Admiralty Island National Monument

Lonely Planet review

The Admiralty Island National Monument has 3641 sq km (1406 sq mi) of designated wilderness, featuring eagles, humpback whales, harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions and bears - the best bear-viewing area in Southeast Alaska is at Pack Creek, on the eastern side of the island. Angoon is the starting point for the adventurous canoe trips the area is famous for.

Admiralty is a rugged island, with mountains that rise to 1417m (4650ft) and a cover of tundra and even permanent ice fields.

You can fly in for a stay at a USFS cabin, spend time kayaking Seymour Inlet and Mitchell Bay, or arrange a bear-watching trip to Pack Creek. The most unusual adventure on the island is the Cross Admiralty Island canoe route, a 51.5km (32mi) paddle that spans the center of the island from the village of Angoon to Mole Harbor. Although the majority of the route consists of calm lakes connected by streams and portages, the 16.1km (10mi) paddle from Angoon to Mitchell Bay is subject to strong tides that challenge even experienced paddlers.