Alaska is full of wild, remote places to explore, and its many islands are no exception. Here’s an island that can be difficult to reach, and it’s a somewhat dangerous place to visit, but it offers solitude and beauty. Check out Admiralty Island:
Admiralty Island is located in the Alexander Archipelago, about 40 miles from Juneau. To reach the island, you can take a boat or kayak for about 3.5 hours…
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…or catch a lift on a float plane, a journey that will take just 30 minutes.
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This beautiful island includes 955,000 acres of remote beauty. The island is called Xootsnoowú in Tingit, which means “Fortress of the Bears.”
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It’s an apt name, considering that the island is home to around 1,600 brown bears. In fact, it has one of the most dense populations of brown bears in the world.
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These beautiful creatures can grow to weigh more than 1,000 pounds, and during your visit, you’re likely to see dozens of them.
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The bears are kept pretty fat and happy by salmon fishing in Pack Creek, but make no mistake - these bears are wild, dangerous creatures.
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Just because they’re busy fishing doesn’t mean that you’ll want to get too close. Over the years, visitors and hunters have been attacked, mauled and killed. Observe them from afar…
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…or hike to the observation tower to observe the bears safely.
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Bears aren’t the only wildlife you’ll see during your visit to this magical island. Humpback whales are common visitors in the waters around the island, as are harbor seals, sea lions, and porpoises.
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The island is also home to more than 2,500 bald eagles, the highest concentration of these majestic birds in the world.
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Admiralty Island is lush and green during summer months, and there are several trails to hike to explore the area.
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Part of the Tongass National Forest (which is the country’s largest national forest), the island boasts some incredible old-growth forest, including Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar.
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You’ll be awestruck by the beauty of this island.
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You’ll also want to pay a visit to the small village of Angoon. It’s home to just 500 or so people, but it offers fishing, tours, and hospitality, as well as lodging.
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A Forest Service cabin is also a cozy, comfortable place to stay while you’re on the island. Cabins rent for as little as $25/night to as much as $55/night during high season.
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This wild place should be on everyone’s Alaska exploration bucket list.
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Have you ever visited Admiralty Island? If so, we’d love to hear about your trip!
USDA Forest Service Alaska/flickr
Nathanael Coyne/flickr
robin-and-david/flickr
Diana K/flickr
Paxson Woelber/flickr
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If you’re looking for more great places to explore in Alaska, check out this state park that offers amazing beachfront camping.
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