Table Of ContentP R I N C E WA L E S
OF
Doing what comes naturally
comes naturally here
A L A S K A
Visitor Guide 2015
A PUBLICATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Visit the Kasaan Cultural Campus
Explore the forest along the trail to Naay I’waans
Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House and Totem Park
Stay at the beautiful Discovery Cabins! Two new two-bedroom cabins; each sleeps
up to six. Ocean view with beach access. Close to recreation and cultural sites.
Espresso and food service at Totem Trail Café. For more information, call 907-542-2230.
Resort ; RV Park ; Charters
Log cabin is the headquarters For
sportFishing and wiLdLiFe cruises
Guided and non-guided fishing ; Eco-tours
Waterside condos ; Beach cabins ; Boat and canoe rentals
ExPERiEnCE
Bush AlAsk A
800-544-2205 ; klawock, Alaska
www.logCabinResortandRVPark.com
2 www.princeofwalescoc.org 907-755-2626
YOU REACH US
e
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BY SEA OR BY AIR. AND THEN, U
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AT SOME POINT, THE CLEAN SEA D
AND FRESH AIR AND GREEN MOUNTAINS
AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE REACH YOU.
america’s third-largest island is more accessible
than ever, but it still has that unmistakable aura of Alaska that
turns “vacation” into “adventure.” It might strike you on the north orND
end as you leave the forest and stride onto memorial Beach. It might ve taylcFarla
em
hit as you talk to an alaska Native carver in Hydaburg, Kasaan or Shpeiegchtatsc ualnadr faalpscininea ting maNNIe
Klawock, or when a humpback whale rises near your fishing boat. Native cultures are yours to see. ea
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Every day, you get to choose between a 260-mile network of designated Contents
scenic roads and a thousand miles of ocean shore. you’ll take alaska home
in your heart, and you might take home some of the heart of alaska. Watch
for unique products made on Prince of Wales Island: stone art; music
LANDING ON OUR ISLAND Ferry or fly to Prince of Wales Island 4
wood; alaska Native basketry; soaps; jewelry and more. our friendly small
towns are homes for many artisans. If the art of angling is more to your HIGHWAYS & SCENIC BYWAYS Road guide | trip advice 5
taste, experienced charter-boat skippers and freshwater guides are waiting PACKING FOR A VISIT | CELL & INTERNET LINKS 6
to get you close to salmon and halibut and other species.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Get out and experience Alaska 8
Hike Sunnahae mountain for a 3,000-foot vantage on nearby islands, then
FISHING A great recreation—served with seafood 10-11
relax in Craig aquatic Center’s pools, slide and fitness center. Bike or walk
THE WATERFRONT The derby, the hatchery, the docks 12
along salmon-rich Klawock river, fish trout in the lake. See thorne Bay’s
roots as a logging town and fish or float its namesake river. Stretch out at HUNTING Chasing deer, bear and waterfowl on the island 13
scenic Sandy Beach on the east side. look up at a world-famous art form at WILDLIFE Wildlife is abundant and spectacular 14
totem pole parks in Hydaburg, Kasaan and Klawock.
BEAR COUNTRY BASICS Co-existing with our bears 14
More than 2,000 miles of roads provide exciting itineraries among these
ARTISTS A sketch of art and artisanship created on the island 15
towns and others such as Coffman Cove, Naukati Bay and Whale Pass.
BIRDS See a magnificent array of resident and visiting birds 16
Check our events calendar for down-home fun such as Whalefest, Kids’
Fishing Days, the By the Sea arts & Seafood Festival, Island Grind variety NATIVE CULTURE & ART First peoples | totem parks 18
shows and the sanctioned marathon, which draws runners from all over. TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST The nation’s largest 20
Full-service lodging is available in a few sites and accommodations in a CAVES Karst landscape invites exploration 21
range from B&Bs to rustic cabins are proliferating in our communities. Use
TRAILS Routes through our backcountry 22
this guide to help you find them. experience an immense cave on alaska’s
only guided cave tour. visit a public-use cabin for restful family time in a CABINS | BEAR VIEWING Cabin guide | fish pass bear viewing 23
natural setting. eagles, deer, migratory birds and even black bears are part GOING + SEEING + DOING Unique island trips and activities 25
of the experience.
