Kodiak, Aleutians & SW Things To Do

Take a short floatplane ride from Kodiak to the destination lake of the island's second-largest sockeye run.  You'll hike 3/4 of a mile to a viewing area overlooking the falls and fish ladder. The bears know there’s a feast to be had, so during peak times, it’s normal to see five to ten bears roaming around at a time.

This is a very scenic and easy hike with great birding and flower viewing. During April and early May this is a prime location to view migrating gray whales. You can choose to make a short hike out of it or an all day excursion. Drive past the Road's End restaurant on a narrow, potholed road to a creek going under the road through a large culvert. This is Chinak Creek. Pink  More...

The brown bears here feed on razor clams on the beach, and are consistently spotted all summer. There are males, females with cubs and juveniles, and they roam from grazing on sedges and beaches to fishing for salmon in the rivers. It is common to see a handful, and not unheard of to see 12.

Whether you’re looking for a campsite or fishing hole, glassing for birds, watching for bears, or beachcombing, this recreation site is a great spot to experience the wonders of Kodiak Island without traveling too far. There are camping sites for everything from tents to large RVs, which are given on a first-come, first-served basis with prices from $10-$28. There are also  More...

It’s rare when a National Wildlife Refuge has an amazing visitor center, but this one is a must-see. Kids and adults will love the displays, including the complete skeleton of a grey whale. You can learn about the grey whale migration from Baja to the Bering Sea, the food they eat, their evolutionary developments, and the seven-year process of discovering and transporting the  More...

Popular with Asian executives and workers visiting Dutch Harbor, the place serves up surprisingly good Chinese food, and they have a very fresh sushi bar. The ambience and décor is quite nice; it doesn't feel like a place in a remote fishing town in the middle of the ocean. The place has a good reputation, and it lives up to it. Sometimes they host karaoke!

Easy Trail.  Also leads to junctions of Neketa Hump and Eagle Cape Trails.

The Kanektok River is located in the Togiak National Wildlife Reserve of Southwest Alaska and flows westward 85 miles from Pegati Lake and into the Bering Sea at the city of Quinhagak. It starts in the scenic Ahklun Mountains then spills out across the Kuskokwim lowlands and is a fly fisherman's paradise. It is a world class fishing destination and sees quite a bit of fishing  More...

The town’s most recognizable building, with iconic blue onion-like cupolas capped by crosses, this cathedral was established in 1794. That’s the year Russian monk St. Herman arrived in Kodiak. A benevolent force in the colonization and exploitation of the Aleuts and Alutiiqs, he was known for his care of the sick and dying during Western-introduced epidemics, as well as  More...

Old Womens Mountain hike provides great views of Chiniak Bay, the Coast Guard base and Kodiak city and harbor.  The surrounding mountain scenery is breathtaking.  About 1/2 mile south of the airport road, take a right turn on the paved road up to "Aviation Hill."  Turn left at the entrance to the subdivision and park at the end of the road behind the Coast Guard Loran  More...

An assortment of homes and cabins dots the road for the next two miles and comprises the town of Chiniak. Originally a native Alutiiq outpost, the population here exploded during WWII, following construction of a road from Olds River. The Army, Navy, and Air Force have based operations here, with workers living in Quonset huts and military housing. But following the closure of the  More...

This rocky, mountainous and remote island is Alaska’s best place for observing and photographing Pacific walruses as they rest on the rocky shorelines in the hundreds or even thousands during summer.  Visiting is only for the adventuresome as it involves travel in small planes and boats, and overnight stays on the island involve camping in a remote setting; but for those willing, it is an unparalleled wildlife and wilderness experience.

Take the left fork in the road after the bridge and follow it down to the Trident Basin floatplane harbor.   Park your car there and walk back up the road a little way until you see a small turnout on the south side of the road.  The trail begins here.  This is an unimproved trail, and although rough and a bit muddy in places, it is well worth the effort.   More...

Used during WWII and up to 1967, this airstrip was a remote “dispersal” station for planes, in case of an attack or bad weather. There are no buildings out here anymore, but the strip is still partially cleared with the old metal grate plankings of the runway still in place.

Enjoy hiking, camping, & picnicking on this remote beach.

For a gentle stroll on a surfaced path, Kodiak's Biking & Walking Path begins at the corner of Benny Benson and Rezenof Road, and parallels Rezanof northward 2 miles to the entrance to Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.  This is a relatively flat path used by joggers dog walkers, bikers and walkers, that travels past Mill Bay Beach, a French pastry and coffee shop and the  More...

