Atka AlaskaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Atka, Alaska.
1. Mendenhall Glacier
MAJESTIC ICE FORMATION
Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska's most accessible and stunning glaciers, located just outside Juneau. Visitors can explore various hiking trails that offer spectacular views of the glacier and surrounding landscape. The nearby visitor center provides educational exhibits about glacial formation and the local ecosystem.
2. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
SCENIC URBAN PATHWAY
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a picturesque 11-mile trail that winds along the coast of Anchorage offering stunning views of the Cook Inlet and surrounding mountains. Visitors can walk, bike, or cross-country ski depending on the season while potentially spotting moose, eagles, and other wildlife. The trail connects several parks and provides interpretive signs about local history and ecology.
3. Sitka National Historic Park
CULTURAL HERITAGE SITE
Sitka National Historic Park preserves and interprets the site of a battle between Russian traders and indigenous Tlingit people, featuring a collection of totem poles along forest trails. The park includes the Russian Bishop's House, one of the few remaining examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America. Visitors can explore the visitor center's exhibits on Tlingit culture and the Russian American period of Alaska's history.
4. Denali National Park
WILDERNESS MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE
Denali National Park encompasses six million acres of wild land with North America's tallest peak, Denali, as its centerpiece. Visitors can experience the park through bus tours, hiking trails, and ranger-led programs that showcase diverse wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou. The park offers stunning landscapes ranging from taiga forest to alpine tundra, with opportunities for photography, camping, and backcountry adventures.
5. Kachemak Bay State Park
COASTAL WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
Kachemak Bay State Park is Alaska's first state park, featuring fjords, glaciers, and forests accessible only by boat or plane from Homer. The park offers over 80 miles of hiking trails through diverse ecosystems, with opportunities to spot sea otters, seals, and whales in the bay. Visitors can enjoy activities including kayaking, fishing, and staying at public use cabins nestled in remote coves.
6. Kenai Fjords National Park
GLACIAL MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Kenai Fjords National Park showcases the Harding Icefield and nearly 40 glaciers that flow from it, creating a dramatic coastal landscape. Boat tours offer visitors close-up views of tidewater glaciers and opportunities to see marine wildlife including orcas, puffins, and sea lions. The Exit Glacier area provides the park's only road-accessible section where visitors can hike to the edge of the Harding Icefield.
7. White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
HISTORIC SCENIC RAILWAY
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is a historic narrow gauge railway built during the Klondike Gold Rush, climbing from sea level in Skagway to almost 3,000 feet at the summit of White Pass. The train journey offers spectacular mountain scenery as it traverses bridges, tunnels, and steep grades that were an engineering marvel of the late 19th century. Passengers experience breathtaking views while learning about the challenging construction and the gold rush history that prompted its creation.
8. Totem Bight State Historical Park
NATIVE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Totem Bight State Historical Park features a collection of meticulously carved totem poles and a recreated clan house that showcase the art and culture of the Tlingit and Haida peoples. Visitors can stroll through lush rainforest trails while learning about the stories and symbols depicted on these impressive wooden monuments. The park offers a glimpse into indigenous Alaskan life before European contact through its interpretive displays and reconstructed village setting.
9. Misty Fjords National Monument
PRISTINE WILDERNESS WATERWAYS
Misty Fjords National Monument encompasses a vast wilderness area of steep fjords, waterfalls, and dense forests often shrouded in mist. Visitors can explore this remote sanctuary by boat, seaplane, or kayak to witness the dramatic landscape where sheer granite cliffs rise thousands of feet from the sea. The monument is home to diverse wildlife including bald eagles, bears, whales, and sea birds that thrive in this pristine natural environment.
10. Holy Assumption Orthodox Church
HISTORIC RUSSIAN ARCHITECTURE
Holy Assumption Orthodox Church stands as one of the oldest Russian Orthodox churches in Alaska, built in 1896 and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The distinctive blue onion dome and white exterior showcase the traditional Russian architecture that reflects Alaska's Russian colonial period. Inside, visitors can view historic icons, religious artifacts, and learn about the role the Russian Orthodox Church played in Alaska's history.
11. Prince William Sound Glaciers
TIDEWATER GLACIER VIEWING
Prince William Sound features numerous tidewater glaciers that calve directly into the ocean, creating a spectacular display of ice and water. Boat tours from Valdez and Whittier allow visitors to witness these massive ice formations up close while learning about their formation and impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The sound's protected waters are home to abundant marine life including sea otters, harbor seals, and various whale species that can often be spotted during glacier tours.
12. The Chilkoot Trail
HISTORIC GOLD RUSH ROUTE
The Chilkoot Trail is a 33-mile historic route that was the primary path taken by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Hikers follow in the footsteps of gold seekers, traversing from coastal rainforest to alpine tundra while passing abandoned mining equipment and historic camps. The challenging multi-day trek requires permits and preparation but rewards adventurers with spectacular scenery and a deep connection to an important chapter in Alaskan history.
13. Trans-Alaska Pipeline
ENGINEERING MARVEL VIEWPOINT
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is a 800-mile engineering marvel that transports oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, with several viewing areas where visitors can see sections of this massive infrastructure project. The pipeline's elevated design accommodates wildlife migration and permafrost conditions, showcasing innovative solutions to Arctic engineering challenges. Informational displays at viewing points explain the pipeline's construction, operation, and significance to Alaska's economy since its completion in 1977.
14. Oscar Anderson House
HISTORIC PIONEER HOME
The Oscar Anderson House is Anchorage's oldest home still standing on its original foundation, built in 1915 by one of the city's founding residents. This carefully restored house museum offers visitors a glimpse into early 20th century life in Anchorage through period furnishings and personal artifacts of the Anderson family. Guided tours provide insights into the challenges and daily experiences of pioneer life during Anchorage's formative years.
15. Fort William H. Seward
HISTORIC MILITARY OUTPOST
Fort William H. Seward is a former U.S. Army installation established in 1902 that now serves as a preserved historic district in Haines. The fort's distinctive white buildings arranged in a parade-ground pattern have been repurposed as shops, restaurants, accommodations, and artist studios. Visitors can take self-guided walking tours to learn about the fort's military history while enjoying views of the surrounding mountains and Lynn Canal.