ISLAND ATTRACTIONS Wildlife-viewing and other must-sees 27
Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors ISLAND MAPS Resources for driving, camping, hiking 28-30
Sharilyn Zellhuber president Jan Bush past president MILEAGE TABLE Distance data for your travels 31
Jeannie mcFarland vice president lynnette logan secretary
Janice lund treasurer John Bruns director Joe Chaffee director MEDICAL Resources for EMS, routine care, etc. 31
Greg Dahl director Kim Swainson director
ISLAND EVENTS CALENDAR What’s happening and when 32
Sharon Brosamle and Wendy Clavel chamber staff
SPECIAL EVENTS A sampling of what makes us unique 34
Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce P.o. Box 490 Klawock, aK 99925-0490
907-755-2626 voice 907-755-2627 fax [email protected] email RESOURCES & ECONOMY Mining, timber, fishing, visitors 36-37
www.princeofwalescoc.org web site
Contents © 2015 Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce. all rights are reserved. reprinting CLIMATE Temps, precip and daylight by the numbers 38
or transmitting of this material in any form is prohibited without the written permission
of the Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce. every effort has been made to ensure WORSHIP Churches across the island 38
accuracy of information in this guide. advertisements are the property and responsibility of
advertisers. Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility nor liability for COMMUNITIES Notes and guides for 12 towns 40-45
content of advertising. Photos are owned by the photographers and are used by permission.
editing and design | Full Circle media arts | Ketchikan BUSINESS DIRECTORY Businesses and services 46-56
cover photos | kayaker tamara Buoy | harbor Kristie Keever | totem pole James ripsom INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Businesses and services 56
fishers Don Busse | eagle mary luoto
Prince of Wales Island Guide 2015 3
How to land
on our island
Four ferry systems with
ports in Alaska and
in British Columbia
offer seagoing options
to link to the island
Vessels of the Inter-Island Ferry Au-
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tween Hollis on the east side of Prince RVs and passenger vehicles roll off a J
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of Wales Island and Ketchikan, the the MV Stikine or MV Prince of Wales Island every day oN
at the Hollis terminal of the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. H
region’s commercial hub. The local ferry r
system provides reliable daily passenger
TO KETCHIKAN BY AIR Alaska Airlines www.alaskaair.com
and vehicle transportation on the M/V
TO KETCHIKAN WITH CAR, R.V., BOAT Alaska Marine Highway www.akferry.com
Prince of Wales and M/V Stikine. British Columbia ferry to Prince rupert, connecting to alaska ferries www.bcferries.com
Passenger facilities on IFA include an TO / FROM PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND WITH CAR, R.V., BOAT
observation lounge with recliner chairs, IFA ferry Ketchikan to Hollis www.interislandferry.com toll-free 866-308-4848
restaurant, children’s play area, solarium FROM PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND WITH CAR, R.V., BOAT
North End Ferry Authority From Coffman Cove to Wrangell and Petersburg www.rainforestislandsferry.com
and reading room. The vehicle deck
carries 30 automobiles. The ships make TO / FROM PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND BY AIR Harris Aircraft Services www.harrisair.com
Island Air Express www.islandairx.com Pacific Airways www.flypacificairways.com
a scenic three-hour cruise between Ket-
Promech Air www.promechair.com Taquan Air www.taquanair.com
chikan and Hollis. IFA carried 575,000
passengers and 140,000 vehicles in its
first decade and boasts high ratings for on-time perfor-
mance and passenger service.
Prince of Wales Island deploys new independent ferry
service from Coffman Cove in 2015. The North End
Ferry Authority’s M/V Rainforest Islander will carry
vehicles and walk-on passengers to docks near Wrangell
and Petersburg; a shuttle van will carry walk-ons into the
towns. Initial service is scheduled year-round, four days
a week. Passenger facilities include a limited menu and
retail sales. Online reservations are to open on March 15.
Ferry service to Ketchikan from the Lower 48 is pro-
vided by the Alaska Marine Highway System. The trip
from Bellingham, Wash., is about 38 hours. State ferries
also sail from Prince Rupert, B.C., on a six-hour passage
to Ketchikan. B.C. Ferries connects to Prince Rupert
from its ports in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.
