Whale watching is a wonderful way to observe wild animals in their natural environment without interfering or damaging them in any way.

Whale watching is a premier event in Tenakee. A full summer and exciting fall of watching HUMPBACKS and Orcas feed and cavort in the nutrient rich waters of the inlet.

They can be viewed either in the comfort of one of our boats or by kayak. This is a great photographic opportunity. Tenakee ecotours strictly abides by all marine mammal laws. Whales can also be viewed on the deck dockside.  Often we are eating our meals while watching groups of whales pass by.

In mid August Humpbacks form groups of 6-15 and enter the inlet to buble feed prior to their migration south. They remain here until late October making this the absolutely best time if whale watching is your primary agenda.

Tenakee ecotours has a whale watching package special for the last two weeks of September. This is by far the best time to see the bubble feeding process. These dates will go fast so inquire as early as possible.  

See our images of the Humpbacks bubble feeding.

There is 26 miles of protected inlet with 13 river drainages many with bays. Each drainage holds a unique ecosystem that can be explored. Brown Bears are the largest animals you will encounter on land. Whales at sea. You can be with both of them the same day in your kayak.

We have the safest sit on top kayaks. These kayaks are so stable you can actually stand up and fly fish if you choose. They are also equipped with rod holders and can be configured in many ways for passengers or equipment. These can be rented on there own.

Guides are recommended with the number of bears around if you are planning on camping.  We also have a full support boat that can provide you with anything from supplies to hot meals. We can drop you and the kayak off anywhere in the inlet and pick you up or you can paddle back to Tenakee.

Instruction in basic kayaking will also be available.

Walk in the ancient rainforest. The majesty, beauty and magnitude will amaze you.  There are not many places on earth like this. The air is so clean you can taste what oxygen is really like.

There are eight miles of maintained trails in the Tenakee city limits along with boundless other trails. On one hike you can travel a mile and be along side a salmon spawning river. Once there you can sit and watch Bears feed daily when the salmon are in the river.

Pack a lunch for a day hike or we can drop you off anywhere in the inlet for longer trips or simply walk the beach for any distance that you chose.

Tenakee is a premium place to photo shoot wildlife, scenery and natural pictures. Whales, bears, eagles, sea lions, seals, fish, birds.

Tenakee itself is a historical Alaskan city built around the gold rush era of the 1890’s much of the old town is still evident.  Downtown visits to Rosie’s Blue, Moon Café, the Shamrock Bakery with its historical building background or Snyder Mercantile our local store built in 1890. Originally groceries were rowed 65 miles from Juneau to stock the shelves in the early 1900’s.

These photo shoots can be for all the above in the same day if you chose.  You will be virtually surrounded by wilderness without any other people, we are the only local tour group. Shoot from the comfort of the 50 ft Seatonic or the 23 ft Fishing bear or our kayaks. Whale and bear photography is as, good as it gets any where in the world.

At the end of the day come home and print your photos out on our printers. You can also email them to friends and family back home.

Subsistence lifestyle is the process of gathering natural foods from the wilderness. Many of the residents here in Tenakee practice this way of life. Most of us supplement our food supply by gathering from the water and the woods.  

One day you may be pulling the crab and shrimp pots for dinner and the next day catching fresh salmon and halibut. Blueberries huckleberries and salmon berries are right on the trail, fresh pie is a must. We also gather chanterelle mushrooms and marine greens such as sea asparagus in season. 

We show you how to gather only the best the Alaskan wilderness has to offer. Then we take it to the kitchen and demonstrate how to turn this into a gourmet meal. We also have an organic deck garden. Fresh bread and desserts are made daily.

In certain parts of the season we may be able to arrange a trip on a commercial fishing vessel to see how it really happens. This is not always possible due to sea conditions and other variables.

Finally at the end of the day what better way to kick back then to get into the springs. This is a natural mineral hot springs that soothes the aches and rejuvenates you for the next day. Water temperature is 104 degrees.

The gold rush miners came from the gold fields in the Yukon to spend the winter in Tenakee and get fixed. Tales of stove up miners being packed off the mail boat on stretchers taken to the hot springs, treated by natural healers for thirty days then they were off to the dance halls, abound.

Our culture revolves around this bathhouse and many political decisions are made, much gossip caught up on and rumors cast. There are separate hours for men and women or after midnight - anything goes.

These are the rules written and unwritten. No smoking please.

The inlet is forty miles long and is one of the more nutrient rich inlets in southeast Alaska. These waters attract baitfish which are followed by salmon and whales. There are about 750,000 salmon that migrate to spawn in the rivers of our inlet.

Coho, chum and pink salmon are abundant in the fourteen rivers flowing into Tenakee inlet and may be taken in fresh or salt water. The largest species of salmon, the chinook, feed and may be landed in salt water areas near Tenakee Springs.

Halibut are common and can be caught during the entire summer season.

Steelhead migrate into local streams during the early summer and our guide will be available to assist flyfishers in their quest.

• River fishing on the Olympic Peninsula for salmon and steelhead 
• Salmon fishing in October and November and Steelhead fishing in March and April.

If you are interested in fishing, tenakee ecotours parent company is Fishing Bear Charters, also located in Tenakee. You can view the website at: www.fishingbearcharters.com