11 Amazing Things About Valdez, Alaska – America’s Snowiest Town

Everything You See is Covered in Snow

Want to visit a place where snow piles up taller than houses?

That’s Valdez, Alaska, a small town by the ocean that gets more snow than anywhere else in America, about 326 inches every year. Nearly 4,000 people call this special place home, where it changed from a Gold Rush town into a spot perfect for outdoor fun.

Let’s explore what makes Valdez so incredible, from its icy glaciers to its friendly locals.

Really, Really Snowy

You won’t believe how much snow falls here (until May, sometimes longer).

Back in 1989, Valdez got hit with 46 feet of snow, that’s taller than a two-story building. The town has special snow-moving machines that shoot snow right into the ocean, while some people have to dig tunnels just to reach their front doors.

Though the town’s infrastructure is built to endure the weather, the town still keeps 24 workers busy just moving snow around.

Skiing by Helicopter

Doug Coombs (a pioneer in extreme skiing) contributed to the growth of heli-skiing, and now it’s a huge deal.

Valdez became famous for heli-skiing during the World Extreme Skiing Championships. The Chugach Mountains around Valdez are super steep and always covered in deep, fluffy snow. It offers some of the most rugged and thrilling lines for advanced skiers.

Famous snow athletes come here every year to film their coolest tricks. Book a trip between February and April.

A Town That Moved

Ever heard of the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964? The natural disaster (magnitude 9.2) also caused a tsunami wave that destroyed the old town.

As a result, everyone decided to rebuild four miles away on safer ground. They moved more than 50 buildings (facilitated by the Army Corps of Engineers) to a new spot on the delta of Mineral Creek in three years.

Now you can visit the old town site, a historical reminder about the 33 people who died in the disaster.

Oil Central

Valdez is the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, so it’s super important.

Giant ships come here every day to pick up crude oil that travels through a huge pipeline, all the way from Prudhoe Bay to refineries in North America and Asia. The oil terminal has 14 massive tanks that could hold tons of oil.

While you can’t visit the terminal, you can learn all about it at the town’s museum, where they have cool models showing how everything works.

Amazing Ice Views

Three different floating glaciers near town put on quite a show.

At Valdez Glacier (a 20-mile iceberg), you can paddle a kayak between floating chunks of blue ice on a beautiful lake.

The Columbia Glacier (one of the most rapidly calving glaciers) drops huge ice pieces into the ocean, while the Worthington Glacier (just off the Richardson Highway) is right up close, accessible by foot.

In winter, ice caves form that look like they’re glowing from the inside.

Fantastic Fishing

Salmon is king here (literally). Since 1954, people have competed to catch the biggest silver salmon (almost 22 pounds) at the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby that runs mid-July to late August.

The derby gives away a $10,000 grand prize to the winners. Prince William Sound is super deep and full of huge fish like halibut. During summer, you can fish until almost midnight because the sun barely sets, and most fishing trips end up successful.

Wildlife Everywhere

The town is like a zoo without cages.

About 125 sea otters live near the town harbor, playing in the water while you watch from shore. From May to September, you can see Humpback whales and orcas jumping and splashing around.

Bald eagles soar overhead all year, and sea lions love to sunbathe on the floating docks at Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.

Sometimes, bears and mountain goats walk along the steep terrains on the hilltops.

Light Shows in the Sky

The Northern Lights dance in the sky here most of the year. Since there aren’t many city lights around, you can see them clearly from September to March.

Local photographers will teach you how to take pictures of the lights, and some hotels will even wake you up when the show starts. It’s unobstructed views of the aurora, right above your head.

Summer Fun Too

Valdez isn’t just snow and dance.

The summer season (late May to mid-July) kicks off outdoor recreation, featuring 40 miles of hiking trails through beautiful forests, and you can ride bikes up old mining paths along the Tonsina River area.

Every July, thousands of salmon (sockeye and pink salmon) return to the Valdez Fish Hatchery, creating an amazing sight.

The weather stays nice and cool, under the midnight sun.

Rich History

During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, thousands of people passed through Valdez looking for gold. Later, the town helped the military in World War II by handling supplies, especially after the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands.

In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened, about 25 miles from the town, which led to new rules to ensure environmental safety.

Explore the artifacts at the Valdez Museum to learn more about the Gold Rush era, the oil industry boom, and other historical events that shaped the town.

Friendly Town Life

Even with all the snow, people here know how to have fun.

They hold many festivals every year, like the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival, the Silver Salmon Derby, and Pioneer Days, among others. Local restaurants like Old Town Diner still serve classic American burgers and the seafood joints serve fish caught just hours ago, and people gather at the Pipeline Club for karaoke nights, a tradition since 1977.

The town also has plenty of indoor places to ice skate and bowl when it’s snowy outside, showing how locals make the most of winter.