Floatplanes and wheeled aircraft
land travelers at many island sites
Alaska Airlines provides several flights daily into
Ketchikan from the Seattle area and operates scheduled
service from cities in Alaska. Flight time from SeaTac
International Airport to Ketchikan is an hour and 40
minutes.
Local air carriers take Prince of Wales Island residents
and our visitors to and from Ketchikan. Floatplanes run
scheduled routes to island towns and charters can take
you wherever there’s water. These carriers are a good way
to reach remote lakes, lodges and ocean shorelines. Two
carriers fly wheeled planes to Klawock Airport’s runway
from bases in Ketchikan and Sitka.
4 www.princeofwalescoc.org 907-755-2626
Roads
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The vista at Sandy Beach Road on Clarence Strait is easy to reach by car. Use the centerfold maps to navigate to picnic sites, trails, totem parks and more.
EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF
Remarkable roads earn
PAVEMENT AND GRAVEL
special designations for
LEADS TO ADVENTURE
visual and cultural qualities
More than 2,000 miles of roads lace Prince of more than 260 miles of roads linking our
Wales Island. More than 105 miles of paved communities are alaska Scenic Byways. the
alaska Department of transportation cited
roadways girdle the midsection and connect
the system in 2010 as “unique because it
major communities. More than 150 miles of features some of Southeast alaska’s best
good gravel roads touch shore and mountains. qualities, such as a temperate rain forest,
bountiful wildlife, Native culture and
The widespread road network on the island is a legacy of the historical artifacts … all of which present a
timber industry. Logging from the 1950s to late in the century different alaskan experience.”
pushed major arterials and remote spurs into the forest. The south
roads with the Scenic Byway designation,
end of the system is at Hydaburg. North-end roads extend to
starting from the north end of the island:
Labouchere Bay. You can drive a standard car the entire distance.
U.S. Forest Service road 20; Whale Pass
Visitors bring their vehicles on Inter-Island Ferry Authority vessels road; Coffman Cove road; Sandy Beach road; thorne Bay
or rent vehicles on the island. To explore logging roads, use a 4x4 or road; Kasaan Highway; Big Salt lake road; Klawock-Hollis
sturdy SUV. RV drivers are advised to drive cautiously up north. Highway; Hydaburg Highway; 12 mile arm road; Craig-
Klawock Highway; and Port Saint Nicholas road.
Before you drive into the backcountry, check with U.S. Forest Ser-
vice staff in Craig or Thorne Bay for a map of open remote roads. they’re marked on the centerfold map. See more at
www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/scenic/byways-pow.shtml.
Road work affects north-end travelers
Major work is under way on
VISITORS BY AIR LAND
FH20 between Yatuk Creek and
Sarkar Bridge. Summer travel e ON SEA AND RUNWAY
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is with a pilot car 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sam most aircraft fly to the island on floats,
daily except Sunday; northbound o
Br but an airstrip three miles out of
traffic goes through on the hour, N
o Klawock is used regularly by two carriers
southbound traffic on the half- Har equipped for IFr (instrument flight
hour. For more information, call S rating) transport. Some local aircraft are
Southeast Road Builders at 907-755-2183 or -2258. For general equipped with both floats and wheels.
information on roads, contact Thorne Bay or Craig Ranger Districts.
the runway is 5,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. the
Gear up for safe and comfortable trips unattended airport has medium-intensity runway lights;
pilot control lighting is on CtaF 120.9. Daytime operation is
A little planning eases your trip in our mix of mild and wild coun- recommended. High terrain exists in all quadrants of approach
try. Be sure your spare tire is in good shape. Bring a few basic auto- and wind conditions are irregular. there is no IlS or CFr
motive tools. Watch the gas gauge and mile markers: fuel is available equipment.
in Whale Pass; Naukati Bay; Coffman Cove; Thorne Bay; Klawock;
Pilots find sturdy floatplane docks at Craig, Coffman Cove, Hollis,
and Craig. Bring your cell phone’s car charger. Hydaburg, Kasaan, Klawock, Naukati Bay and thorne Bay. most
Adjust speed to road surfaces and weather. Roads north of the are maintained by the state. Some dock frontage is available in
Whale Pass turnoff and the island’s gravel roads are about one and a other towns; see community details on pages 40-45.
half lanes wide; turnouts are provided. Refer to maps in this guide.
