Sail Northwest LLC is operated under special use permit within the Tongass National Forest. Sail Northwest LLC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Overview

Trip Itinerary:

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR TRIP MAY NOT FOLLOW THE EXACT ITINERARY BELOW,BUT WILL BE JUST AS SPECTACULAR EITHER WAY! Our travel is also greatly determined by wind and weather. WE often do this trip “In reverse” as we try to optimize good weather for our Glacier day!

Day 1- Saturday

Arrive in Petersburg at any time. Your first night will be at the Scandia House Hotel, Petersburg’s Quaint and Cozy hotel, located right in the middle of downtown. This is your day to explore Petersburg, there is so much to do and see in this very authentic Southeast Alaska town, and Captain Brendan can point you in the right direction! Tonight’s Dinner is “on your own” in town. The Hopscotch crew will be busy with last minute provisioning and detailing of Hopscotch. Feel free to come say “Hi” but we kindly ask that you do not board until Sunday morning. A shuttle will pick you up at the Petersburg airport and bring you the very short (3 minute) ride to your hotel in town.

DAY 2- Sunday

Please grab breakfast in town. This is your final chance to pick up any last minute items you might want before we depart and our real adventure begins! Captain Brendan will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 10am and we’ll head down to Hopscotch! After an orientation and safety briefing, we will depart Petersburg and head to stunning and rugged Thomas Bay, the home to Baird Glacier, and Scenery Cove. We will anchor for the night in Scenery Cove (lives up to it’s name), and spend the afternoon in the dingy making our way up to explore the glacial lake (filled with icebergs) of the Baird Glacier. We may also hike the Cascade Creek Trail for a truly awesome Rainforest Experience! This is Alaska at it’s finest!

DAY 3- Monday

Today we leave Thomas bay and head Northwest into the heart of Fredrick Sound, which has the highest concentration of Humpback whales in Alaska. We will hopefully encounter Humpbacks and get a sense of just how large Southeast Alaska is! We will plan to anchor at Cape Fanshaw which is a magical area abundant with whales and other sea life. Kayaking, beach combing, and whale watching is the afternoon activities, and Fanshaw does not disappoint!

DAY 4- Tuesday

Tuesday morning if the weather permits (calm seas) we will anchor off of the Five Finger Lighthouse, and take the dinghy ashore for a tour of this amazing and historic site. The lighthouse is stationed on a tiny island with unique flora and fauna, and the volunteers that keep the lighthouse are top notch tour guides! Truly a fun and unique Alaskan experience! We’ll spend the afternoon searching for whales and wildlife, and sail our way to Farragut Bay. Farragut Bay is wild Alaska at it’s best. We will go ashore and make our way up a very “active” creek. If we are lucky, we will observe Black Bears munching on sedge grass, or perhaps even fishing in the creek! Take in the silence and solitude of this special spot.

DAY 5 - Wednesday

After leaving Farragut Bay we will have our longest sail yet. We will keep an eye out for Orca and Humpbacks on the water, and moose and bear ashore as we head Southeast towards Ideal Cove. At the North mouth of the mighty Stikine River, this anchorage is gorgeous and spectacular! For those who wish to stretch their legs we will do the Three Lakes Loop hike, which is a fascinating stroll through the rainforest and muskeg. If the weather permits (and for those who would like to), this afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to join Pilot Doug (owner and operator or Nordic Air) one of the finest Bush/Seaplane Pilots in Alaska. Doug will fly over from Petersburg and land his seaplane just feet away from Hopscotch and you’ll hop on board for a flight you’ll never forget. Tonight, is our final dinner aboard Hopscotch, and the views of the coast range will not disappoint, if you join us in August you may even get a glimpse of the Auroara Borealis (Nothern Lights!)

DAY 6 - Thursday-

Rise and Shine, it’s Glacier Day! Today we will leave early and cross the North mouth of the Stikine River and head to the mighty and spectacular Leconte Bay, home of the Leconte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater Glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. We will sail Hopscotch slowly and meticulously up the bay, getting as near to the face of the glacier as we can. The Leconte Glacier is one of the most active glaciers in Alaska, and each time we travel to the bay, the icebergs have changed (literally by the minute). We cannot guarantee that we will see the face of the glacier (Due to the ice being too thick at times for safe passage), but we can guarantee that you will have one of the most interesting and spectacular experiences of your life! After having a very cool (in every sense of the word!) glacier experience we will head back to Petersburg. Arriving back at our slip in the late afternoon, we will have plenty of time to relax and decompress after our Alaskan Sailing Adventure. You are “on your own” for dinner tonight, but the crew will no doubt meet you for an evening beer to recap an amazing week!

DAY 7 - Friday-

Check out fromHopscotch by 11am. For breakfast we recommend the Salty Pantry! If you are spending a few more days in Petersburg, Brendan will be happy to give you a list of things to do and see! The crew will help get you and your bags back to the airport for your afternoon flight! There are usually flights that depart Petersburg at 12:30 PM and 3:30PM

A few notes about Alaska

Southeast Alaska is one of the last best places. It is wild, and empty and rugged. You’ll be traveling aboard Hopscotch into some of the most beautiful and remote places in North America. We will be traveling (Sailing or motoring) for between 4 and 10 hours each day through some of the most beautiful wilderness anywhere. But keep in mind that these can be “long days” on the water. With the long daylight hours there is still plenty of time for exploring anchorages by kayak, sup, and foot. It’s important to note that when on shore, you’ll be accompanied by Brendan. The wilderness is very real in Alaska, and hikes/walks/beach strolls all require someone with bear spray, and noise making devices.

Once you step onboard you'll have everything you need, and then some! Our charters are "All inclusive"...food, beverages (non alcoholic) gear, even some really good jokes from the Captain!

In the charter industry, a 15-20% Crew Gratuity is customary for excellent service. If service is less than excellent, we ask that you speak with us.

We ask that all of our guests joining us in Alaska purchase travel insurance (for your protection). This can typically be purchased for around $100-$150 dollars.

Fishing is not the “priority” of our adventures. However, we are a licensed Sport Fish Guide, and you are welcome to use our fishing gear while we are anchored. If you plan on doing any fishing (it’s pretty fun to throw a line in the water while hanging out in the evening!) you’ll need to purchase a fishing license in town, or online. If you would like to do some “Serious” fishing we recommend arriving in Petersburg a day earlier, and going with one of the many awesome fishing charters available in Petersburg.

Charter Price:

$14,120 for the Entire Boat (2-6 Guests in 3 cabins), or by the Cabin: $2400 Per Person (Double Occupancy)

Sailing Dates 2023

Please plan to arrive in Petersburg (PSG) on Saturday (anytime), and depart the following Friday (anytime).

Adventure #1: July 8- July 14

Adventure #2: July 15- July 21

Adventure #3: July 22- July 28

Adventure #4: July 29- August 4

Adventure #5: August 19- August 25

Adventure #6: August 26- Sept 1

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Everything! You bring your adventurous attitude; we’ll do the rest! All food, drinks (non-alcoholic), and gear (kayaks, etc) are included.

What you DO need to bring:

• Any Alcohol you wish to consume *available in Petersburg

• Cold weather clothes (including waterproof jackets, gloves, and boots. Glaciers can be chilly!)

For full booking terms and conditions please click here.