Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Ferry -- Cordova is served by ferry from Valdez and Whittier by the Alaska Marine Highway System (tel. 800/642-0066 or 907/424-7333 local dock; www.ferryalaska.com). It's a spectacular ride aboard the fast ferry Chenega. The passenger fare from Valdez is $50, from Whittier $89; children 5 to 11 pay half. Taking a vehicle under 15 feet one-way from Valdez to Cordova is $94, Whittier $105. You can also rent a car in Cordova.

By Air -- Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/426-0333; www.alaskaair.com) flies daily each direction, from Anchorage to the west and Yakutat, Juneau, and Seattle to the southeast, with more flights from Anchorage operated by Era Aviation (tel. 800/866-8394; www.flyera.com).

Getting Around

You can easily walk around downtown Cordova, but that's not where the most interesting sights are. To get out on the Copper River Highway, you'll need a car, a bus, or, if you're vigorous, a bike. Cars are for rent from Chinook Auto Rentals (tel. 877/424-5279 or 907/424-5279) at Northern Nights Inn. Taxis are available from Cordova Taxi (tel. 907/424-5151).

Water taxi and rental of bikes, kayaks, skiffs, canoes, and fishing and camping gear are available at Cordova Coastal Outfitters, south of the boat harbor near the Alaska Commercial grocery store (tel. 800/357-5145 or 907/424-7424; www.cordovacoastal.com). They also offer drop-off and pick-up service on the Copper River Highway, allowing visitors to go for a canoeing or cabin trip without renting a car. They're described in full below. To get to remote cabins and fly-in fishing, try Fishing & Flying (tel. 907/424-3325; hotflaps@ctcak.net), operated by Gayle Ranney, a warm and authentic Alaskan bush pilot.

Visitor Information

The Cordova Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (tel. 907/424-7260; www.cordovachamber.com) is at 404 1st St., north of Council Avenue (P.O. Box 99, Cordova, AK 99574). They're open Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm, with occasional Saturday hours. Besides the usual information, the center has a 60-minute recorded walking tour that you can listen to as it guides you around town.

The Cordova Ranger District of the Chugach National Forest, upstairs in the old white courthouse at 2nd Street and Browning (P.O. Box 280), Cordova, AK 99574 (tel. 907/424-7661; www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach), has displays and provides maps and guide information that's indispensable for planning outdoor activities. The staff will sit down and help you figure out what you want to do.

Special Events

The Cordova Ice Worm Festival, February 6 to 8, 2009, is a winter carnival culminating in the appearance of the big ice worm -- or, to be precise, ice centipede -- in a parade. The Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, in early May, revolves around the coming of dizzying swarms of millions of shorebirds that use the delta and beaches near the town as a migratory stopover. The whole community gets involved to host bird-watchers and put on a full schedule of educational and outdoor activities that lasts 3 days. Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival, in mid-July, includes a marathon and a music festival. For details on any of these happenings, contact the Cordova Chamber of Commerce or check their website, listed above under "Visitor Information."