The 113-acre Sitka National Historical Park is Alaska’s oldest federally recognized cultural site, a favorite for locals and visitors alike. The park is at 106 Metlakatla Street; the Russian Bishop’s House, also part of the National Park...
Sitka’s Alaska State Park sites offer recreation along with information and experiences related to Sitka’s history, on and off the road system. Baranof Castle Hill State Historic Site is located downtown, on a hill where Russia on Oct. 18, 1867,...
As an island community, Sitka’s marine ecosystems are as vibrant as its terrestrial ones, and visitors interested in learning more about what goes on beneath the waves should visit the Sitka Sound Science Center at 834 Lincoln Street. The...
The annual Sitka Salmon Derby, sponsored by the Sitka Sportsman’s Association, is held over the Memorial Day weekend and the following weekend. This year, the 70th, the fishing days are May 24, 25, 26 and May 31 and June 1. Thousands of...
Fortress of the Bear is a nonprofit educational rescue center for brown and black bears, located about five miles from downtown Sitka, at 4639 Sawmill Creek Road. The fortress, founded by Les and Evy Kinnear in 2003, consists of two large...
From sea level up into the high country, Sitka’s trail network spans a diverse spectrum of terrain and landscapes. Those interested in hiking can choose from wide, flat trails accessible to small children and those with disabilities all the way to...
With a wide-ranging trail network, runners have many paths to follow in and around Sitka. The looping trails in Sitka National Historic Park offer a less challenging run for those interested in just a jog along flat terrain, though the trail is...
More than 40,000 visitors flock to the Alaska Raptor Center each year to view some of America’s most majestic and iconic birds. The facility, a 25-minute walk from downtown, is Alaska’s premier avian rescue center and sanctuary, with a mission to...
At the northern end of Sitka’s road network, Starrigavan Bay and its surroundings provide outdoors opportunities including hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping. For casual hikers, the Mosquito Cove trail – situated in the Starrigavan campground...
Dotted around the Sitka Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest, public use cabins offer visitors a chance to experience the forest for days at a time without sleeping in a tent. About 20 cabins near Sitka serve as focal points for...
With a limited road system and generally favorable weather, much of Sitka is easily accessible by bicycle. Sitka was formally named a “Bike Friendly Community” in 2008. The Sawmill Creek Road multi-use trail runs seven miles, starting near...
The Path of Hope, established by the Sitka Cancer Survivor’s Society, winds through the trees in a secluded part of Lower Moller Park, off Moller Drive. Benches and inspirational plaques have been placed at intervals, in an effort to help those...
The University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka campus, located on Japonski Island, has been a resource for Sitka since 1962, when it was first launched as Sitka Community College. In recent years, the regional university system has become known for...
The U.S. Coast Guard is a vital presence in Sitka with an air station and a buoy tender. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, with more than 130 officers, enlisted and civilian personnel, has been located on Japonski Island since 1977, when it was...
The 29th annual Sitka WhaleFest, a science festival to celebrate the area’s abundant marine wildlife, is scheduled Nov. 7-9. The core of the festival is a science symposium that blends local knowledge and scientific inquiry of the rich marine...
Formed in 1967 to advocate for the preservation of the Tongass National Forest, the Sitka Conservation Society has since continued and expanded its work. In its early years, it pushed for the creation of what became the West Chichagof-Yakobi...
St. Lazaria Island is a nesting bird colony about 20 miles southwest of Sitka, just south of Kruzof Island, and within Sitka’s borough limits. Its Tlingit name is Kanasz’ee. The island, named in 1809 by the Russian navigator Ivan Vasiliev, was...
It’s not hard to see why mariners, anglers and commercial fishers are drawn to Sitka given its majestic mountains and deep-blue waters teeming with fish. Mariners should contact the Harbor Master upon arrival to Sitka on VHF Channel 16, 8...
One of the eight National Historic Landmarks in Sitka commemorates World War II. Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coast Defenses National Historic Landmark is on Japonski and neighboring islands, across the O’Connell Bridge from downtown...