Sitka

Sitka is on Baranof Island on the outer waters of Alaska's Inside Passage, and is accessible only by air and by sea.

By plane

• Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport

  phone: +1-800-426-0333
  address: 605 Airport Rd
  Sitka enjoys daily jet service by Alaska Airlines from hubs such as Anchorage and Seattle.

Sitka Tours provides an airport shuttle to the downtown area or to any accommodations. May–September, $6 one-way; $8 round-trip.

By sea

• Sitka is a popular port of call for many cruise ships that sail the Inside Passage from May through September. The majority of large cruise ships dock at the Old Sitka Dock at Halibut Point, about six miles north of the downtown area. From the dock, you'll take a free 15-min shuttle bus ride to Harrigan Centential Hall in downtown Sitka. When the dock is in use, cruise ships anchor offshore in Crescent Harbor, and smaller boats are used to tender passengers ashore to the Crescent Harbor Lightering Facility (near the Centennial Hall) or the O'Connell Bridge Lightering Facility (at the foot of Castle Hill). The town has a free municipal Wi-Fi system that was paid for by the docking fees that the cruise ship pay.
• Alaska Marine Highway, Phone: +1-800-642-0066. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries provide year-round service for passengers and vehicles. Although you can not drive to Sitka by land, the Alaska Marine Highway ferries can get you and your vehicle there.

The downtown area of Sitka can be explored by foot. A walking map , with two suggested loops, one westward to the Sitka Channel, the other eastward to the Alaska Raptor Center, may be obtained from the Summer Information Desk in the Harrigan Centennial Hall near the Crescent Harbor Lightering Facility. Bring your mobile devices to help you get around downtown; Sitka has a free municipal Wi-Fi system paid for by the cruise ship docking fees.

• Community Ride +1 907 747-7103. Founded by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka Community Ride has been serving Sitka's Community since 2002. Operates three bus lines – Green, Red, and Blue – M–F 6:30AM to 6:30PM. Holidays Observed: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Alaska Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

• Transit Shuttle

  phone: +1 907-747-7290
  Runs only on days when there are scheduled to be at least 1000 cruise ship visitors. May–Sep M–F. Shuttle operates one hour after ship arrives in port up until ship departure. Stops every 25–30 min at Crescent Harbor Shelter, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka Nat'l. Historical Park, Alaska Raptor Center, a downtown stop by Random House, the Tribal Community House, O'Connell Bridge docking area. $10pp all day pass; $5pp round trip.

• Hank's Taxi & Tour Service

  phone: +1 907-747-8888
  Operates 4AM–midnight.

• Yellow Jersey Cycle Shop

  phone: +1 907-747-6317
  address: 805 Halibut Point Rd.
  Full service bike shop with daily or weekly bicycle rentals.

• Esther G Sea Taxi

  phone: +1 907-747-6481, +1 907 738-6481 (cell phone)
  Marine transportation to remote locations for hiking, biking, camping and kayaking. Captain Davey Lubin.

Sitka National Historical Park

• phone: +1 907-747-0110
  address: 106 Metlakatla St

There is no food service or lodging in this park.
The visitor center is open year round: mid-May through September daily 8AM–5PM; October through mid-May: M–Sa 8AM–5PM. Closed on Federal holidays during the winter months. Over 12 years old $4, under free. Wheelchair accessible. The Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, totem poles, and museum exhibits are in the building. Exhibits depict traditional Tlingit life. A short video reviews Sitka's history.
The Russian Bishop's House open mid-May through September daily 9AM–5PM. Ranger-led tours are offered every 30 minutes. October through mid-May open by appointment only. 12 years old $4, under free. This original log structure built in 1843 is one of the last remaining buildings from the Russian colonial period. Not wheelchair accessible.
Park Trails open mid-May through September daily 6AM–10PM; October through mid-May daily 7AM–8PM. Free. Walk in a temperate rain forest under towering trees, observe migrating salmon, explore the intertidal zone, and study wildlife. A pleasant walk through the Alaska woods with interesting totem poles interspersed. The Village Watchman, the Raven in Human Form, the Raven and a Bear are some of the figures displayed.