Prince of Wales Island Guide 2015 5
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These dock walkers show off the range of Prince of Wales Island summer
fashion. For the gentleman, cargo pants, rubber boots and an outer layer of
fleece are functional at sea and on the trail. For the younger set, sandals and
a light sweater may be comfortable on warmer days—but that float vest is
no accessory. It’s indispensable for kids, from the dock to the boat deck.
PACKING PREP: GO FOR
CASUAL AND VERSATILE
our region is classified as a temperate rain forest and conditions
don’t tend to be extreme, but you should bring outerwear that
keeps you comfortable in conditions that vary from day to day, and
from tideline to the alpine. Don't worry about fancy: it's about
function.
Include the heart of the Inside Passage
Waterproof, breathable shells and pile layers are basic. temperatures
on your Alaskan adventure can be cool to those from warmer climates. Gore-tex and similar
fabrics repel mist and rain and protect you from breezes ashore and
Visit Prince of Wales Island
on the water. Polartec-type fleece is good on sunny days or layered
Daily round-trip passenger and vehicle service under rain gear. light, waterproof hiking boots or trail runners are
ideal for everyday wear on damp trails and in boats.
all year between Ketchikan and Hollis
Summer high temperatures range from 49° to 82° F (9 to 28 C), win-
M/V PRINCE OF WALES & M/V STIKINE feature an observation lounge, ter lows from 15° to 42° F (-9 to 6 C). annual precipitation is about
restaurant, children’s play area, solarium and reading room 120 inches.
Wi-Fi is at Chamber and other sites
visit Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce with your laptop to use
an aP&t hotspot outside the office 24 hours a day; service and tech
support are excellent. access is with credit card only. the chamber
office is in the Klawock Heenya mall in Klawock.
libraries in many communities offer Internet-enabled computers for
checking email and the weather back home. Papa’s Pizza, ruth ann’s
and the Hill Bar in Craig invite use of Wi-Fi with a purchase. Credit
card access to Wi-Fi is provided at annie-Betty’s Cafe and Water
Street Cafe in Craig.
Inter-IslAnD Ferry AutHorIty Cell phone service is like Alaska: rustic
866-308-4848 or 907-530-4848
at&t and aCS have cellular towers near more-populous towns such
www.interislandferry.com as Craig and Klawock. at&t service is good in Hydaburg and Kasaan.
P.o. Box 470 Klawock, AK 99925 thorne Bay has aCS service. verizon service is available in some
areas. Service on the northern end of the island is spotty.
6 www.princeofwalescoc.org 907-755-2626
Sea and
scenery
every town on
Prince of Wales
Island is a coastal
community and
that means all
roads around here
lead to, or along,
ocean shoreline.
even our recreation
afoot features the
interface of sea
and roadway. the
Cupid’s Chase in
February sponsored
by the running
club skirts the
shore in Craig. our
roads offer many
SH opportunities to
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Hy the Pacific.
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Prince of Wales Island Guide 2015 7
Outdoor
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Adventure cI
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From purple mountains’ majesty to purple sea stars’ Hy
intertidal quiet, natural beauty and adventure are easy to find here. Cat
Encounters with the natural world are as varied and as many as you make them.
Just be sure to allow plenty of time. Or do what many folks do: Come back up here for more.
n Kayak along our seashore and see ocean life up close—
but stay clear of marine mammals: they’re federally Rocky shores touching clean, green
protected.
depths; mountainsides nurturing deer
n our Scenic Byways aren’t just for motorists: Bring
bicycles to the island with your car or rv and use them to and wildflowers; clear streams, rich
get up close to the natural world.
with fish, splashing seaward: nature
n rent a motorcycle for a backcountry excursion or use
your own atv; maps of good trails are available from USFS has put a lot of work into creating and
ranger districts.
sustaining Prince of Wales Island.
n Go on a salmon or halibut charter for a tug of excite-
ment.
n Get up a hillside and pick blueberries
or lowbush cranberries.
