The City of Cordova, which is more of a small town in Alaska, is an underrated destination that should be experienced by all adventure travelers. Nestled between mountains and the sea, this is the perfect place to see some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife and hike to some stunning viewpoints.
In this area many adventurers think about visiting Valdez, but Cordova is it’s less explored cousin, without the cruise ships and away from the road system, it’s less visited and the perfect off grid, adventure getaway.
What is Cordova known for?
You may not know it but they are well known for their Copper river salmon. In the Pacific Northwest, it is a big deal when that fish hits the stores and it is tasty.
Getting there
There are only a few ways to get into Cordova, fly or take the state ferry. If you are going to fly, there are flights into Cordova connecting through Anchorage or what is called the “milk run”, which stops at 4 different locations between Seattle and Anchorage.
I would recommend getting a window seat (ask the flight attendant which side is better, because one side is ocean and the other is glorious mountain peaks).
Cordova is not on the state’s main road system, so the location remains pretty rural and relies heavily on the flights for picking up supplies and also for things like veterinary care for their pets.
Best time of year to visit
Alaskan winters are tough and dark. The days are extremely short and the weather is tough. Many restaurants and shops will either close completely or greatly shorten there hours during the winter months. Therefore, it is best to visit during the summer months, unless you plan to go heliskiing, then I would recommend going closer to the end of the season to take advantage of both the hiking and the heliskiing.
Top restaurants
The restaurants in Cordova are all within the Cordova center and are few and far between. If you arrive in the off season, many will be closed until spring.
Jen’s Pizzeria
Address: 131 Harbor Loop Rd, Cordova, AK 99574
If you want some good wood fired pizza Jen’s is the place to go. They have a huge variety of pizzas with vegetarian options available. Their menu does say they offer a gluten free pizza crust, but during my visit they were having difficulty getting crusts in and so they were unavailable. Just ask.
The pizza was delicious and worth the wait.
Copper River Brewing
Address: 507 1st St, Cordova, AK 99574
This is the most consistently open place in town. They have a small food menu, but the bread for their sandwiches is amazing. I recommend the pulled pork or the BLT. I was told the vegetarian option was also delicious.
They also have a decent beer menu and the beer is good.
Baja Taco
Address: 137 Harbor Loop Rd, Cordova, AK 99574
This is an extremely popular spot in the summer. It’s right next to the marina and is closed during winter. Locals get really excited about this spot when it opens in spring. Unfortunately, it was closed during my visit and I wasn’t able to try it out.
The Reluctant Fisherman
Address: 407 Railroad Ave, Cordova, AK 99574
This is more of a sit down, fancier option with a lot of fresh seafood on the menu. Prices are a little higher here but a popular place to go for drinks or a really good seafood meal.
Food trucks next to Alaskan hotel and Bar
Address: 602 1st St, Cordova, AK 99574
There are three food trucks located next to the Alaskan hotel. One does paninis and another does poke and I am not sure what the third one offers. You can sit outside at the picnic tables or take your food over to the Alaskan to have with a drink.
The Little Cordova Bakery
Address: 201-203 Breakwater Ave, Cordova, AK 99574
If you are looking for a higher quality coffee shop with some incredibly fresh baked goods, this is the spot. It’s also right on a part of the marina you can walk down to spot sea otters.
*Restaurant tip: if you are not there in the summer and things are not fully open, do not trust what google says. More times than not I went to a place and found it closed when google said it was open. The town is small enough that it’s an easy walk around to find out who is open and who is not.
Top things to do in Cordova
Ilanka Cultural Center
Address: 1st St, Cordova, AK 99574
Located along the main street of Cordova, the Ilanka Cultural Center displays the native culture that has thrived here since before Alaska was Alaska. There are some historical artifacts, including the Totem pole that was created after the Exxon Valdez oil spill showcasing how the hunt for oil destroyed a thriving ecosystem and ripped the hearts out of the native peoples. It’s extremely moving to see this piece of history on display.
