Tongass Nat’l Forest Sights & Attractions

Step back in time and learn about the history of this city through exhibits and videos of early Juneau life and local gold mining. You’ll find everything from a large relief map of Juneau to a basketry-style fish trap at least 500 years old. From October to April, there are changing exhibits featuring local artists, as well as a “hands-on history” children’s room; from October to May the museum hosts activities on some Fridays and Saturdays.

No visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up look at the Mendenhall Glacier. The Juneau Icefield's most visible ambassador, 13-mile long Mendenhall Glacier ends at Mendenhall Lake and is easily viewed from the Forest Service's historic visitor center. Here's what you'll find here:

Angoon means “isthmus town” and offers miles of beaches to explore: from sandy stretches in front of town, to clay/mud expanses and pebble and shale beaches. Go beachcombing to see what the tide brings in (most desired: Japanese glass buoys), or just to lose yourself in the sights and sounds of the natural world.

Juneau is one of only two capitols in the United States that isn’t accessed by roads—only boats and planes can reach the city. But there is a stretch of paved road that runs north from town, past Auke Bay and towards Berner’s Bay. You’ll pass the University of Southeast Alaska and the ferry terminal before getting “out” of town. It’s a great  More...

Clausen Memorial Museum assists you as you explore the beauty and bounty of the Stikine River delta, Coastal mountain glaciers and the Mitkof, Kupreanof and mainland areas. Logging and fishing for salmon, halibut, black cod, crab, shrimp and more are just some of the attractions that have drawn hard-working people to make a living in this area for at least two thousand years. Find  More...

Clan houses line Beaver Trail Road in Angoon, an area that hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years. The weather-beaten, wood-framed buildings are outward signs of a culture that has been maintained through generations.

Just off the boardwalk, Pelican Elementary School and Pelican Middle-High School are gathering places for the young people of the community. Children enjoy the playground, swings and green spaces, as well as the outdoor basketball court and school gym.

Drive out north of Kake a few miles to find a local hot spot for picnicking and watching for humpbacks in Keku Strait. This is the best place near Kake to view whales. You can see their spouts in the waters pretty close to the Point.

The Community Hall/Gymnasium, located in downtown Kake, is the most used facility in town. Here's where you could find a community gathering complete with Tlingit dancing. Or you may get a chance to watch residents in a spirited game of basketball, the city’s favorite sport. (Kake has a few state championships in its history!).

The causeway connects Japonski, Sasedni, Kirushkin, and Makhnait Islands. There are many beaches scattered along the route and beach-combing for shells is good here, but the probability of finding glass fishing floats is slim. There are underground bunkers that remain from WWII and they can be explored but use caution because they are very old. If you do plan on exploring these bunkers, use a good flashlight because within them, there are some sudden drop-offs. There is no land access to the trail, but you can access the area by hiring a water taxi or sea kayak.

Large collection of Central Yup'ik objects, part of Sam Fox (Yup'ik carver) collection, Truman Emberg papers, original Constitution of State of Alaska (with Emberg's signature), large basket collection, skin sewing & fur exhibit. Dave and Mary Carlson collection.

Mo-Fr 10am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-2pm

No admission fee, donations  More...

Built in 1959 as the National Guard Armory, the building was taken off-line in 2004.  It was empty for years, until the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly handed it off to the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council to manage as the Juneau Arts & Culture Center.  Today it provides space for artists to work and show their creations.

Once the administrative headquarters for an empire stretching from Asia to California and Hawaii, Castle Hill today is little more than a grassy hill with a few interpretive signs, a modest stonewall, several old cannons, and a few flagpoles. But when you visit the top of this hill, you’re standing on rich historic grounds. Archeological excavations have unearthed over 300,000  More...

The first few weeks of each year are a time of renewal. In Kake each January 8, residents and guests gather at the Community Hall to commemorate the anniversary of the city's 1912 incorporation (it was the first Native village to do so). Kake Day celebrates the city’s self-governance, as well as its Tlingit roots.

Alaskans love to get together. And since they’re hunkered down all winter and working all summer, festivals give them an excuse to socialize. So they’ve created parties for fish, for music, for light, for dark, for plants…you name it, there’s probably a festival for it up north. And Sitka, a historic town on the outer coast with lots of artists, has festivals  More...

