Things to do / Travel Guide
Almost the entire region sits squarely inside the Tongass National Forest, which many visitors are surprised to learn is the largest rainforest in North America. This area is unsurpassed for its variety of options for visitors - from mild hiking to full-on extreme adventure, you will find it all in this enormous area.
Visitors to the Alaska Panhandle have a wealth of flora and fauna to see. Three main areas that abound with plant and animal life are the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, and Glacier Bay National Park.
It is in these areas that visitors will view the special aspects of nature that make the Alaska Panhandle so appealing to those who want to experience wild plant and animal life. Species such as brown and black bears, sea otters, numerous birds and waterfowl, as well as a wide variety of fish, including salmon, halibut, trout, and others, are here for all to see (and, in some cases, catch and cook)!
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
The state of Alaska had the foresight to reserve 48,000 acres of land running along the Chilkat River near Haines as a wildlife preserve, in order to protect the largest known group of bald eagles found anywhere in the world. Birdwatchers from all over the world come to this area to see the national bird and emblem of the United States, whose numbers are sometimes stunning. From October-January, over 3,000 eagles roost on just a three-mile long stretch of river to feed on the delicacy of chum salmon. The bald eagles can be easily viewed from the Haines Highway, and there are designated overlooks that allow motorists to park and see the birds. If visiting in autumn is not an option, there are still between 200-400 eagles that can be seen on a regular basis during the summer.
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
Take a tour of 50 acres of one of the Alaska Panhandle's most beautiful rainforests, located in the state capital, Juneau. This giant garden gives visitors a chance to dabble in floral design and landscaping through a variety of classes offered in these areas, all while taking in gorgeous, scenic vistas. Visitors can take in indigenous and rare plants, including a trademark upside-down tree! User-friendly and fully-accessible paths bring visitors to bubbling waterfalls, ponds, and beautifully-designed gardens with fabulous views of the Mendenhall Valley and its unspoiled surroundings. Visitors can also enjoy a guided tour in the comfort of a deluxe covered golf cart. You can also stop in and visit a landscaping nursery that offers hanging baskets, flowers, fuchsias, and seasonal offerings like bulbs, holiday greens and trees for purchase.
Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park covers an area of 3.3 million acres in the Alaskan Panhandle, near the town of Gustavus. The park serves as an example of one of the most rapid glacier retreats ever recorded. Just over 200 years ago, this entire area was covered in ice. Now it offers an unprecedented natural laboratory for scientists, with tourists reaping the windfall benefit of exploration. The park features gorgeous mountains towering over 15,000 feet, deep fjords, coastal beaches sporting protected coves, fascinating tidewater glaciers, and coastal and estuarine waters. Glacier Bay is teeming with marine life such as humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, porpoises, harbor seals, and sea otters.
Nature Spots in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and the Alaska Panhandle
Nature-Wildlife
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