Every summer, just outside Valdez, the shoreline of Allison Point comes alive with one of Alaska’s most incredible wildlife shows. The Valdez Fish Hatchery, located across the bay at Solomon Gulch, releases millions of young salmon into Prince William Sound each year and by mid to late summer, those fish return in staggering numbers.

The result? A feeding frenzy that draws not just anglers, but an entire cast of Alaska’s wildest residents.

Millions of Salmon Return Home

The Solomon Gulch Hatchery, operated by the Valdez Fisheries Development Association, releases around 230 million pink and coho salmon smolts annually. When those fish mature after a few years in the ocean, they return to the same spot to spawn, guided by the faint imprint of the water where they were born.

By July and August, the waters around Allison Point churn with activity. Thousands upon thousands of salmon crowd the shoreline, flashing silver beneath the surface as they make their final journey home. From the road, you can see schools so thick they seem to turn the water black.

For locals and visitors alike, it’s one of Alaska’s great summer traditions—casting a line at midnight under the endless twilight, surrounded by the sound of splashing fish and the cries of seabirds overhead.

A Feast for Alaska’s Wildest Guests

The hatchery’s massive salmon returns don’t just attract fishermen they draw an entire food chain.

Harbor Seals and Sea Lions

Harbor seals patrol the shallows, darting between the rocks to snatch salmon from the swarms. Sea lions, sometimes weighing over a thousand pounds, roll and dive through the schools with incredible power. Out beyond the point, you might even spot a humpback whale surfacing, drawn to the abundance of food in the bay.

Bears Along the Shoreline

And along the shoreline, bears come down from the forested slopes to fish right alongside humans. It’s not unusual to see one quietly working the waterline, pawing at salmon or dragging a catch up the rocks to eat.

It’s a moment where Alaska’s wild world comes together—people, predators, and prey—all bound by the salmon.

More Than a Hatchery

How the Solomon Gulch Hatchery Rebuilt the Fishery

The Valdez Fish Hatchery was built in the early 1980s after the collapse of wild pink salmon runs in Prince William Sound. The goal was to rebuild the population and support the local fishing economy—and it worked.

Today, the hatchery sustains both commercial and sport fisheries, while also fueling the marine ecosystem. The salmon that return to spawn feed not only people but countless wildlife species and even enrich the coastal environment when they die, providing nutrients that support everything from plankton to forests.

The Best Time to Visit

The peak of the salmon return at Allison Point typically runs from mid-July through late August, with pink salmon filling the water by the millions. Coho (silver) salmon follow a little later, often into September.

Even if you’re not fishing, it’s worth the stop. Walk the shoreline, watch the seals and sea lions hunt in the surf, and take in one of the most spectacular and accessible wildlife events in Alaska.

Experience the Salmon Run with Denali Backroads

Allison Point is more than a fishing spot it’s a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest cycles. Whether you’re casting a line for silver salmon, photographing the sea lions in action, or simply taking in the view of Valdez Arm beneath the Chugach Mountains, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Book your Denali Backroads adventure today, and witness the return of the salmon—where the sea, the mountains, and Alaska’s wildest creatures all come together.