The Alaska Marine Highway System: Travel on Alaska’s Marine Highway (AMHS)

Use the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to access the many boating and recreational opportunities found in Alaska.

What is the AMHS? – Most of Alaska’s communities are located on the coast, with many having no access to a highway road system. One of Alaska’s primary transportation systems is the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), which serves communities in Prince William Sound, Southeast and Southwest Alaska. All the routes found on the AMHS are collectively classified as an All American Road, part of America’s National Scenic Byways System administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. AMHS is administered by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Why Use the AMHS? – Using the AMHS provides independent travelers a unique way to visit the many communities of Alaska inexpensively. It is truly amazing to see the differences found in each community. Recreational opportunities are staggering and AMHS provides tariffs for alternative means of conveyance, meaning you can travel with your bike, kayak, or motorcycle to get from port to port. Many visitors use a compact car equipped with cargo racks. Small cars are easier to fit onboard crowded vessels, and more likely to successfully qualify for standby space. A traveler could spend an entire summer using the ferry system, with the longest voyage ranging up to 2,700 miles from Bellingham, Washington, to Unalaska, Alaska in the Aleutian Islands.

The AMHS operates in two large geographic divisions, Southeast Alaska through the Inside Passage and service in Southcentral Alaska extending into Prince William Sound and Southwestern Alaska along the Aleutian Islands through waters of the Gulf of Alaska.

• Inside Passage Routes – Ketchikan is usually most people’s first port of call into Alaska. Primary departure ports are located at AMHS terminals located in Bellingham, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Another option for travelers is to take advantage of the BC Ferry System operating along the coast of British Columbia. All of Southeast Alaska is located within the great Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rain forest in the world and at 17 million acres, the largest National Forest in the United States. Connections to Prince of Wales Island can be had on the Inter-Island Ferry Authority.

• Southcentral, Southwest, and Aleutian Island Routes – An oceangoing ferry named the Kennecott connects communities served by AMHS is Southeast Alaska to those across the Gulf of Alaska. Several different ferries serve the Southcentral Alaska communities of Valdez, Whittier, and Cordova located in Prince William Sound. During the summer, the new high speed ferry, Chenega plies the waters of the Sound. Visitors disembarking at Whittier can make connections further north on the Alaska Railroad The Kennecott carries passengers from Homer some thousand miles to Unalaska on the Aleutian Island chain. A number of communities are served along the route including Kodiak, Port Lions, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, and False Pass.

Consider travel on the Alaska Marine Highway System during your next vacation to Alaska. The ferry is our resident’s normal method of travel. It’s a great way to get a real feeling for the country and lives of its people. Ferry trips can facilitate any number of different hiking, kayaking, rafting, and fishing trips. The range and variety of topography is amazing. The landscape varies so much from the southern to the western parts of the State. Many travelers come up the Inside Passage on the AMHS and drive back out on the Alaska Highway through Canada. Sail away in Alaska on the Marine Highway!

Copyright © 2009 by Alan Sorum – First published at http://boatingsailing.suite101.com on 3 January 2007.