n make a totem tour to see alaska Na-
tive art in Craig, Hydaburg, Kasaan and
Klawock. you might even have an oppor-
tunity to talk to an alaska Native carver
who’s participating in preservation of a N
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remarkable culture. P
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n Fly, boat or hike to a remote public- CH
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use cabin for unforgettable solitude; call ly
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ranger districts for information. r
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n Drive scenic road 30 north of thorne
Bay on Clarence Strait; picnic at Sandy
Beach. Go to friendly Coffman Cove for great photos of peaks and forest.
n Have a cave day. Walk the Beaver Falls karst landscape interpretive trail in old-growth forest, then fol-
low a guide into el Capitan Cave. (Summer only. Call USFS at 907-828-3304 for reservations).
n If you’re towing a boat, drive to the north end of the road at labouchere Bay. launch and motor to NG
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Point Baker and Port Protection, two friendly towns on Sumner Strait. er
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n See ancient alaska Native petroglyphs. Find remnants of the timber industry’s heyday at thorne Bay, y
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Naukati Bay and other sites. ask around about historical places. lI
8 www.princeofwalescoc.org 907-755-2626
Taquan Air is your premier carrier
to and from Prince of Wales Island
n YEAR-ROUND SERVICE WITH DAILY SCHEDULES
n SERVING ALL OF PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND
n CHARTERS AND FREIGHT SERVICE
Our amphibious Cessna Caravan joins
a fleet of reliable DeHavilland Beavers
KETCHIKAN’S
www.taquanair.com 800.770.8800
ONLY 5-STAR
MEDALLION 4085 Tongass Avenue in Ketchikan
SHIELD CARRIER
Prince of Wales Island Guide 2015 9
Fishing
our sportfishing
has been proven
to be a leading cause
of smiles and photo ops ND
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saltwater or streams N
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or variety of species, season length and surroundings, some of Alaska’s
best fishing is on and around Prince of Wales Island. Salmon are our
most celebrated fish, but seasonal steelhead and trout are also pursued.
Halibut and red snapper await those who fish deep.
Charter skippers can set you up with a saltwater day trip. All five species of
Pacific Ocean salmon are available during spring and summer. Halibut lurk in
cold, deep waters around the island.
Lodges with fishing guides offer several-day packages. Lodging styles range
broadly, from world-class plush to down-home rustic. Experienced guides work-
ing out of lodges or independently can take you trolling for big king salmon
offshore or flyfishing for salmon and trout on clear island streams.
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Up here, the “other white meat” is several species of bottomfish. Halibut weigh- US
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ing in at 150 pounds or better are caught here, but local folks know that flatfish N
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in the 20- to 50-pound range are easier to land and make for better eating. A
variety of Pacific cod species and rockfish species fills out the chase—and fills a
lot of coolers.
Do-it-yourselfers can reach good fishing on saltwater or inland freshwater off
the extensive road network. Lakes offer good fishing for cutthroat trout, salmon
and Dolly Varden. Some lakes are close to roads; others are accessible by float-
plane, boat or foot above ocean estuaries.
Dime-bright steelhead run into streams in early spring and fall. Dolly Varden
and rainbow trout also make their way into rivers and creeks.
Dungeness crabs are found in great numbers all over Southeast Alaska in shal-
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lower near-shore waters. These delicious crustaceans may be harvested by those N
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with sportfishing licenses using crab pots. rl
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Fishing licenses are available from sporting goods stores, fuel sellers, some lodges m
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and online at www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license. NI
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PROCESSORS OFFER J
Fish & Game has
OPTIONS FOR SENDING
SEAFOOD BACK HOME fish info online
Wildfish Co. in Klawock can process and the alaska Department of Fish
freeze your catch and mail it for you. and Game web site has helpful
If you’d like your seafood alderwood fishing information. an in-season
smoked before it’s packaged, they can do column has statistics on fishing
that, too. Call 907-755-2247. and tips for anglers in fresh
water and saltwater. Click “Prince
you may check your frozen catch in fish
of Wales Island” in the text or on
boxes as baggage on an airline. to send
the region map.
the fish home ahead of you, you must use
a known shipper such as anderson’s Pro- www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm
cessing in Klawock. anderson’s can also ?adfg=ByareaSoutheastPrinceof
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process and package fish for you. Wales.main UN
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Call 907-755-8870. Ce
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Description:Passenger facilities include a limited menu and .. Dungeness crabs are found
in great numbers all over Southeast Alaska in shal- .. rocky cliffs, giant cedars.
