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Tongass Home » Recreational Activities » Hiking
Sitka Area - Trails Accessible from the Sitka Road System
Beaver Lake Trail - National Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | East on Sawmill Creek Road. At mile 5.5 across from Sawmill Cove Industrial Park, turn left on Blue Lake Road (narrow, rough, gravel road; not suitable for RV’s, ok for high clearance vehicles, not maintained for passenger vehicles). 1.5 miles to Sawmill Creek Campground access road (first and only right hand turnoff). Trail begins in campground at large turnaround gravel area. |
| Length | 2.4 mile loop (1.5-hour walk) |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Description | Crosses Sawmill Creek via footbridge, encircles picturesque mountain lake. Trail usable early spring through late fall. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Popular trail well suited for family outings. Begins steep with 250-foot elevation gain over several switchbacks through open forest of hemlock, Sitka spruce and yellow cedar. After the steep climb, planked boardwalk portion begins as trail breaks out into muskeg and stunted forests. Then boardwalk runs through open forest and parallels Beaver Lake outlet stream and associated marshes. Trail loops around lake past several fishing platforms on southern edge of lake and returning to outlet stream. Beaver Lake has in the past been stocked with grayling. Good vistas of nearby rugged mountains. |
Cross Trail - City and Borough
of Sitka trail
| Access from Sitka | Sawmill Creek Road to Indian River Road,
1 mile to end of road.
Indian River Trail begins west of pump house and dam. Cross Trail
begins .16 mile up trail. or From Gavin Hill Trail (end of Baranot Street), from behind Sitka High School (end of Lake Street, or Landfill ball fields (use parking lot at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School end of Kashevaroff Street). |
| Length | 2.2 miles (45-minute walk) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | Great opportunity for short hike close to town. Can be combined with other trails and short roadway connections for loop walks. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Trail begins on the floodplain of Indian River among huge Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Continues through bogs and stunted fringe of forest around them. Cross Trail intersects Gavan Hill Trail at about 1-mile mark. After huge trees of Gavan Hill, trail passes through young forests that have grown back after harvesting. Trail branches off to Sitka High School 1.7 miles from start. Then trail widens to 11 feet on old logging road. Continues another ¼ mile then branches again to come out behind baseball field across from Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School. This is a good place to exit trail as parking is provided. Trail continues and narrows to a 2-foot-wide trail as it approaches Charteris Street exit. Trail extension to Cascade Street proposed for 2007. |
Estuary Life Trail - National
Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | 7 miles on Halibut Point Road (.7 mile from ferry terminal) on first right-hand turn after crossing Starrigavan Creek highway bridge. |
| Length | .25 mile one way (20 minutes one way) |
| Difficulty |  Easy |
| Description | Boardwalk trail to river viewing deck on Nelson Logging Road. Interpretive stations with benches; covered bird viewing shelter; self-guided trail brochure and interpretive map kiosk at trailhead. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Part of Starrigavan Recreation Area, managed jointly by US Forest Service and Alaska State Parks. Can be combined with other trails (Mosquito Cove Trail, Forest and Muskeg Trail, Pedestrian Walkway along highway between Ferry Terminal and end of road) and area roads (Nelson Logging Road, recreation area roadways) to form numerous loop walks. Trail follows forest edge as it meets the estuary, weaving in and out of tree clusters, crossing small streams to footbridge across Starrigavan Creek and river viewing deck along Nelson Logging Road. Dogs must be leashed. Forest and Muskeg Trail begins less than 100 feet from trail's end. |
Forest and Muskeg Trail - Alaska
State Parks trail
| Access from Sitka | 6.5 miles on Halibut Point Road (.25 mile from ferry terminal) on right-hand side of road. Parking available in overflow parking lot across from boat launch. Follow footbridge to trailhead. |
| Length | .75 mile one way (30 minutes one way) |
| Difficulty | Easy; -
difficult |
| Description | Gravel and boardwalk trail gains 150 feet in elevation. Accessible to people with physical disabilities at difficult level with some grades up to 12%. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Part of Starrigavan Recreation Area, managed jointly by US Forest Service and Alaska State Parks. Can be combined with other trails (Mosquito Cove Trail, Estuary Life, Pedestrian Walkway along highway between Ferry Terminal and end of road) and area roads (Nelson Logging Road, recreation area roadways) to form numerous loop walks. Trail starts with gradual climb across moist side hill. Gravel trail to outskirts of muskeg on the top of a low hill. Boardwalk through muskeg winds among muskeg ponds until reaching forest again. Trail gradually descends with occasional glimpses through trees of Starrigavan Estuary, to its end at Nelson Logging Road near river viewing deck along Starrigavan Creek. Dogs must be leashed. Estuary Life Trail begins less than 100 feet from trail's end. |
