| Port: | Sitka, Alaska |
| Duration: | Approximately 2 hours |
| Provided: | St. Michael’s Cathedral ticket; snacks; coffee, tea, cocoa |
This
relaxing adventure features a cruise through a beautiful glacier-carved
fjord, and an exclusive tour of a working salmon hatchery.
You’ll also learn about the rainforest’s natural history as the boat glides so near to shore that you can almost touch the branches. And, if wildlife is sighted, the Captain will skillfully maneuver the boat to give the best-possible view.
Step ashore at the remote Medvejie Salmon Hatchery in Bear Cove to learn how commercial fishermen are successfully working with fisheries biologists to raise salmon to supplement wild stocks. See how eggs are collected, fertilized and incubated, and learn how salmon fry are raised in sheltered raceways and tagged to aid research. Depending on the season you will also see thousands of salmon swimming in floating pens being prepared for release, or gathering in the cove to ascend the fish ladder.
On the cruise back to Sitka you’ll get a close-up view of the
beach fronting the Sitka National Historic Park, where in 1804, Tlingit
warriors fought a valiant but futile battle against a Russian warship
for control of their ancestral home.
Approaching
the harbor your guide will point out the spires of St. Michael’s
Russian Orthodox Cathedral and other Sitka landmarks. A ticket
to the Cathedral is included in the tour.
Please Note: The vessel restroom and hatchery are not wheelchair accessible. Participants should be able to walk at least 250 yards on ramps and uneven terrain to fully enjoy sights at the salmon hatchery. Dress warmly and bring a rainproof jacket. Guests on afternoon departures may want to visit the cathedral prior to the tour – just show your Silver Bay Cruise & Salmon Hatchery tour voucher at the cathedral for admission.