The center also serves as a small gift shop with handmade items from the native community.
Cordova historical museum
Address: 601 1st St, Cordova, AK 99574
This is a great place to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of Alaska. I had no idea that Alaska was first “discovered” by the Russians, who then exploited and effectively destroyed the lives of the native peoples who called that land home. It was then sold to the US in 1867 for $7.2 million.
There is also historical items showcasing the decimation of the sea otters as fur traders hunted them almost to extinction for their coats. Thankfully, this was banned and the sea otters have made a roaring comeback and can be seen everywhere in Prince William Sound.
Chugach National Forest
If you are looking for some hikes to see the glaciers, the Chugach National Forest is the place to go and is often devoid of snow in late March early April (though that is highly year dependent). The Chugach Mountains offer a dramatic natural setting surrounding the Sheridan glacier.
There are two trails that I recommend here. The Sheridan glacier lake trail, which is a short (approximately 1 mile) fairly flat and well maintained trail to Sheridan Lake, where you get stunning views of Sheridan Glacier. Locals will skate on the ice in winter and paddle the glacial lake in kayaks or paddleboards in the summer around the icebergs.
The Sheridan mountain trail is a bit more challenging, but leaves from the same parking lot. It is a 2.8-mile trail that goes through spruce-hemlock forest with waterfalls. As you get closer to the ridge, the environment becomes more scrub and at the ridge you get amazing views of the Sheridan and Sherman glaciers as well as the Copper River Delta.
Orca adventure lodge
Address: 2500 Orca Rd, Cordova, AK 99574
If you are looking for a guided tour for fly fishing or heliskiing, the Orca adventure lodge is the only outfit in town. But it is also one of the best ways, and maybe one of the only ways, to get deep into the pristine wilderness and the mountains (including the mountains surrounding Valdez).
Hike the ski hill trail
If you don’t have an easy way to get out of town to hike some of the nearby trails, make sure to check out the skill hill trail. Located right in town, if you can have someone drive you to the start that will make the climb easier, otherwise it’s a pretty significant elevation gain once you add the walk to the start of the trail.
Once you arrive at the ski hill you will see the world’s oldest running single chair lift, which the town bought from Idaho. In my opinion, I would never get on this chair, but it’s cool to see. You can then hike along the ski trails to the top of the lift for 360 degree views of the valley below. If a chair is in a good position, you could even sit on it for the classic ski hill photo.
Be aware that if you hike here before the snow is gone, you will encounter snow on the hike up, so wear appropriate footwear.
Childs Glacier
At the time of writing this the Copper River Highway has a bridge out, with no plans for repair, making getting to this glacier virtually impossible. But if things change, this one is worth seeing. For more information check out the Chugach National Forest site for the latest updates.
Eyak River trail
Also located in the Chugach National Forest, is the Eyak River trail. This 2.9-mile trail has a multitude of different ecosystems from Sitka spruce forest to delta habitat of dense alder and grasses.
Saddlebag glacier trail
Located at mile 24.6 along the Copper River Highway (check for closures due to bridge collapse) is a 6.2 mile out and back easy hike to a beautiful glacial lake and of course another glacier (did I mention that this area is full of them?). So, depending on how much time you have, there are several distance options that take you to a variety of extremely beautiful glaciers.
Wildlife viewing around Cordova
Cordova is truly a wildlife hot spot where you can see sea otters, bald eagles, brown bear and black bears, trumpeter swans (I found this really surprising), and a ton of local marine life including various species of whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. So make sure to bring a good camera!
Also, brown bears are plenty in this area and you should always carry bear spray with you when hiking. All the locals have it in their trucks they are that prevalent.
Concluding thoughts
Cordova is the best place for seriously good outdoor activities, from heliskiing to hiking to fishing, there is plenty to do in this small town and worth a stop and a few days.
If you are looking for more unique places to check out see my guide to Sao Jorge, Azores for a more tropical underrated destination.
