Things to do in Petersburg
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Petersburg Mountain Trail
On Kupreanof Island, the 3½-mile Petersburg Mountain Trail climbs to the top of Petersburg Mountain (2750ft), which offers views of Petersburg, the Coast Mountains, glaciers and Wrangell Narrows. Plan on five hours for the round-trip. To get across the channel, go to the skiff float at the North Boat Harbor and hitch a ride with somebody who lives on Kupreanof Island. On the Kupreanof side, head right on the overgrown road toward Sasby Island.
You can also call Tongass Kayak Adventures, which runs hikers across the channel for a charge.
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LeConte Glacier
The most spectacular paddle in the region is to LeConte Glacier, 25 miles east of Petersburg. It's North America's southernmost tidewater glacier. From town, it takes three to four days to reach the frozen monument, including crossing Frederick Sound north of Coney Island. The crossing should be done at slack tide, as winds and tides can cause choppy conditions.
If the tides are judged right, and the ice is not too thick, it's possible to paddle far enough into LeConte Bay to camp within view of the glacier.
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Thomas Bay
- Petersburg, USA
- Sights › Bay
Almost as impressive as LeConte Glacier is Thomas Bay, 20 miles from Petersburg and north of LeConte Bay on Frederick Sound's east side. The bay features a pair of glaciers, including Baird Glacier, where many paddlers spend a day hiking. The mountain scenery surrounding the bay is spectacular, and the area holds three USFS cabins: Swan Lake Cabin, Spurt Cove Cabin and Cascade Creek Cabin. All require reservations. Paddlers need to allow four to seven days for the round-trip out of Petersburg.
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Three Lakes Loop Trails
Along Three Lakes Rd, a USFS road heading east off Mitkof Hwy at Mile 13.6 and returning at Mile 23.8, are Three Lakes Loop Trails, a series of four short trails that total 4.5 miles. At Mile 14.2 is a 3-mile loop with boardwalks leading to Sand, Crane and Hill Lakes, all known for good trout fishing. Sand Lake has a free-use shelter. From the Sand Lake Trail, a 1½-mile trail leads to Ideal Cove on Frederick Sound.
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North Boat Harbor
The North Boat Harbor is the best one for wandering the docks, talking to crews and possibly even scoring some fresh fish. Begin at the Harbormaster Office where a wooden deck provides a picturesque overview of the commercial fleet and has a series of interpretive panels that will teach you the difference between purse seine and a long-liner.
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Viking Travel
For a large selection of area tours, head to Viking Travel, which acts as a clearinghouse for just about every tour in town. Possibilities include an easy four-hour kayak trip around the harbor, a four-hour boat tour to LeConte Glacier, an eight-hour whale-watching tour and a helicopter flightseeing tour with a glacier walk.
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Raven Trail
The 4-mile Raven Trail begins at the water tower on the airport's southeast side (accessible from Haugen Dr). It crosses muskeg areas on a boardwalk, then climbs to beautiful open alpine areas at 2000ft. Some sections are steep and require a little scrambling. The trail eventually leads to the USFS Raven's Roost Cabin.
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Bojer Wikan Fishermen's Memorial Park
Along Sing Lee Alley is Bojer Wikan Fishermen's Memorial Park. This deck of a park is built on pilings over Hammer Slough and is a monument honoring local fishers lost at sea. Also on display is the Valhalla, a replica of a Viking ship that was built in 1976 and purchased by Petersburg two years later.
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Hungry Point Trail
Within town is the 0.7-mile Hungry Point Trail that begins at the ball field at the end of Excel St and cuts across muskeg. The gravel path keeps your feet dry, but surrounding you are stunted trees so short you have a clear view of Petersburg's mountainous skyline. The trail ends at Sandy Beach Rd.
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MV LeConte
Even travelers counting their coins can enjoy a little whale watching by riding the MV LeConte when it makes its run between Sitka and Juneau. Whales are often spotted on board along this route, particularly at the mouth of Port Frederick on Icy Strait where the ferry heads in for Hoonah.
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Frederick Sound
In recent years, whale watching has become a popular trip out of Petersburg. From mid-May to mid-September humpback whales migrate through and feed in Frederick Sound with the peak feeding period in July and August. Other wildlife that can be spotted includes Steller's sea lions, orcas and seals.
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Tonka Seafoods
A boutique processor that sells fresh salmon, delightful smoked fish and ready-to-eat Petersburg shrimp. If you're really intrigued about seafood processing there's also an hour-long tour of its small cannery operation at 13:30 Monday to Saturday that ends with a seafood sampling.
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Stick Dog Tours
To see the rest of Mitkof Island and enjoy a little freshwater fishing and possibly even catch a 20lb salmon, contact Stick Dog Tours. On its four-hour fishing adventure you travel by van to the guide's favorite streams and fishing holes off the road. All equipment is provided.
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Northern Lights Restaurant
This reliable standby offers steak, chicken, seafood and pasta, which can be enjoyed to a view of the busy boat harbor. The seafood platter has halibut, crab cakes and a half-pound of shrimp, all of it locally caught, none of it deep-fried.
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Sons of Norway Hall
Sons of Norway Hall is the large white building with the colorful rosemaling built in 1912 and the center for Petersburg's Norwegian culture. Come on down and play bingo at 19:00 on Saturday; 'O-32,' ja shore you betcha.
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Tina's Kitchen
From this small shack comes some good food and great prices. Tina's Korean beef sticks are wonderful: marinated, grilled slices of steak served with steamed rice and kimchi. Also burritos, hamburgers and outdoor tables.
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Whale Song Cruises
Most charter-boat operators in town offer a full-day, eight-hour whale-watching tour. Among them is Whale Song Cruises which is equipped with a hydrophone so you can listen to the whales as well as see them.
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Kaleidoscope Cruises
Most charter-boat operators in town offer a full-day, eight-hour whale-watching tour. Among them is Kaleidoscope Cruises, run by Barry Bracken, a marine biologist who focuses on eco-education.
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Blind River Rapids Boardwalk
At Mile 14.5 of the Mitkof Hwy is the easy mile-long Blind River Rapids Boardwalk that winds through muskeg to the rapids, a scenic area and a popular fishing spot in June for king salmon.
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Sing Lee Alley
Heading south, Harbor Way passes Middle Boat Harbor and turns into Sing Lee Alley. This was the center of old Petersburg, and much of the street is built on pilings over Hammer Slough.
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Sandy Beach Recreation Area
- Petersburg, USA
- Sights › Beach
From downtown, Nordic Dr heads north on a scenic route that ends at Sandy Beach Recreation Area. This beautiful day-use area features Tlingit petroglyphs, visible at low tide.
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Petersburg Fisheries
Walk north along the waterfront to see Petersburg Fisheries, the original outfit founded by Peter Buschmann in 1900; today it's a subsidiary of Seattle's Icicle Seafoods.
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Petersburg Lake Trail
Petersburg Lake Trail is a 10½-mile trail in the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness on Kupreanof Island leading to the USFS Petersburg Lake Cabin.
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Sing Lee Alley Books
In a former boardinghouse built in 1929, this delightful bookstore has five rooms of books including an impressive selection of Alaska-based material.
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Beachcomber Inn
This wonderful restaurant is built on pilings over the sea so every table has a fabulous maritime-and-mountain view.
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