Hanging With Glaciers

Another gorgeous day! We decided to take the scenic drives today that were listed in the Milepost. They are also the only side roads we could find other than residential areas.

Leaving camp we drove around Portage Cove to Lutak Rd which led us toward the ferry port where we came in yesterday. As we drive along the shore cruise ships pass by us on the Lynn Canal. The road winds along the Lutak Inlet with the snowy Chilkoot Mountains on our left. We passed homes, another RV park and then nothing but spectacular wilderness! Natural waterfalls run down the mountains and hillsides. You can hear them before you see them and there is so much water.

The road forked and there was a bridge to our right. We took the bridge across the emerald green Chilkoot River and followed it to a turn around where we took pictures. We crossed back over the bridge and turned right following a narrow road to Chilkoot State Recreation Area. The river is gorgeous and when the salmon come up its grizzly country. At the end of the road there was another fork so we went left to Chilkoot Lake State Park. The lake in the park serves as a jumping off point for kayak and canoe tours.

We went back to the fork and turned right to check out the state park's campground. It was very nice but not for Big Rigs. However, there was no view of the lake or river and it has common bear sightings.

Retracing our steps back through Haines to the other side of town we found Mud Bay Road which led us out to the Chilkat Mountain Range and along the Chilkat River. We climbed through forest and then down to river level passing several hiking trails. Driving along the Chilkat Penninsula we passed an old red wood cannery sitting on a point overlooking the mud flat as it's low tide. Up another hill we soon came to the Chilkat State Park. We followed gravel roads down to the end where we could see beautiful snow capped mountains and pristine views. The park features a floating dock and a protected ocean shoreline making the perfect location for waterfowl. We stopped at an observation deck we noticed on the way into the park. The deck looked across the Chilkat Inlet and onto Davidson glacier. Looking to the right we saw Rainbow Glacier - our first ‘hanging’ glacier through the binoculars. It was spectacular! We spent some time on the deck just enjoying the beauty.

Taking Mud Bay Rd home we talked about what we had seen today. Back at camp we had dinner, watched TV and called it a day.

Pictures:Looking down Lutak Inlet from Portage Cove, Lutak Inlet looking back towards Haines, Chilkoot River, Mud Bay Road View, Chilkat State Park, Davidson Glacier, Hanging Rainbow Glacier