THE FERRY

Large blue, white, and gold ferries travel the Alaska Marine Highway System. They’re a great economic way to get out on the water if you’re traveling from one place to another. You can bring a car, motorcycle, bicycle, or kayak on board with you. The Ferry system is considered the country’s best public transportation bargain. The slow ride may allow you to see whales, bald eagles, or sea lions. It also gives you the freedom to come and go as you please since ferries travel daily and you can get off and on wherever you’d like. You can either buy your ticket ahead of time or at the terminal on the day of travel. Prices depend on how far you travel, and you pay for whatever transportation you bring on with you. Onboard you can get low-cost, cafeteria-style food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The meals are filling and you get a lot for you money. You can also bring your own food, but use of camp stoves is not allowed. The larger ships are also equipped with a bar.

The ferries are outfitted with comfortable and simple cabins. If you don’t want to rent a cabin, find a cozy place in the solarium or observation deck. The indoor lounges tend to be loud and aren’t as good for sleeping. Backpackers often pitch a tent in the designated area outside the solarium in warm weather. Bring duct tape if you plan to sleep in your tent. Showers are free on most trips.

The ferries follow the Southeast’s Inside Passage, a waterway full of islands, fjords, and mountainous coastlines. The trip begins either in Bellingham, Washington or Prince Rupert, British Columbia and then on to Ketchikan, Alaska. From there, ports include Juneau, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, and Wrangell.

Ferries stop almost every day at the large ports but not as frequently at the smaller villages so be sure to get a current schedule before traveling. If you’re going to stop in a small village, you may run out of things to do before the ferry comes by again so keep in mind how much time you have and what you want to see before disembarking. Also, it’s a good idea to call the terminal to double check the arrival and departure times because the ships can be late, break down, or cancel a trip.