Shoup Glacier & Shoup Bay State Marine Park
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Just a short boat ride from Valdez, Shoup Bay State Marine Park offers one of the easiest ways to combine sea kayaking, wildlife viewing and a tidewater glacier in a single day.
Shoup Glacier sits at the head of Shoup Bay, where ice calves into a lagoon surrounded by steep mountains. There is no road to the park. Most visitors reach Shoup Bay by boat or water taxi, and guided kayak trips make it possible to explore the bay and paddle toward the glacier without committing to a multi-day wilderness trip.
Why Visit Shoup Glacier?
Shoup is particularly attractive for travelers using Valdez as a base camp. You can leave Valdez in the morning, spend the day kayaking in Prince William Sound, and return to town that evening.
A typical guided trip combines:
- a water-taxi ride from Valdez
- approximately a full day of exploring
- sea kayaking in Shoup Bay
- views of Shoup Glacier
- waterfalls and mountain scenery
- wildlife viewing
- the large black-legged kittiwake rookery
Harbor seals, sea otters, bald eagles, arctic terns and other marine birds may also be seen.
Kayaking Shoup Glacier
Local Valdez outfitters offer guided full-day kayaking trips to Shoup Glacier.
Pangaea Adventures has guided sea kayaking trips
to Shoup Bay.
Anadyr Adventures offers guided day trips to
Shoup Bay.
Typical 2026 trip: about 8 hours
2026 advertised price: about $265 per
person
Departure: Valdez Small Boat Harbor
Access: water taxi followed
by
guided kayaking
Experience: suitable for beginners as well as experienced paddlers
Prices, schedules and trip details change, so use these figures for trip planning and confirm current information with the outfitter before booking.
Shoup Bay Public-Use Cabins
Shoup Bay State Marine Park also has three public-use cabins:
- Kittiwake Cabin
- Moraine Cabin
- McAllister Cabin
The cabins make Shoup Bay an interesting option for travelers who want to turn a Valdez day trip into an overnight wilderness experience. Reservations and current rates should be checked with Alaska State Parks: Public Use cabins and its current concessionaire, Valdez Adventure Alliance.
Shoup Glacier or Columbia Glacier?
Valdez offers access to both Shoup Glacier and the much larger Columbia Glacier.
Shoup's advantage is accessibility. It is close enough to Valdez to make an excellent full-day excursion while still providing a true Prince William Sound sea-kayaking experience.
Columbia Glacier is farther from Valdez and generally requires more travel time and money, but provides a much larger-scale glacier and iceberg experience.
If you have only one day available in Valdez, Shoup can be a particularly appealing choice. If glacier viewing is one of the primary reasons for your Alaska trip and your budget allows it, compare Shoup with a Columbia Glacier excursion before deciding.
Plan Your Shoup Bay Trip
Base Camp: Valdez
Allow: One full day
Best for:
Kayaking,
glaciers, wildlife, photography
Access: Boat/water taxi; no road access
Overnight
option: Public-use cabins and camping
Season: Primarily summer
Weather
dependent: Yes
Before leaving Valdez, confirm your tour or transportation, weather conditions, tides and current park information.
More Information: Alaska State Parks
Shoup Glacier is one of several glacier and marine adventures available from Valdez. Travelers can also explore Columbia Glacier, take wildlife and sightseeing cruises in Prince William Sound, or use Valdez as a base for exploring the Richardson Highway and the eastern side of Prince William Sound.
Planning a Prince William Sound trip? Compare Valdez with Whittier and Cordova to decide which community makes the best base for the activities you want to do.