Activities in Southeast Alaska
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Denver Glacier Trail
This trail begins at Mile 6 of the White Pass & Yukon Route, where the USFS has renovated a White Pass & Yukon Route caboose into the Denver Caboose, a rental cabin of sorts. The trailheads up the east fork of Skagway River for 2 miles, then swings south and continues another 1½ miles up the glacial outwash to Denver Glacier. Most of the trail is overgrown with brush, and the second half is particularly tough hiking.
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Alaska Fjordlines
Offers a day cruise to Juneau aboard the fast Fjordland, a 65ft catamaran. Continental breakfast is served on the way down, and on arrival in Juneau, passengers transfer to a bus for a tour of Mendenhall Glacier and the city. You're on your own there for lunch, then a light dinner is served onboard during the return trip.
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Perseverance Trail
Perseverance Trail off Basin Rd is Juneau's most popular city center trail and provides access to two other popular treks: Mt Juneau Trail and Granite Creek Trail. Together, this system of trails can be combined into a rugged 10-hour walk for hardy hikers, or an overnight excursion into the mountains surrounding Alaska's capital city.
To reach Perseverance Trail, take 6th St one block southwest to Gold St, which turns into Basin Rd, a dirt road that curves away from the city into the mountains as it follows Gold Creek. The trailhead is at the road's end, at the parking lot for Last Chance Mining Museum. The trail leads into Silverbow Basin, an old mining area that still h…
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Mt Roberts Trail
Mt Roberts Trail is a 4-mile climb up Mt Roberts that begins at a marked wooden staircase at the northeast end of 6th St. It starts with a series of switchbacks, then breaks out of the trees at Gastineau Peak and comes to the tram station. From here it's a half-mile to the Cross, where you'll have good views of Juneau, Douglas and the entire Gastineau Channel. The Mt Roberts summit (3819ft) is still a steep climb away through the alpine brush.
If you hike up, you can ride down the Mt Roberts Tramway to S Franklin St for only around US$5. And if you purchase around US$5 worth of food or drink at the visitors center on top, the ride down is free.
This trail near the internat…
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West Glacier Trail
West Glacier Trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Juneau area. The 3.4-mile trail begins off Montana Creek Rd past Mendenhall Lake Campground and hugs the mountainside along the glacier, providing exceptional views of the icefalls and other glacial features. It ends at a rocky outcropping, but a rough route continues from there to the summit of Mt McGinnis (4228ft), another 2 miles away.
Allow five hours for the West Glacier Trail, or plan on a long day if you want to tackle the difficult Mt McGinnis route.
The moderate West Glacier Trail begins off Montana Creek Rd and hugs the mountainside along the glacier. With incredible blue-ice views, it is one very spe…
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Mt Ripinsky Trail
The trip to the 3563ft summit of Mt Ripinsky (also known as the South Summit) offers a sweeping view of the land from Juneau to Skagway. The route, which includes Peak 3920 and a descent from 7 Mile Saddle to Haines Hwy, is either a strenuous 10-hour journey for experienced hikers or an overnight trip.
To reach the trailhead, follow 2nd Ave north to Lutak Rd (the road to the ferry terminal) and past the fire station. Leave Lutak Rd when it curves right and head up the hill on Young St. Turn right along an old, buried pipeline and follow it for a mile to the start of the trail, just as the pipeline heads downhill to the tank farm.
The North Summit has a benchmark and a high…
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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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Dewey Lakes Trail System
This series of trails leads east of Skagway to a handful of alpine and subalpine lakes, waterfalls and historic sites. From Broadway, follow 3rd Ave southeast to the railroad tracks. On the east side of the tracks are the trailheads to Lower Dewey Lake (0.7 miles), Icy Lake (2½ miles), Upper Reid Falls (3½ miles) and Sturgill's Landing (4½ miles).
Plan on taking an hour round-trip for the hike to Lower Dewey Lake, where there are picnic tables, camping spots and a trail circling the lake. At the lake's north end is an alpine trail that ascends steeply to Upper Dewey Lake, 3½ miles from town, and Devil's Punchbowl, another 1.25 miles south of the upper lake.
The hike to…
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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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Oliver Inlet
On Admiralty Island's northeast coast is Oliver Inlet State Marine Park. A 0.8-mile portage tramway connects the inlet to scenic Seymour Canal, known for one of the world's greatest concentrations of nesting bald eagles and a large population of brown bears. Seals, sea lions and whales also spend the summer feeding in the canal. The paddle to Oliver Inlet is 18 miles and involves crossing Stephens Passage, a challenging open-water crossing (for experienced kayakers only).
