather conditions. We ask that you avoid cotton clothing like jeans. Here is a small list of things to bring on your kayak trip in Resurrection Bay.
- Water bottle
- Rain gear
- Synthetic or wool layers
- Comfortable shoes that could get wet, we pull and launch your kayaks from shore so you should not be stepping into any water.
- Depending on the weather consider bringing gloves, beanie, sun hat, extra socks, sunglasses, sunscreen.
TIPS FOR A GREAT TRIP
Clothing and shoes: Be sure to pack comfortable shoes that could get wet, and good layers. It’s never a bad idea to pack extra socks too, and to avoid cotton for longer kayaking trips, especially if it’s raining.
Packing: There is plenty of storage in the boats for spare layers, and other items if packed into small bags around 25 oz. Each guest also gets a dry bag to use during the trip if needed. Reach out if you have questions about gear.
Bringing a Camera? We use sit-in kayaks for this trip, you can have your camera around your neck or in a dry bag. Which can sit in front of you, on the kayak, under bungie cords.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Our sit-inside tandem kayaks are stable and well maintained. They come with a rudder for steering, spray skirts, life vests and paddles. Your guide is also fitted with necessary safety and first aid equipment.
Let your guide know before the trip if you need:
- Extra rain gear
- Pogies to protect your hands (paddling mittens)
- Neoprene Booties
- A dry bag
- A butt pad
Before each trip we provide a short orientation on sea kayaking and safety, so everyone is comfortable before we hit the water!
DIFFICULTY
This trip is easy and includes a mellow nature walk. Start by kayaking with your guide, hugging the shoreline watching for wildlife. Paddle roughly 2 miles to your destination, there you will get out and go on a short nature walk on a maintained trail. After the walk, return to Miller’s Landing with your guide by kayaking.
More Information
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Start your trip gearing up and getting a paddle talk from your guide before launching and paddling south towards Tonsina Beach. Travel along sheer cliff lines, over emerald waters with seagrass and otters looking for a snack.
Arrive at Tonsina beach and walk through the beautiful temperate rainforest, over salmon streams, and admire the stunning views of the bay. Spot bald eagles, pick berries in the fall, witness spawning salmon in the summer and the new growth and diverse plant and fungi life in the spring.
Make your way back to your kayaks, gear up, and then paddle back to Miller’s Landing with your guide. Keep your eyes peeled for sea otters, an array of sea birds and even whales!
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- A $10 cancellation fee is imposed for all reservations canceled.
- Cancellations must be received by email only to reservations@millerslandingak.com. The cancellation notice date is the date the email was received at reservations@millerslandingak.com. Phone cancellations will not be accepted.
- Cancellations received by email 30 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a refund of 90% of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 15 to 29 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation charge and you will receive a 75% refund of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 14 days to zero days prior to arrival are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a 50% refund only if we are able to rebook your camping, cabin, fishing, kayaking, water taxi, shuttle, lunch, or activity. If we are not able to rebook your reservation, then no refunds will be issued and you will also be charged a $10 cancellation fee to your credit card.
- A 100% refund will be issued for any activity that was canceled due to weather by Miller’s Landing. Miller’s Landing reserves the right to determine weather cancellations. Rain does not constitute a cancellation.
Please note: Miller’s Landing encourages only guaranteed prepaid reservations. Unlike many other states, Alaska has a very short tourist season, which can make it difficult for us to rebook when we have cancellations without ample notice.
If you are booking a charter and lodging and your charter, water taxi, or kayaking is canceled due to weather, you are still responsible for the lodging or camping reservations and the normal cancellation policy applies. All of our activities are possible during rain, so rain does not constitute a cancellation. Miller’s Landing is not responsible for vehicle break downs, personal emergencies, flight delays, health issues or other unforeseen hardships. We will try very hard to work with you, but the cancellation policy will need to be applied if we cannot issue a raincheck or find an alternative solution that appeals to both parties.
Please understand that Miller’s Landing also incurs a hefty financial merchant fee from our bank for the cost of charging your credit card and again for the cost of refunding it, and there is also a cost involved for the time involved in processing and refunding your reservation in employee costs. Our goal when taking your reservation is to have a solid, guaranteed prepaid reservation. We strongly discourage the practice of making reservations without having an airline ticket or making tentative reservations. Thank you for your understanding.
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Gratuities are not included in the original sale price. A suggested 20% guide tip is greatly appreciated! Our guides work hard on building their knowledge and creating a memorable experience for you.
About our Guides
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Our Guides are all experienced in kayaking and in outdoor leadership before joining our team. They often come from all different backgrounds; from being ski instructors, snowmobile guides, backpacking guides, or passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Which we believe helps build a strong diverse team with many skills who are all able to thrive and learn from each other. Everyone is trained for two weeks to refine their skills together and learn all they need to know to safely guide our clients. We instruct and certify our guides as ACA L2 kayakers, practice cold water rescue techniques, spend 6 amazing but grueling days in the backcountry as a team, and require that all guides have an up-to-date Wilderness First Responder Certification.
Check it out here: Kayak Guide Training Summer 2022 | Miller’s Landing (millerslandingak.com)
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Spend a summer outdoors and in the Stunning Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, teaching, guiding, and enjoying all the amazing experiences Alaska have to offer. Miller’s Landing is a family-run business that started operations shortly after Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and the tourism industry began to form in Seward. We work hard to provide every guest with a memorable experience, with a focus on safety, education, stewardship, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We begin our hiring process in the winter, between December and January, and suggest you apply in December. Our training begins May 1st and the season runs until September 15th. We ask that guides are able to attend training and can stay until at least mid-August. Learn more about our requirements and the hiring process here: Kayak Instructor / Guide | Miller’s Landing in Seward Alaska (millerslandingak.com)
Related Activities
- Full Day
- Best for 12+
Kayak to North Beach of Caines Head from Miller’s Landing and hike to the historic Fort McGilvray!
- Great for Families!
- Half Day
- Best for 10+
Don’t have the time or the energy for the full day hike and paddle to Caines Head? Paddle out and we pick you up in the water taxi!