Nobody mentions the starfish beach at Icy Strait Point. They should.
Below the zip line landing zone at Icy Strait Point, in front of Duck Point Smokehouse Restaurant, we found a beach covered in starfish. Not a few. Thousands, spread across the rocks at low tide, every color and size you can imagine. Our kids started picking them up and throwing them back into deeper water because they were convinced the starfish were stranded and dying.
Most people plan this stop around the cannery, the whale watching, maybe the zip line. Almost nobody mentions that beach. It ended up being the best part of the day.
Thousands of starfish, right at low tide
We found the beach almost by accident, walking down from the zip line landing zone toward Duck Point Smokehouse. Low tide had exposed a wide stretch of rock, and it was covered, genuinely covered, in starfish. Different colors, different shapes, some the size of a hand, some much bigger. They were all alive, and the kids spent a solid chunk of time gently moving the ones closest to the waterline back into the water, worried they'd dry out.
Nobody sells a "starfish beach" excursion. You just have to know it's there, and know to check the tide.
The cannery is the real draw, and it earns it
The cannery retail shops and museum are what most people actually come for, and they're worth it. We wandered through, learned real history on how the canning facility operated, and it's a genuinely interesting stop if you like knowing the story behind a place instead of just passing through it.
Eagles everywhere, whales from shore
We counted somewhere between 8 and 10 bald eagles just walking around this one stop. Not a tour, not a boat, just eagles overhead and perched around the area while we walked the beach and the docks. Icy Strait Point is well known for whale activity too, enough that people sitting on shore have reported seeing whales breach without ever getting on a boat.
Snow crab and reindeer chili at the Crab House
Past the cannery, down toward the docks, is the Crab House Restaurant. The kids split snow crab legs. Sarah and I had a couple of cocktails and tried the reindeer chili. It wasn't loaded with some wild, unexpected flavor, just a genuinely good, well-made chili that happened to be reindeer. Worth ordering if you're there.
What actually costs money here, and what doesn't
The zip line has a real price tag attached to it. But most of what made this stop memorable for us cost nothing. The beach, the starfish, the eagles, the cannery walk, all of it is free. If budget's a concern, or you've already spent on other excursions that trip, Icy Strait Point still delivers without spending another dollar.
Frequently asked questions
Are the starfish at Icy Strait Point always visible?
They're most visible at low tide, on the rocky beach below the zip line landing zone near Duck Point Smokehouse Restaurant. Check the tide schedule for your port day if seeing them is a priority.
Is the cannery museum worth visiting?
Yes. It's the main draw for a lot of visitors, and for good reason, it's free and gives real context on how the canning facility historically operated.
What should you order at the Crab House Restaurant?
Snow crab legs and the reindeer chili. The chili is subtle rather than bold, well made without an overpowering flavor.
Do you need to book anything to see wildlife at Icy Strait Point?
No. We saw 8 to 10 bald eagles just walking around the stop, and whale breaches have been reported by people watching from shore. No tour required for either.
Is Icy Strait Point worth a full day, or just a quick stop?
A full day, easily. Between the cannery, the whale watching, the starfish beach, and the food, this is one of the stops where slowing down pays off more than rushing through a single excursion.
If you're planning an Alaska cruise and want an itinerary that gives stops like Icy Strait Point the real time they deserve, that's exactly what I help families build. Reach out and we'll put together the right pace for your trip.