Excursion Inlet is a large saltwater inlet on the west coast of Lynn Canal in Alaska, approximately 38 miles northwest of Juneau. The inlet forks into distinct east and west arms, with the west arm falling within Glacier Bay National Park while the east arm is outside the park boundary. This creates a varied shoreline, with the east arm featuring a public dock, a seafood processing plant, private homes, and a small store called Coho General Mercantile, while the west arm offers a more undeveloped, park-like setting. A notable launch point for paddlers is the public dock in the east arm, though one report notes its condition appears better from a distance than up close. From this area, paddlers can explore the inlet's arms, including Sawmill Bay, a cove within the west arm that offers a scenic and protected anchorage. The tidal range at the entrance to Excursion Inlet is significant, with high tides frequently exceeding 14 feet and low tides dropping to negative values, indicating a very large vertical change that generates strong currents, particularly at the inlet's mouth where it meets Icy Strait. Paddlers must plan crossings and travel with careful attention to these tidal stages. The crossing of Icy Strait from points like Hoonah, a distance of over 25 miles, is a major open-water passage exposed to weather and swell. Within the inlet, conditions are generally more protected, but wind can funnel down the long fjords. Wildlife is abundant, with humpback whales frequently seen both in Icy Strait and foraging along the shores inside the inlet. The area has historical significance, with remnants of a cannery and a former WWII prisoner of war encampment site near the public dock. There are no indicated restrictions on paddling, but paddlers should be aware of the jurisdictional boundary of Glacier Bay National Park in the west arm. The nearest major services and medical facilities are in Gustavus or Juneau.