At the south end of the portage tram from Oliver Inlet is the state's Seymour Canal Cabin, which rents for around US$25 a night and can be reserved through the DNR Public Information Center. To avoid the…
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Harbor Mountain Trail
- Sitka, USA
- Activities › Hiking
This trail is reached from Harbor Mountain Rd, one of the few roads in the Southeast providing access to a subalpine area. Head 4 miles northwest from Sitka on Halibut Point Rd to the junction with Harbor Mountain Rd. A parking area and picnic shelter are 4½ miles up the rough dirt road.
Another half-mile further is the parking lot at road's end, where an unmarked trail begins on the lot's east side. The trail ascends 1½ miles to alpine meadows, knobs and ridges with spectacular views. From here a trail follows the tundra ridge to the free-use shelter on the saddle between Harbor Mountain and Gavan Hill, where you can pick up Gavan Hill Trail. Plan on spending two to fou…
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Gavan Hill Trail
- Sitka, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Gavan Hill Trail ascends almost 2500ft over 3 miles to Gavan Hill peak. The trail provides excellent views of Sitka and the surrounding area. From the trail's end, the adventurous hiker can continue to the peaks of the Three Sisters Mountains.
Gavan Hill is also linked to Harbor Mountain Trail. Halfway across the alpine ridge is a free-use USFS shelter available on a first-come, first-served basis; it's 3½ miles from the Gavan Hill trailhead, a hike of three to four hours.
From Lincoln St, head north up Baranof St for six blocks. The trailhead and a small parking area is reached just before the cemetery gate at the end of Baranof St. Camping is good in the trail's alpine …
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Yakutania Point & AB Mountain Trails
The Skagway River footbridge, reached by following 1st Ave west around the airport runway, leads to two trails of opposite caliber. For an easy hike to escape the cruise-ship crowds turn left from the bridge and follow the mile-long trail to picnic areas and lovely views at Yakutania Point and Smugglers Cove.
Nearby on Dyea Rd is AB Mountain Trail, also known as the Skyline Trail, This route ascends 5½ miles to the 5100ft summit of AB Mountain, named for the 'AB' that appears on its south side when the snow melts every spring. The first 30 minutes is along a well-defined trail through a hemlock forest to a view of Skagway. After that the trail is considerably more challen…
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Mt Verstovia Trail
- Sitka, USA
- Activities › Hiking
This 2½-mile trail is a challenging climb of 2550ft to the 'shoulder,' a small summit that's the final destination for most hikers, although it's possible to continue climbing to the peak of Mt Verstovia (3349ft). The view from the shoulder on clear days is spectacular, undoubtedly the area's best.
The trailhead is 2 miles east of Sitka, along Sawmill Creek Rd; look for a large sign for the trailhead near a lone restaurant (which changes names so frequently that it shall here remain nameless). The Russian charcoal pits (signposted) are reached within a quarter-mile, and shortly after that the trail begins a series of switchbacks. It's a four-hour round-trip to the should…
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Mt Edgecumbe Trail
- Sitka, USA
- Activities › Hiking
The 6.7-mile trail begins at the USFS Fred's Creek Cabin and ascends to the crater of this extinct volcano. Views from the summit are spectacular on a clear day. About 3 miles up the trail is a free-use shelter (no reservations required).
Mt Edgecumbe (3201ft) is on Kruzof Island, 10 miles west of Sitka, and can only be reached by boat because large swells from the ocean prevent floatplanes from landing. Stop at the Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau for a list of local operators who will drop off and pick up hikers. Actual hiking time is five to six hours one-way, but by securing Fred's Creek Cabin, you can turn the adventure into a pleasant three-day trip, with two nigh…
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George & Carroll Inlets
From Hole in the Wall Bar & Marina, 7½ miles southeast of Ketchikan down the S Tongass Hwy, you can start an easy one- to four-day paddle north into both George & Carroll Inlets. Each inlet is protected from the area's prevailing southwesterlies, so the water is usually calm (although north winds occasionally whip down George Inlet). From Hole in the Wall to the top of George Inlet is a 26-mile paddle.
While not on the same dramatic scale as Misty Fiords, the two inlets are scenic. Highlights include Herring Bay, a mile north of Hole in the Wall, which attracts lots of salmon and seagulls; and Mahoney Inlet, 8 miles north, which has beautiful waterfalls.
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NorthStar Trekking
The hottest tour in Juneau is a helicopter ride to the Juneau Ice Field for a 20-minute ride in the basket of a dogsled. These tours last less than two hours and are around US$400 a pop but when the weather is nice people - primarily cruise-ship passengers - are waiting to hand over their money. On the NorthStar Trekking tour you can skip the dogsled and strap on the crampons. NorthStar offers several glacier treks that first begin with a helicopter ride and includes all equipment and training.