Tsimshian master carver Stan Marsden led the community of Pelican in designing, carving and raising totem poles to symbolize the spirit of Pelican – an independent, close-knit fishing community. You can see their handiwork in the Unity pole in front of City Hall and in the raven and bear poles in front of Pelican High School.

No buses come by the Tenakee Bus Stop, just folks looking to trade a book or some clothing at the “take one, leave one” trading shop. The Bus Stop name is an insider’s joke in this community, where it takes just a few minutes to walk wherever you need to go.

A short boat ride to George Island brings chances to see whales and marine life along the way, followed by invertebrates at low tide and a lovely walk through a beautiful temperate rainforest to an historic site that still has gun emplacements left over from World War II.

Soak your cares away while surrounded by dramatic views of the wilderness and the Pacific Ocean. White Sulphur Springs offers both indoor and outdoor warm pools and is just a short boat ride from Pelican. This is a favorite hot spot (literally!) for kayakers, boaters, local residents and fishermen and women.

The Shamrock Building is a must-see spot in Tenakee Springs. Built in 1902, it is listed on the National Register of Historic places and has been everything from a jail, pool hall, dance hall, and senior center. These days it’s home to a local bakery that serves breakfast and lunch items. You can also browse a fine selection of local and regionally-made art.

Come to Pelican the first weekend in June to try your luck at the King Salmon Derby. June is the best time to catch a fat, sweet King, especially along the coastal waters of nearby Yakobi Island.

The highlight of this big downtown building is not the exterior, but rather the large atrium, which has great views of Douglas Island and a 1920’s pipe organ that was used in movie theaters before being moved here in 1976. Today it’s played every Friday at noon. Off the lobby, you’ll find historic photos and displays from the state library, which is located on the  More...

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Kids, dogs, visitors, floats, flags…and slugs. These are the essential components of a truly festive 4th of July celebration in Tenakee Springs, which combines a parade, good food and quirky games for both young and old(er).

Fresh veggies, tasty preserves and local artwork combine for a colorful display at Tenakee Spring’s Farmers Market. Fresh berries and baked goods are the perfect sweet treat, and a freshly-picked bouquet of local flowers will liven up any table, be it on a charter boat or in the room of your cabin or lodge.

Skagway's unique history as a vital transportation corridor and gateway to interior Alaska and the Yukon is portrayed in the artifacts, photographs and historical records of the past century. The Museum is located in the town's magnificent City Hall, this is the first stone building in Alaska, built with granite from Canada that was transported on the WP&YR  More...

Coming to Kake in the summer? Time your visit to late July/early August so you can participate in the Dog Salmon Festival, a community celebration with great food, crazy games, music, and dancing. It’s the biggest event of the year, and a time when the entire community comes together to celebrate the bounty of the land and sea.

For a small island community 800 miles from any major metropolitan area, the Ketchikan Gateway Recreation & Aquatic center is exceptional. These facilities feature enough equipment and activities to please a wide range of interests.

No visit to Tenakee would be complete without a long soak in the hot springs, whose healing properties drew the Tlingit people to this area long ago. The springs, which include a beautifully-restored bathhouse and changing room, are right in the middle of town, across from Tenakee Springs Market.

You won’t find any old buildings here, but there are great interpretive signs and numerous hiking trails at this state park. And it’s an important place—the site of the first Russian settlement on Baranof Island. The Russians built a small fort in 1799, but Tlingits, unhappy with the Russian traders, attacked it in 1802. Nearly 100 Aleuts and 20 Russians were  More...

Kake’s modest public library, located at the high school, offers public wi-fi, computers, and limited programming such as story time and yoga. When open, it’s a great place to stop and check your email or chat with Kake’s residents.

The biggest community party of the year in Pelican is the 4th of July celebration, which starts a day early with a big fireworks display late on July 3rd. Live music, quirky contests, a parade and a community picnic round out the festivities.

Explore a large, scale model of Sitka from 1867, the year the Russians transferred the Territory to the United States. View exhibits on traditional Tlingit lifestyles and see a collection of tightly woven cedar and spruce root baskets. Or learn about the town blackouts and a large-scale military buildup in Sitka during World War II. The museum is the only place in Sitka that includes  More...