Other sights

• Alaska Raptor Center

  address: 1000 Raptor Way
  Bald eagles and other raptors from all over the Western United States are treated at this 17-acre facility bordering the Tongass National Forest. See the eagles, hawks, falcons and owls up close.

• Castle HillBaranof Castle State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark. American flag raising site. In 1867 when Alaska was transferred from Russia to the U.S. the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag raised here. In 1959 when Alaska became the 49th State, the first 49-star American flag was raised here. Once the site of a two-story log mansion known as Baranof's Castle, which overlooked Sitka Sound during the Russian fur trading era. A fully accessible walkway leads visitors to the top of the hill and provides outstanding views of downtown Sitka and waterfront. Interpretive panels provide opportunities to learn more about the history of this site.

• St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral

  phone: +1 907-747-8120
  address: 240 Lincoln St
  National Historic Landmark. Constructed 1844–1848, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel was the principal representative of Russian cultural influence in the 19th century in North America, as the Seat of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, and then as the Seat of the Diocese of Alaska. Although the original was burned down in 1966 and reconstructed, the artifacts inside including the icons were largely preserved from the fire.

• The Sitka History Museum

  phone: +1 907-747-6455
  address: 330 Harbor Dr

• Saint Lazaria WildernessCan be seen by boat tour. St. Lazaria is a rugged island with limited and difficult access – ideal for birds to inhabit and to nest. On the island, one can find Fork-tailed Storm-petrels, Leach"s Storm-petrels, Thick-billed Murres, Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Black Oystercatchers

• Mt. EdgecumbeA dormant volcano that looks like Mt. Fuji, looms in the background and dominates views to the west.

• Blue LakeA 3-miles-long reservoir six miles east of Sitka.

• Sheldon Jackson Museum

  phone: +1 907-747-8981
  address: 104 College Dr
  Offering a superb exhibit and collection of Alaskan Native cultural and historical artifacts. The Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson was the moving force behind the construction of the Sheldon Jackson Museum and the collector of many of its artifacts. If there were a museum for museums, the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka would be part of the collection. It is the oldest museum in Alaska and is in the first concrete building in the state. Construction began in 1895 and it has been occupied since 1897. The building was placed on the National Historical Register in 1972. While the building may be as old as some of the items in its collection, its exhibits reflect recent renovation and a dedication to professional museum standards. The museum's collection has been called a jewel in the crown of Alaska ethnographic collections.

• Fortress of the Bear

  phone: +1 907-747-3032
  address: 4639 Sawmill Creek Rd
  Fortress of the Bear is a non-profit education and rescue center with a three-quarter acre habitat for orphaned Brown Bear cubs complete with covered viewing areas. Also home to the Sawmill Farm. The Fortress has two resident brown bears and may have additional cubs or other bears as rescues occur. Bear cubs are usually housed temporarily at the Fortress until permanent homes are found.

• Sitka Sound Science Center

  phone: +1 907-747-8878
  address: 834 Lincoln St
  Located on the waterfront on the way to the Sitka National Historical Park. The Science Center operates an educational fish hatchery and the Molly Ahlgren Aquarium.

• Call of the Wild Adventures

  phone: +1 907-738-2458
  Go saltwater sport fishing with a friendly local instead of with an over-priced 'monster' lodge.

• Harris Aircraft Services

  phone: +1 907-966-3050
  address: 400 Airport Rd
  A floatplane flightseeing trip is a good way to get an overview of Baranof Island.

• Sitka Tribal Tours

  phone: +1 907 747-7290
  address: 204 Katlian St
  Tribal Tours provides a variety of cultural coach tours including a 2.5-hr cultural tour and 3.5-hr cultural tour w/Alaska Raptor Center. Both tours feature authentic Tlingit native dance performed in classic clan-style house with cedar fire pit.

