In the heart of Prince William Sound and less than 25 miles east of the Columbia Glacier you will find the city of Valdez nestled beneath the Chugach Mountains. The crashing glaciers and towering mountains that rise from the sea provide a “catch your breath” kind of picturesque beauty.
Not surprisingly considering its location, Valdez has the freshest snow on earth and more than 300 inches is measured annually in the city. Nearby Thompson Pass has recorded more than 900 inches. As one might expect with this much powder, Valdez celebrates winter with alpine and cross country skiing on world class trails, as well as with snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice climbing.