Kodiak, Aleutians & SW Things To Do

Loved by locals and travelers alike, this 182-acre state park has numerous trails, beaches, and rocky viewpoints. For history buffs, the trails take you past bunkers and relics from WWII outposts in the area. You’ll also find summer naturalist programs where you can learn about ecology as well as ocean and forest creatures.

You’ll find numerous paths to follow, just  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.

Drive over Anton Larsen Pass and down the other side until you come to the Red Cloud River Bridge.  Park in the turnout to the right just beyond the bridge.  Cross the road and walk past the cottonwood trees where you'll find a faint trail leading through tall grass toward the mountains.  This trail can be hard to follow as it meanders through wet areas, thick vegetaion  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...

Located in southwestern Alaska, in one of the richest fisheries in the world, the Wood-Tikchik State Park has a great, easy to moderate float trip that is perfect for families with wilderness camping experience and for diehard fishing enthusiasts. From the furthest inland lake to Dillingham, Alaska is a 130-mile trip that involves paddling your way the length of 4 large lakes  More...

This spot sees a good number of walruses in the summertime, with more visiting in recent years. While Round Island has consistently more walruses, Cape Seniavin’s access is easier

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.

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...

Follow this trail to access silver and pink salmon fishing at Twin Creek.

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...

Open from May to September, this is the only golf course on the island. This nine-hole course features a full service pro shop and driving range; it’s operated by the U.S. Coast Guard but open to public. The course opens early and closes “two hours before sunset,” which means you’ll have the opportunity for some late rounds during summer solstice!  More...

Kodiak Island was a strategic outpost for both Russians and Americans, first used by Russians as the headquarters of the Russian American Company (now Kodiak Harbor). Take a tour at this museum with knowledgeable veterans and volunteers and learn the history of the Army and Navy on Kodiak Island and the Harbor Defenses front. Make sure you check out the eight-inch gun barrel, part of  More...

Founded in 1895 on Woody Island, the orphanage and missions were moved to town in 1937, following destruction of the original building by a fire. Part of a push to improve the living conditions and education of children in the newly formed territory of Alaska, the orphanage has morphed into a mission program that includes a food bank, after-school education, summer camps, and adventure  More...

Sheer cuts along river bank reveal a heavy volcanic ash layer from the eruption of 1912.

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 large parking area opens to trails in the summer and snowmobiling and ski terrain in the winter. The popular trail to Pyramid Mountain starts here; this is the highest mountain close to town. If you tackle this hike, you’re in for a climb, but a large portion of the trail is in the alpine, with beautiful flowers and tundra. You’ll be climbing 2,400 feet in elevation in  More...

Trailhead is at eastern end of beach.  Path winds its way up to one of the higher elevations on the island: 508 feet.  Spectacular views of Big Bay, northern Shuyak, the Barren Islands and the Katmai Mountains can be seen from the rock outcrops at the end of the trail.

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...

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...

This trail is mainly in the forest and passes some great beaver ponds.  It can be used to reach Eagle Cape trail from Mulcahy View Trail.

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

Hopefully this life-size bronze statue is the closest you’ll come to a Kodiak brown bear. The statue honors Charles Madsen, Kodiak’s pioneer-era bear-hunting guide and one of the first registered guides in Alaska. It was commissioned by his son Alf in 1957, sculpted in Seattle, housed in front of the Madsen family hotel until the 1964 earthquake and tsunami, and moved here  More...

A museum without walls, this organization has been working since 1996 to preserve and recognize the island’s maritime history. Their displays around town include 14 interpretive signs at St. Paul Harbor as well as three satellite exhibits. Check out the large, full-color panels that showcase the work of the Coast Guard, fishermen, and the species of fish they seek. The satellite  More...

This is where the walrus head from August through November, as they move north in preparation for the winter pack ice. Visit only if the walruses have already left Round Island.

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

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...

This trail will take you to silver and pink salmon fishing at Little Creek. At extreme low tides, the lagoon can be crossed to reach the 508 trailhead or salmon fishing at Big Creek.

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.

Forest trail connects the two cabins along the Carry Inlet.

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...

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.

A scenic 45-minute floatplane ride from Kodiak brings you to Uyak Bay in the remote southwest of Kodiak Island. The bears here aren’t congregated by a falls or river, but rather are spread out in the bay and among several spawning streams.  The number of bears depends on the tides, ranging from a handful of bears to as many as 20. 

During August and September, the ditch on the left of the Chiniak Highway at MP 29.0 becomes an active spawning area for salmon.

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.