• New Archangel Dancers

  phone: +1 907-747-5516
  address: Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Dr
  Enjoy a half hour performance of lively, traditional Russian folk dances. The New Archangel Dancers mission is to promote and encourage interest in Alaska's Russian History and culture through sharing of ethnic folk dance and song. These were evident in Sitka during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Dancers have performed in Japan, Canada, Mexico and Russia, and are considered by many to be ambassadors for Sitka and Alaska.

Russian and native handicrafts are featured products.

• Baranof Arts & Crafts Association

  phone: +1 907-747-6536 (summer)
  address: Harrigan Centennial Hall - Summer, 330 Harbor Dr
  BACA has a summer shop filled with locally made items including: jewelry, paintings, photographs, graphic arts, yarns, books and music, roasted coffee and nuts, ceramics, and assorted crafts. Representing over 30 Sitka artists.

• Russian-American Company-Random House

  phone: +1 907-747-3354
  address: 134 Lincoln St
  Museum-quality Russian lacquer boxes and matryoshka nesting dolls are two highlights of our shops. As direct importers, we also offer a large and affordable selection of unique Russian folk art and handcrafts, such as amber jewelry and Zhostovo floral painted trays, brooches, boxes, porcelain and hair clips. Hand painted nesting dolls are priced from under $10 up to $3,000. Authentic Russian lacquer boxes, handcrafted from papier mache and hand painted by the specially trained artists of Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstera, and Kholui, are available from $69 to over $10,000. The Russian American Company is an authorized dealer of contemporary Faberge jewelry. Also offer large selection of Alaskan Native Art: Ivory, whalebone, baleen baskets, scrimshaw, totemic plaques and masks.

There are a nice mix of restaurants in Sitka including: Mediterranean, Mexican, Japanese, and Chinese. Despite the town being relatively small, there are about 17 restaurants and a dozen or so other places serving food. The only franchises are McDonald's and Subway.

• Ludvig's Bistro

  phone: +1 907-966-3663
  address: 256 Katlian St
  Mediterranean.

Bars

• Ernie's Old Time Saloon

  phone: +1 907-747-3334
  address: 130 Lincoln St
  Chips, peanuts, pool table. Live music F Sa nights. Cash only.

• Pioneer Bar

  phone: +1 907-747-3456
  address: 212 Katlian St
  Maritime themed bar.

Coffee

• Highliner Cafe

  address: 327 Seward St
  Internet cafe with gourmet espresso drinks and freshly roasted coffee, full line of bagels, freshly baked breakfast stuffed croissants, Scandinavian cookies, other pastries.

• Channel Club

  phone: +1 907-747-7440
  address: 2906 Halibut Point Rd

• Cascade Inn

  phone: +1 907-747-6804
  address: 2035 Halibut Point Rd
  Sitka's only waterfront hotel, a little over 2 miles from downtown. All rooms have private balconies with views of the Pacific Ocean. Oceanfront sauna and barbecue, laundry and convenience/liquor. 10 Rooms.

• Eddystone Inn

  phone: +1 907-747-3313
  address: 2898 Sawmill Creek Rd
  On a private peninsula, with Alaskan themed rooms, ocean views, hot tub, TV, private park, phone, and Alaskan hosts. About 10 minutes from downtown Sitka. 6 Rooms.

• Shee Atika Totem Square Inn

  phone: +1 907-747-3693
  address: 201 Katlian St
  Right in downtown Sitka, this hotel is within easy walking distance of many of Sitka's attractions. Complimentary continental breakfast, shuttle service, wireless internet, exercise equipment, restaurant, shopping, travel agency, charter agency, charter dock drop off and meeting facilities.

• Sitka International Hostel

  phone: +1 907 747-8661
  address: 109 Jeff Davis St
  23 beds total (spread across 5 dorms and one private double room). Kitchen and dining facilities. There is a lockout from 10AM–6PM. 11PM curfew; hostel reopens at 8:30AM. Guests assigned one chore each day.

• Super 8 Motel

  phone: +1 907-747-8804
  address: 404 Sawmill Creek Rd
  Downtown location. Jacuzzi, laundromat, free coffee/toast bar, cable TV, children 12 & under stay free, car packages available in off-season. Pets accepted with permission and deposit. 35 rooms.