Downtown Sitka in Winter
You have selected one of Alaska’s most scenic, pristine, historic communities to visit. Sitka is absolutely beautiful. The area offers nearly all of the amenities and conveniences available elsewhere including an Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal and an airport served by Alaska Airlines, a major west coast airline home based in Seattle.
Sitka’s location, on the outside of the Inside Passage, and on the west coast of Baranof Island in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, presents a gemlike setting with hundreds of emerald islets dotting the nutrient-rich seascape.
Baranof Island is one of three major islands in the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass is a temperate, coastal, rain forest blanketed with dense, lush vegetation and shaded by Sitka spruce and hemlock forests. The scenery features rugged, majestic mountains carved from granite. Here are snow-capped peaks, fifty-two named glaciers.
This abundant wilderness is home to thriving wildlife; it is where the rare Alaska brown bear and bald eagle reign. The brown bears on Baranof Island are known as the “ABC Island Bears” (Admiralty, Baranof and Chichigof Islands); the islands are home to the highest density of bears in the world.
View of Sitka from Gavin Hill Trail
Our large brown bear is a distinctly special. Although it is genetically related to all browns and grizzlies in the world, which are genetically divided into two groups, the ABC Island bears in one group and all of the others in the second group, the ABC Island brown bear’s DNA also has a relationship to polar bear DNA, which sets them apart. In other words, this is the only place in the world this magnificent bear exists.
Sitka history is rich and exciting. Once the Russian capitol of Alaska and the first headquarters for Alexander Baranof, Sitka was known in the early days as the “Paris of the Pacific.” It served as a port of call for many trading vessels from around the world. Today it is a favorite port for travelers who wish to enjoy spectacular scenery, rich history, nature trails and abundant wildlife. Sitka, the land of rainbows, is a photographer’s, painter’s and artist’s paradise.
The majestic beauty of Mt. Edgecumbe, a snowcapped, dormant volcano on Kruzoff Island, dominates Sitka Sound. And neighboring island, St. Lazaria, a federal bird sanctuary, is a popular bird watching destination where thousands of seabirds such as tufted puffins, petrels, rhinocerous auklets and murres who spend their lives at sea come to land only to nest.
Sitka’s waters are teeming with whales, steller sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, porpoises, seabirds, halibut and salmon·to the delight of wildlife enthusiasts. Sitka Alaska attractions include the local pristine, peaceful water with enchanting islets that are a kayaker’s dream and a diver’s playground. Come discover the history of Sitka, Alaska and enjoy the spectacular scenery from our Bed & and Breakfast in Sitka Alaska.
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