On its four-hour glacier trek (around US$340), you cross two miles of frozen landscape riddled with crevasses and the hike is as stunning as it gets.
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Indian River Trail
- Sitka, USA
- Activities › Hiking
This easy trail is a 5½-mile walk along a clear salmon stream to Indian River Falls, an 80ft cascade at the base of the Three Sisters Mountains. The hike takes you through typical Southeast rain forest, and offers the opportunity to view brown bears, deer and bald eagles.
The trailhead, a short walk from the town center, is off Sawmill Creek Rd, just east of Sitka National Cemetery. Pass the driveway leading to the Public Safety Academy parking lot and turn up the gated dirt road. This leads back to the city water plant, where the trail begins left of the pump house. Plan on four to five hours round-trip to the falls.
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Windfall Lake Trail
Montana Creek Trail and Windfall Lake Trail connect at Windfall Lake and can be combined for an interesting 11½-mile overnight hiking trip. It is easier to begin at the trailhead at Montana Creek and follow the Windfall Lake Trail out to the Glacier Hwy. The 3½-mile Windfall Lake Trail begins off a gravel spur that leaves the Glacier Hwy just before it crosses Herbert River, 27 miles northwest of Juneau.
The trail has been improved considerably in recent years and now features the newest USFS cabin in the Juneau area. Windfall Lake Cabin sleeps six and is open as a warming shelter during the day.
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Temsco Helicopters
The hottest tour in Juneau is a helicopter ride to the Juneau Ice Field for a 20-minute ride in the basket of a dogsled. These tours last less than two hours and are around US$400 a pop but when the weather is nice people - primarily cruise-ship passengers - are waiting to hand over their money. Temsco Helicopters has a mushing and glacier flightseeing tour (around US$410) which lasts 1½ hours and lands at a dog camp on Denver Glacier.
The company also has a 55-minute Mendenhall Glacier tour (around US$200) that includes 25 minutes' walking around high up on the glacier.
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Dude Mountain Trail
Ketchikan's Dude Mountain Trail is an alpine trek reached from Revilla Rd by turning right on Brown Mountain Rd, 5 miles from N Tongass Hwy. At the end of Brown Mountain Rd is the trailhead for Dude Mountain Trail, which begins as a boardwalk through stands of old-growth spruce then becomes a trail as you follow a narrow ridge to the 2848ft peak.
It's a mile's trek and a gain of 1200ft to the top, but once there you're in open alpine and can easily ridge-walk to Diana Mountain (3014ft) or Brown Mountain (2978ft). Plan on two hours for the round-trip to Dude Mountain.
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Seduction Point Trail
This trail begins at Chilkat State Park Campground and is a 6½-mile, one-way hike to the point separating Chilkoot and Chilkat Inlets. The trail swings between forest and beaches, and provides excellent views of Davidson Glacier.
If you have the equipment, this trail can be turned into an excellent overnight hike by setting up camp at the cove east of Seduction Point. Carry in water and check the tides before departing, as the final stretch along the beach after David's Cove should be walked at low- or midtide. The entire round-trip takes nine to 10 hours.
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Upland Way Stairs
All over Ketchikan there are stairways leading somewhere higher. Sure, they're knee-bending climbs, but the reward for your exertion is great views from the top.
Heading back west along Dock St, just past the Ketchikan Daily News Building, is Edmond St, also called the Street of Stairs for obvious reasons. Heading down Park Ave from the hatchery, you'll pass the Upland Way Stairs that climb to a viewpoint. Nearby is a bridge across Ketchikan Creek, the site of a fish ladder and one end of Married Man's Trail - a delightful boardwalk leading back to Creek St.
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Street of Stairs
All over Ketchikan there are stairways leading somewhere higher. Sure, they're knee-bending climbs, but the reward for your exertion is great views from the top.
Heading back west along Dock St, just past the Ketchikan Daily News Building, is Edmond St, also called the Street of Stairs for obvious reasons. Heading down Park Ave from the hatchery, you'll pass the Upland Way stairs that climb to a viewpoint. Nearby is a bridge across Ketchikan Creek, the site of a fish ladder and one end of Married Man's Trail - a delightful boardwalk leading back to Creek St.
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Married Man's Trail
All over Ketchikan there are stairways leading somewhere higher. Sure, they're knee-bending climbs, but the reward for your exertion is great views from the top.
Heading back west along Dock St, just past the Ketchikan Daily News Building, is Edmond St, also called the Street of Stairs for obvious reasons. Heading down Park Ave from the hatchery, you'll pass the Upland Way stairs that climb to a viewpoint. Nearby is a bridge across Ketchikan Creek, the site of a fish ladder and one end of Married Man's Trail - a delightful boardwalk leading back to Creek St.
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