Keystone Canyon Valdez, Alaska, a photo from Alaska, West

Photographer's Note

When driving into Valdez, you pass through Keystone Canyon. It is a place of spectacular waterfalls, magnificent geology and fascinating history. Keystone Canyon at miles 14 through 17 on the Richardson Highway.

From 1910 to 1916, copper and gold mining flourished in the Valdez area. There were attempts to build a railroad through the canyon and into the copper country. Rival railroad corporations fought a gun battle in the canyon to secure a right-of-way-north of valdez. A tunnel, which was built at the time, can still be seen as you drive through the canyon.

You can raft or kayak the Lowe River. You can also climb the magnificent, steep-sided, rock walls. During the winter the canyon is a popular place for ice climbing. The Valdez Goat Trail is a great place to hike. It is located at mile 13.5 in Keystone Canyon, and begins at the Bridal Veil Falls turnout.

The best known falls are Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

The road inclines to Thompson Pass just beyond the falls.

keithor, ramthakur, weswang has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

keithor (63) 2006-07-10 19:45

This is a nice landscaping photo with great POV. You also have a good reference of how huge these mountains are with the van on the side.

TFS,
Keith

ramthakur (1559) 2006-07-11 2:23

Lovely picture. Gives the feel of the place. The blank sky is a bit out of place but does not matter, considering the beauty of the earth in this view.

paulianthomas (264) 2006-07-15 14:50

Valdez was one place I never went, and you make it look so good! Doh! Do you know if this location was featured in the film 'Insomnia'? It looks like one scene. Good waterfall picture with a clear idea of scale.

weswang (18247) 2006-07-23 14:04

Hi Mae, welcome back and thank for the beautiful photo you have posted here. A well composed picture with the winding road lead us through this scenery valley. The green plants well contrasted the water fall, the river and the snow patches. It would be perfect if the sky is cooperative to add some blue colors.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2006-09-05 12:18

lovely waterfalls here with the curve in the road, very good framing too well done

cdmonson (5304) 2007-05-02 14:17

What stunning scenery! I love the waterfalls and how green everything is. This looks like a shot of Norway or New Zealand, not Alaska. Beautiful shot.

Clark