Harbor Mountain-Gavan Hill Trail
- National Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | 3 miles NW on Halibut Point Road, right onto Harbor Mountain Bypass Road. 1 mile to one-lane Harbor Mountain Road (motorhomes, travel trailers, long-wheel-base vehicles prohibited). Steep climb with sharp switchbacks, rough gravel and sharp rocks in driving surface, occasional turnouts for 5 miles (2000-foot elevation gain) to end of road. |
| Length | 6 miles one way (4-6 hours one-way) |
| Difficulty | Moderate; last
800 feet on Gavan Hill side |
| Description | Plank walk with switchbacks gains 300 feet in elevation. Trail follows ridge toward summit of knob with World War II lookout ruins. Before summit, trail turns along side hill of immense sub-alpine meadow, then along ridge toward peaks of Harbor Mountain before forking right to skirt hillside, across rockslide and around to Gavan Hill lookout, down extensive staircase and series of switchbacks to Gavan Hill trailhead at N end of Baranof Street. |
| Other details | These are two separate trails that connect in the alpine between Harbor Mountain and Gavan Hill. Short spur trail at first ridge leads left to an overlook. Main trail turns right. Emergency shelter on small knob near saddle between Harbor Mountain and Gavan Hill. Campfires discouraged in this sensitive sub-alpine environment. The last 800 feet near Gavan Hill trailhead transitions to boardwalk accessible to those with physical limitations. |
Halibut Point State Recreation
Site Trail - Alaska State Parks trail
| Access from Sitka | 4.5 miles N of Sitka on Halibut Point Road in Halibut Point State Recreation Site. Park adjacent to park office, walk down service road past office to footbridge across Granite Creek. |
| Length | .5 mile (30-minute walk) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | Well-maintained, easy trail open year round. 30-foot elevation gain. Loop trail begins at footbridge, branches left and right. To right, trail passes spur trails to beach, winds through mature forests, comes out on beach. Follows beach for stretch, then winds back into forest and returns to footbridge. |
| Other details | Recreation site offers 3 picnic shelters, garbage service, restroom facilities. Beautiful area to enjoy mature Sitka spruce/western hemlock forests and scenic beaches. Dogs must be leashed. |
Indian River Trail - National
Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | Sawmill Creek Road to Indian River Road, 1 mile to end of road. |
| Length | 4.3 miles one way (4-hour walk one way) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | Trail begins W of pump house and dam, ends at base of Indian River Falls. Easy, gradual climb; 700-foot elevation gain last mile of trail. Trail offers relaxed, meandering walk up Indian River Valley through NW coast rainforest of old-growth Sitka spruce, western hemlock, yellow cedar. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Trail usable year round. High water flows of Indian River can leave muddy spots on trail or wash out segments immediately adjacent to river. About ½ mile from trailhead, trail skirts a muskeg offering vistas of Sisters Mountains. Numerous places well suited to picnics along trail. Salmon plentiful in river late summer, early fall. Salmon fishing prohibited. Numerous paths network toward end of trail at Indian River Falls. |
Medvejie Lake Trail - State of Alaska
trail
| Access from Sitka | Sawmill Creek Road to end of road. Hike 3 miles past Herring Cove to Medvejie Hatchery. |
| Length | .5 mile (30-minute walk) |
| Difficulty | Moderately difficult |
| Description | Trail begins behind fish hatchery at Bear Cove, ends at Medvejie Lake; 200-foot elevation gain. Trail unmaintained and difficult to find in places. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | No trailhead. Trail starts just past hatchery employee housing. Follow gravel road to left. Trail crosses stream and follows N side through old-growth trees. Ends at outlet of Medvejie Lake. |
Mosquito Cove Trail - Alaska State
Parks and National Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | 7 miles on Halibut Point Road (.7 mile from ferry terminal) to Starrigavan Recreation Area Bayside Loop (last left turn before end of highway). |
| Length | 1.25 mile loop (1-hour walk) |
| Difficulty | Easy, part |
| Description | First 1000 feet of trail wide, graveled surface accessible to those with physical limitations. Rest of trail dirt tread with numerous gentle climbs, most notable near beginning of trail. Total elevation gain 100 feet. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Dogs must be leashed at trailhead and on accessible segment of trail. Sign indicates change to Alaska State Parks where dogs may be unleashed. Part of Starrigavan Recreation Area, managed jointly by US Forest Service and Alaska State Parks. Can be combined with other trails (Estuary Life Trail, Forest and Muskeg Trail, Pedestrian Walkway along highway between Ferry Terminal and end of road) and area roads (Nelson Logging Road and recreation area roadways) to form numerous loop walks. Trail offers a unique shoreline hike to view saltwater activity, shorebirds, and dynamic exchange between land and water. Trail climbs gradually through forest of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and Alaska yellow cedar. It emerges at Mosquito Cove then follows the shoreline around to Starrigavan Bay, looping back to where it began. Hikers pass several outcrops of Sitka Greywacke, a common sedimentary rock. |
