The Richardson Hwy to Valdez and the ferry to Cordova

A drive down the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Valdez takes you through the Alaska Range, the Chugach Mountains to the southwest, the Wrangells to the southeast, and past a variety of glaciers, lakes and river drainages. It is one of the most scenic routes in Alaska, but it is more often than not covered in clouds and fog, and raining -- which it was on the day we drove down.

The Delta River with the Gulkana Glacier in the background.

The Worthington Glacier.

Just one mile off the road it is the most visited site in the Copper River Basin.

Horsetail Falls is right ON the road.

Savannah in the meltwater pool of the Valdez Glacier just outside the town of Valdez.

The Valdez small boat harbor as seen from the Dock Point Trail on the edge of town.

The end of the Trans-Alska Pipline and storage tanks accross the bay from the town. The pipeline runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez and the town was the site of the disastrous Exon-Valdez oil spill. Another spectacular view from the Dock Point Trail.

A field of wild flowers on the Mineral Creek Trail near Valdez.

The ferry ride from Valdez to Cordova was spectacular even though it was overcast.

Arriving at the port of Cordova.

Gulls at the ferry dock. My only photo of "wildlife" -- not counting Savannah.

The Cordova Rose Lodge B&B

-- which I can highly recommend even though the one-lane drive off the main road I used to refer to as "suicide hill". Mark and Debbie, the managers, were fun, helpful, and incredibly understanding vis a vis the lovely Savannah.

Summer Solstice from my room -- looking across Odiak Slough.

The Child's Glacier as seen from the Million Dollar Bridge -- 50 miles outside of Cordova.

The "Million Dollar Bridge" over the Copper River -- the TRUE bridge to nowhere. The road ends a mile beyond, and there is nothing (not even a maintained trail) to Chitina -- the proposed destination of the road the locals DO NOT want.

Miles Glacier can only be seen from the bridge -- I almost missed it!

Savannah on the Pipeline Lakes Trail on the way back to Cordova from the bridge.

The Cordova small boat harbor. We were very lucky to have sun on the two days we were in town.

The town of Cordova from the small boat harbor.

View from my room the last morning -- just before catching the ferry at 8:30 am.

A trip I would definitely consider repeating!