Whales & Sheep

Whales off the Kenai Peninsula

In Southcentral Alaska, including the Kenai Peninsula and the areas near Anchorage, coastal areas harbor the marine mammals that are found in Southeast, with the added attraction of white beluga whales. They follow the salmon up the inlet and can be seen from the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm near Anchorage and along the Cook Inlet coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Occasionally they can even be seen from downtown Anchorage. They can be hard to spot when the wind is whipping the waves into whitecaps, but if the tide is high and the water is flat, keep your eyes peeled for white flashes as they surface.

Dall Sheep

Coastal communities from Southeast to Prince William Sound to Southcentral offer boat excursions for fishing and for wildlife watching. Half-day and full-day trips can be arranged, and knowledgeable skippers will take you to prime locations for chances to see the local animal life. Wildlife viewing is also excellent from the decks of the ferryboats of the Alaska Marine Highway system that ply the coastal waters.

Also along the Seward Highway south of Anchorage, watch for Dall sheep along the cliffs next to the road. There's a spot called Windy Point near milepost 107 of the highway where sheep often come down off the mountainsides and graze next to the road, making for some interesting traffic situations. If you see people out of their vehicles and gazing skyward, chances are you've found Windy Point.