Chiswell Islands

Chiswell Islands is a cluster of steep, uninhabited rock islands at the entrance to Aialik Bay, offshore in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. You see them from the water on wildlife cruises out of Seward; this isn't a drive-up stop or a trail to explore. If seabirds and sea lions are high on your list, keep it as part of the boat day, but routes vary with conditions, so don't count on every cruise making the same pass.

These hard-rock pinnacles support tens of thousands of puffins, murres and auklets. Horned puffins and Steller sea lions are among the signature wildlife here. Scan the high cliff faces for seabirds, then look down at the smoother slabs where sea lions haul out to rest, mate and give birth. You might see plenty on one pass or only catch a few; no particular animal is guaranteed.

The islands are granodiorite pinnacles rising from the sea floor. Magma cooled underground into hard rock, and storms and glacial erosion wore away softer rock around it. The result is a row of steep-sided islands that can look more like towers than beaches. That geology is part of the view, not just a backdrop for the wildlife.

Some Seward cruise itineraries include a Chiswell Islands wildlife pass, though the route depends on conditions. This is a boat-viewing experience, with no road or trail to the islands. If the boat gets a clear view, start with the full line of cliffs against open water so you can read their height and shape; zoom in on birds or sea lions afterward if the pass brings you close.