Things to do in Prince Of Wales Island
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El Capitan Cave
At El Capitan Cave, 11 miles west of Whale Pass, you can take a free, two-hour, ranger-led cave tour offered at 09:00, noon and 14:00 from Thursday through Saturday in summer. Tours are limited to six people and involve a 370-step stairway trail. Contact the USFS Thorne Bay Ranger Station for reservations (required at least two days in advance; no children under 7).
One of the most unusual aspects of POW's geology is the broad cave system found in the north end of the island. The karst formation is an area of eroded limestone concealing underground streams and caverns, and it includes more than 850 grottos and caves. The caves received national attention in the mid-1990s …
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Beaver Falls Karst Trail
The short, wheelchair-accessible Beaver Falls Karst Trail offers an above ground caving experience - its boardwalk leads past sinkholes, pits, underground rivers and other typical karst features.
One of the most unusual aspects of POW's geology is the broad cave system found in the north end of the island. The karst formation is an area of eroded limestone concealing underground streams and caverns, and it includes more than 850 grottos and caves. The caves received national attention in the mid-1990s when paleontologists from the University of South Dakota discovered the remains of a man dating back 9500 years in one, and the almost perfect remains of a brown bear that d…
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Cavern Lake Cave
Cavern Lake Cave features an observation deck allowing visitors to peer into the cave's mouth at the gushing stream inside.
One of the most unusual aspects of POW's geology is the broad cave system found in the north end of the island. The karst formation is an area of eroded limestone concealing underground streams and caverns, and it includes more than 850 grottos and caves. The caves received national attention in the mid-1990s when paleontologists from the University of South Dakota discovered the remains of a man dating back 9500 years in one, and the almost perfect remains of a brown bear that dated 45,000 years in another. Both let scientists speculate how the last…
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Alaska Kustom Kayaks
Mountain bikes can be rented in Klawock from Alaska Kustom Kayaks and then taken on any road to explore the island. One of the most scenic roads to bike is South Beach Rd (also known as Forest Rd 30) from Thorne Bay to Coffman Cove. It's a 37-mile ride along the narrow, winding dirt road that is often skirting Clarence Strait. Along the way is Sandy Beach Picnic Area (Mile 6 Sandy Beach Rd), an excellent place to see humpback whales, orcas and harbor seals offshore or examine intriguing tidal pools at low tides.
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Prince of Wales Hatchery
The Prince of Wales Hatchery was established in 1897 and today is the second-oldest one in Alaska. The present facility was built in 1976 and raises coho, king and sockeye salmon as well as steelhead trout. On site is a visitors center, aquarium and gift shop where fresh coho is often for sale. You can explore the operations on a self-guided tour or join a free guided tour from 13:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday.
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Klawock Totem Park
Of the three totem parks on POW, the Klawock Totem Park is by far the most impressive and obviously a great source of community pride. Situated on a hill overlooking the town's cannery and harbor, Klawock's 21 totems are the largest collection in Alaska and make for a scenic, almost dramatic setting. The totems are either originals from the former village of Tukekan or replicas.
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Kayaking
For a day of kayaking depart from Klawock and paddle into Big Salt Lake, where the water is calm and the birding is excellent. Alaska Kustom Kayaks rents kayaks as well as canoes. It also offers transportation and guided day trips for kayakers.
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Balls Lake Hiking Trail
To the north the Balls Lake Trail begins in the Balls Lake Picnic Area just east of Eagle Nest Campground and winds 2.2 miles around the lake.
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