Oh, the choices! Check out some ways to enjoy your time on Prince of Wales Island.
Take a Long, Scenic Drive!
Spend a day - or more! - driving through rich, green scenery, finding impressive overlooks, spotting wildlife, and visiting interesting small towns. Prince of Wales Island has a road system that is unmatched in Southeast Alaska. Here it is by the numbers:
Over 1000 miles of road on Prince of Wales Island!
260 miles of designated Scenic Byways!
200 miles of paved roads.
9 P.O.W. communities are on the road system.
7 P.O.W. communities are on the paved road system.
Over 800 miles of gravel roads access remote fishing streams and forests.
Experience Alaska Native Culture!
Visit totem parks and carving sheds in Hydaburg, Kasaan, and Klawock. You can also take classes at the Hydaburg Culture Camp. Check to see if there will be a totem raising! It’s worth planning your trip around an event like that.
Wildlife Watching!
It is common to see eagles, deer, and bears while driving on Prince of Wales Island, but there's much more. Take a whale watching tour to see humpback and killer whales as well as sea lions, seals, and sea otters. Stop by the Dog Salmon Fish Pass bear viewing site to see black bears fishing for salmon. Watch for Alexander Archipelago wolves. And don't forget the little guys! P.O.W. has river otters, mink, marten, flying squirrels, Western Boreal toads, rough-skinned newts, and many more interesting critters.
Birding!
From hummingbirds to sandhill cranes, birdwatchers will find plenty to delight in. Over 80 species of birds grace POW Island. In springtime the forests are alive with birdsong. Seabirds abound in the waters near POW. Ducks and geese rest and feed on grass flats during their migrations. Hawks and owls are special sightings.
Fishing!
Whether you prefer fly fishing a secluded river bend or slammin' salmon in salt water, P.O.W. is the place! Guides and charter captains can put you on the fish, or you can explore to your heart's content to find your own special fishing hole.
Hunting!
Prince of Wales Island is home to Sitka Blacktail deer and trophy black bear. Lodges and outfitters will be sure that you are all set for a great hunting experience.
Kayaking and Canoeing!
Paddle and explore to your heart's content! You can have a relaxing afternoon on a lake or glide past rocky ocean shorelines. In addition to innumerable places to put in to salt and fresh water, there are two canoe trails laid out by the U.S. Forest Service. The difficult Honker Divide Canoe Trail and the mid-level Sarkar Canoe Trail are multi-day experiences.
Explore the Geology of P.O.W.!
Tour an amazing cave at El Capitan Passage! The Forest Service gives free guided tours in the summer months. Read about El Capitan Cave and touring the cave HERE.
See karst formations, including impressive sinkholes, at the Beaver Falls Karst Trail boardwalk.
Beaches, road cuts, and rock pits are good places to look at interesting rocks and fossils.
Hiking and Camping!
Put yourself into this amazing environment! Hike in old growth forest, along streams and on wild Alaskan beaches. Easy to difficult trails give you the right level of challenge.
There are Forest Service cabins to rent in remote places. Several campgrounds on the island provide improved camping spots. RV parks are available in Craig, Klawock, and Thorne Bay.
Photography!
Give yourself the gift of extra travel time to spend on photography. Your adventures and the amazing sights on POW are worth preserving.
POW has beauty in all directions, so bring extra memory cards!
Tidepooling and Beachcombing!
Visit the wonders of the intertidal zone! Interesting shells, intriguing anenomes, starfish in wonderful colors, and fascinating tidepooling will make your beach outing a series of delights. Find that special piece of sea glass or a pretty pebble as a memento of the day.
Find Your Special Place!
Whether its an panoramic mountaintop view, a mossy forest, a relaxing beach, or a waterfall to meditate on, Prince of Wales Island has extra special places just for you!
I just started work in this page, so don't worry! Lots more will be added. I’ll put in more links to give you more great info about things to do on POW.