This was the largest base on Kodiak Island during WWII, and the center of the Harbor Defenses for Kodiak. At the peak, some 8,000 troops were stationed here. Now all that remains are some unmarked buildings.

The Alagnak river, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River that originates in Katmai National Park and Preserve, is a fisherman's paradise and the most popular fishing float trip in the Bristol Bay region. From it's headwaters at Kukaklek or Nonvianuk Lake, it is a 75 mile Class I and II river with one Class III canyon that is a mile long and has a short falls, not  More...

This area, just 40-minutes by floatplane from Kodiak, was recently re-opened to the public, and restrictions are strong. There is a four-day minimum stay and an 6-person limit for those hoping to access the amazing 1.5 mile stretch of river connecting Karluk and O’Malley Lakes.  The river fills with sockeye salmon, attracting brown bears from miles around.

One of the few dining options in Sand Point, the Harbor Café serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner from a large menu, with rotating specials. Alaska seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pork chops, chicken dishes…they cook it all. It's the only way to make it as a restaurant in such a small, remote place. Always cook new stuff, make it good, affordable with large  More...

A six-mile round-trip hike that climbs to just over 2,000 feet, this climb will get you great views of Women’s Bay and the rolling mountains of the island. Park your car at the Salonie Creek Bridge. Walk back and across the road, and you’ll find a four-wheeler trail—this is the trailhead. The hike crosses some boggy, wetland areas, so bring appropriate footwear.  More...

The Pasagshak State Park provides a spectacular setting for anglers, beachcombers, hikers, and explorers. There is developed camping for both tent and RV campers, a boat launch, two modern pit toilets, and numerous picnic sites.    

Hike these scenic ridges and lush meadows

Mayflower Beach is a black sand and stone beach with views across the bay to forested hills and mountains. Listen to the waves crash against the shore and smell the fresh ocean smell. Beachcombing, picnicking, & hiking are all great things to do in this area.

Surrounded by volcanoes, Airplane flats is a remote beach on the Aleutian Peninsula. It is the most westerly location on the Aleutian chain one can reach that is still connected to the mainland.

Watch for cattle as you drive through open range. You can admire the views from the bridge, or take the trail up Sharatin Cirque & Mountain and explore flowery slopes and signs of wildlife, including Mountain Goats, Pipits, and Ptarmigan.

This trail provides access to the open tundra areas of Eagle Cape. The marked trail ends just past edge of forest and if you continue you'll get spectacular views of the Katmai Mountains and Afognak Island.

Perhaps the crown jewel of Alaska bear viewing, McNeil River has only 13 permits available each day and requires a floatplane trip from Anchorage or Homer.  This location is spectacular because getting a permit means the possibility of seeing up to 70 bears at a time, gathered around the falls fishing.  Nearly 150 bears frequent the area throughout the summer! 

The mountain range to the right is Devil’s Prongs and Barometer Mountain is to the left.  

To silver and pink salmon fishing at Twin Creeks. Note: Neketa Hump floods at high tide and may not be fordable at extreme high tides.  Western Twin Creek is fordable at low tide; at high tide follow alternate route.

Just beyond Mill Bay Beach is a lovely improved trail that starts a short way up Antone Way on the left.  There is a nice parking area and trailhead sign.  The trail parallels Island Lake Creek, which tumbles steeply through the woods over falls and boulders.  This is a good place to see dippers, as well as forest birds such as winter wrens, varied thrush, chickadees,  More...

This trail leads to a wide beach on the outer coast. Afognak Island and the Katmai Mountains can be seen from there on clear days.

Good sushi in a great setting. The exterior is drab, the interior isn't special, but the view overlooking the channel is lovely—fishing boats and sea lions. With Alaska seafood coming in fresh, the sushi is great. It may not be up to snuff if you're visiting from a major metropolis, but the salmon, sablefish, halibut and crab is really good. The seaweed salad is a great starter,  More...

Remote and exotic landscape

Class III

5 days/4 nights

30 miles hiking, 30 miles floating. Fly-in to Port Heiden, fly-out from Aniakchak Bay

Port Heiden

This is a quick hike to do. You can get great views of the surrounding area and to the top in less than an hour. There is also a spur trail within 200 feet of the trailhead. It can get wet during the spring because of the snow runoff.