Who we are

We are Mike and Lara Mahoney, proud residents of Cordova, Alaska, where we raise our three daughters.

With a combined 40 years of year-round living in this beautiful town, we've grown deeply connected to its natural splendor. Lara, a registered nurse at Cordova’s Ilanka Community Health Center, fell in love with the region’s pristine landscapes when she moved here in 2010. Mike, a seasoned commercial fisherman, possesses extensive knowledge of the local trails, the back country, and the waters of Prince William Sound.

Explore Cordova is our family venture, born out of our passion for this extraordinary place. Our vision is to provide safe and conscientious access to nature for all our customers, ensuring memorable and enriching experiences in the wilds of Alaska while actively working to preserve and better our community through Education, Partnerships and Restoration Projects.

Explore Cordova is an equal opportunity provider.

Our Guides

Mike Mahoney grew up in a farming family in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He graduated from University of St. Thomas with a degree in Environmental studies in 1996 and promptly moved to Alaska with big dreams and backpack. After working for the US Forest Service as a Naturalist Guide and for the Prince William Science Center doing youth education, he bought into commercial fishing in Cordova. 25 years later, after a successful career in catching wild salmon, it’s time for the next chapter. Aside from his years of operating  a commercial fishing vessel on the Copper River Flats and Prince William Sound, he has decades of experience hiking, hunting, camping, skiing, and mountaineering in Alaska. Mike loves exploring the mountains and coast and is excited to share that passion and the special place he lives with Explore Cordova’s clients.

Dana Smyke was born on the East Coast and spent part of his youth in Switzerland. After completing high school there, he returned to the US to earn university degrees in Forestry and Wildland Recreation Management. Dana has lived in Cordova for 38 years, raising his family here while working for the US Forest Service for 35 years. During his career, he was involved in building and maintaining trails and cabins throughout Eastern Prince William Sound. Now retired, Dana spends his time exploring Alaska as well as the local mountains and waters. He enjoys various outdoor activities such as climbing, back-country skiing, wild ice skating, fat tire biking, birding, hunting and fishing. Dana is eager to share the beauty and uniqueness of his backyard with visitors to Cordova.

Lee Collins was born and raised in Cordova, Alaska. Growing up he spent the summer working on his family seine boat chasing salmon in Prince William Sound. From an early age he spent time playing outdoors and later contributed to his families subsistence needs by hunting and fishing, which instilled a great respect for the natural resources this area provides. He attended college at the University of Alaska Southeast where he received a certificate in outdoor studies and leadership. Through this degree he developed valuable skills in mountaineering, rock/ice climbing and wilderness first aid. Following college he returned to Cordova full time and bought his own salmon gillnet operation and fished the Copper River and Prince William Sound areas for 12 years. Whether it’s by bicycle, back country snowboard or hiking, Lee is always exploring new places around Cordova and the Copper River Delta. His hope is to be able to offer a genuine experience as a guide with Explore Cordova.

Is Explore Cordova right for you?

Essential Eligibility Criteria:

Ground Transportation:

  • Riders must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult/guardian.

  • Riders must be able to enter and exit the shuttle bus independently or with minimal assistance.

  • Riders must be able to remain seated and use seat belts for the duration of the ride.

Guided Hikes:

  • Participants must be 18 years or older or accompanied by an adult or guardian.

  • Participants must move through scheduled tour areas independently or with the assistance of a companion.

  • Participants must understand and follow all safety guidelines provided by Explore Cordova guides.