Alaska is one of the best places for whale watching in the United States, being a permanent or summer home for orcas, humpbacks, belugas, the rare sei, fin, blue, beaked and gray whales, among others. September is the tail end of the whale-watching season in Alaska, as many species migrate to warmer waters from the middle of September onward. However, you still have a high chance of seeing wild whales, especially humpbacks, orcas and belugas.
About 300 beluga whales live in the Cook Inlet at the mouth of the Kenai River all year. Their population has declined rapidly but you can still watch them and they are often visible from land, which means less chance of disturbing the whales. Responsible eco-tourism illustrates the economic value of whales to decision makers, which helps to make conservation measures a priority.
The stretch of southeast Alaskan coast known as the Inside Passage sees visits from humpbacks, orcas and gray whales during the summer and early fall. Many of the towns offer whale-watching tours, notably Ketchikan.
Also part of the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay on the Canadian border has a population of humpbacks. A few humpbacks stay year-round and they are are joined by migratory whales from June to September. Glacier Bay is also somewhere to see gray and minke whales.
A visit in September is just in time to see some of the whales that visit Prince William Sound, including orcas, humpbacks, fin whales and gray whales. Some of the whales are resident but most start heading toward warmer waters further south at this time.
The Kenai Fjords National Park is in between Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound and is another place to watch whales. The Chiswell Islands southwest of the park are a particularly good place to see minkes, orcas and humpbacks.