Mt. Verstovia Trail - State of
Alaska trail
| Access from Sitka | 2 miles E on Sawmill Creek Road, block beyond Wolff Drive on left. Trailhead adjacent to local restaurant. |
| Length | 1.9 miles one way (3 hours one way) |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Description | Trail gains 2,550 feet to Mt. Verstovia, 3,300 feet to Arrowhead Peak. Recommended season of use: spring through late fall. First short segment runs through alder, salmonberry thickets. Then trail breaks into western hemlock-spruce forest. Higher up, trail breaks out of forest and over ridge on west shoulder of Mt. Verstovia. Series of switchbacks up SW side of mountain 1/3 mile along trail. At about 2,000 feet, trail generally follows gentle ridge east up to shoulder of Mt. Verstovia. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Lower slope was logged by Russians in 1860. Russian charcoal
pits somewhat visible about ¼ mile up present trail. Nice
viewpoints in forest openings on switchbacks. Vegetation changes
from open mountain hemlock-dominated forest to brushy meadows,
across snowfields, through grassy sub-alpine meadows and into rocky
alpine area with stunted, twisted plants from 2,000 to 2,550 feet
elevation. Mt. Verstovia peak can be climbed NE along rocky alpine
ridge. One hour to reach and climb peak from end of trail. Last
part quite steep and exposed; only for surefooted climbers. Special note: Arrowhead, Verstovia peak names used here follow local usage; do not correcpond to topographic map Sitka A-4. Local name Verstovia shown as peak 2550; Arrowhead shown as Verstovia on USGS map. |
Sitka National Historical Park Trail
- National Park Service trail
| Access from Sitka | East end of Lincoln Street at Sitka National Historical Park. |
| Length | 1.5 miles (1 hour) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | Trail begins and ends at National Park Service Visitor Center, has numerous loop trails popular with walkers and joggers. Well-maintained, dry level trail available year round. In Sitka spruce-western hemlock forest, parallels shoreline of Eastern Channel. Numerous spur trails to adjacent pebble and sand beach.Series of paths at SW end of park through beach meadows and grass flats. Main trail leads along Indian River where pink, chum, coho salmon spawn late summer and early fall. Dogs must be leashed. |
| Other details | Perfect for stroller with taste for SE Alaska's forests and waters in non-strenuous setting. Best fish-watching is arched bridge. Cross bridge and follow loop trail SE along river past Russian Monument or NW through forest back to bridge. |
Starrigavan Valley Trail - National
Forest System trail
| Access from Sitka | 6.75 miles out Halibut Point Road, turn onto Nelson Logging Road across from Old Sitka State Historical Site. 1 mile on Nelson Logging Road to large gravel parking area just before rifle range. Trail just beyond gate on N side of parking lot. |
| Length | 2.25 miles one way |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | Trail provides only opportunity to ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Sitka during summer. Also used by bicyclists, hikers. Much of trail is lined with salmonberry bushes, alder. Trail extends up both north, south branches of valley. Rearing ponds for salmon near trail improve fish habitat. Steep area on NE end of trail poses challenge to bikers, ATVers. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | ATV off-loading ramps in parking area. Starrigavan Valley was cleared of timber in mid-1960s. Much of trail is old logging road passing through Starrigavan Demonstration Area where blocks of thinned, pruned trees demonstrate effects of forest management on young trees. |
Thimbleberry Lake-Heart Lake
Trail - State of Alaska trail
| Access from Sitka | 4 miles SE on Sawmill Creek Road, across Thimbleberry
Creek Bridge (watch for sign), immediately to left to large parking
area with trailhead. |
| Length | 1.7 miles one way (1 hour one way) |
| Difficulty | Moderate, part,
¼ mile to Thimbleberry Lake |
| Description | Trail for hikers, bikers, skiers. Suitable for families, those with limited mobility to Thimbleberry Lake. From Thimbleberry Trailhead ¼ mile through hemlock-spruce forest over Thimbleberry Falls to bench and platform at Thimbleberry Lake; 100-foot elevation gain. Portions of the trail to this point exceed 17%. Trail continues along powerline corridor N of Heart Lake, gaining 350 feet elevation, ends at Blue Lake Road. Brown bears may be present. |
| Other details | Dock, skiff available at Heart Lake. Trail can easily be loop trail by following Blue Lake, Sawmill Creek Roads back to Thimbleberry trailhead. |
Sitka Area - Trails Accessible by Boat or Floatplane Only
| Davidof Lake Trail Didrickson Trail Dry Pass Trail Goulding Lake Trail Kook Lake Trail Kruzof Island Road Trail North Beach Trail Lake Eva-Hanus Bay Trail Mt. Edgecumbe Trail Port Mary Trail |
Sadie Lake Trail Salmon Lake-Redoubt Lake Trail Sashin Lake Trail Sealion Cove Trail Shelikof Trail Sitkoh Lake Trail Lake Suloia Trail Tenakee Springs Trail Warm Springs Bay Trail While Sulphur Springs Trail |
For more information, contact the Sitka Ranger District at (907) 747-6671 or via email at r10_sitka_rd@fs.fed.us
USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
Last Modified: May 21, 2007