The AWF field site is in Southeast Alaska, the area also known as the "Panhandle" of Alaska. Southeast Alaska is the official name of a recognized region of Alaska. It is defined in the north by the following the same border south that divides Yukon and Alaska. The southern border is the southernmost tip of the Panhandle.

The islands off the coast of Southeast Alaska are the northernmost islands of the Alexander Archipelago, which extends from Puget Sound in Washington to Alaska. The waterways that are shielded from the Gulf of Alaska by the islands are known as the "Inside Passage." This is a popular area for scenic recreational cruises and ecotours.

Above is a closer view of Southeast Alaska with major towns and cities labeled on the map. Note that Glacier Bay National Park, is the branched waterway north of Elfin Cove. AWF's larger vessel, Evolution, is berthed in Petersburg when it is not being used for research. AWF performs field work primarily in central Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound; these waterways are labeled on the map to the right.