Cook Inlet
Anchorage, Alaska
Named after famed European explorer, Captain James Cook, the Cook Inlet stretches from Anchorage to the Gulf of Alaska and offers stunning coastal scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities galore. At its northern end, the Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and the Turnagain Arm, which together almost completely surround the city of Anchorage.
Some of the best views of the Cook Inlet can be seen from Anchorage. Head out on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which follows the Anchorage coastline along the Cook Inlet or gaze out at the sea from the top of Flattop Mountain, Anchorage’s most frequently climbed peak.
Many tours of the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet set out from Anchorage and visit top Alaska attractions like the Alyeska Resort, Portage Glacier, and Beluga Point Lookout, where you can spot whales and view the rare Turnagain Arm bore tide. Scenic flight excursions provide an aerial view of the Alaska coastline, while charter boats offer salmon and halibut fishing trips in the Cook Inlet.
- First-time Anchorage visitors won’t want to miss a Cook Inlet tour.
- Best chances to see wildlife are at Beluga Point, Bird Point, and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.
- Learn about the rich cultural history and geography of the Cook Inlet region at the Anchorage Museum.
- Cook Inlet tours may be wheelchair accessible; consult the tour agency prior to booking.
The Cook Inlet extends 180 miles (290 kilometers) from Anchorage out to the Gulf of Alaska. Beluga Point is just 18 miles (24 kilometers) south of downtown Anchorage via the Seward Highway, which hugs the coast of the Turnagain Arm for 125 miles (200 kilometers). The Knik Arm can be viewed along the Glenn Highway north of Anchorage.
The Cook Inlet can be visited year-round, but many Turnagain Arm tours are only offered during the summer months. Winter tours often feature visits to frozen waterfalls and the Mt. Alyeska ski area. For your best chance of spotting whales in the Cook Inlet, visit early spring through fall. Wildflowers typically peak in mid-July.
Beluga whales are found throughout Arctic and subarctic waters and the Cook Inlet belugas are the most isolated and genetically distinct of the Alaskan belugas. Sadly the Cook Inlet beluga whale population is in decline and no one knows exactly why. The whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, yet it’s not uncommon to see them south of Anchorage along the Turnagain Arm.
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