Page 40 - RV Alaska

Average Temperature
Month: Low-High
Jan: 20°F-29°F Jul: 48°F-65°F
Feb: 23°F-33°F Aug: 48°F-62°F
Mar: 28°F-39°F Sep: 42°F-56°F
Apr: 32°F-48°F Oct: 38°F-48°F
May: 40°F-55°F Nov: 28°F-38°F
Jun: 45°F-62°F Dec: 22°F- 32°F
Population (2025 estimates)
Southeast Alaska. .....................70,233
Haines. ......................................... 1,724
Haines Borough. ........................2,447
Juneau. ...................................... 31,182
Ketchikan Gateway Borough. ..13,377
Ketchikan City.............................7,632
Sitka. .............................................8,032
Skagway...................................... 1,134
Wrangell......................................2,037
State Fair
Southeast Alaska Annual State Fair
Haines, Alaska • July 23- 26
www.seakfair.org
Farmers Markets
Haines Farmers Market
Under Paysons Pavilion, Haines.
June to September, Saturdays,
10am-1pm.
Sitka Farmers Market
Alaska Native Brotherhood Founders
Hall (235 Katlian St.). 10am-1pm on July
12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23, Sept. 6, &
Sept. 20.
Skagway Garden City Market
May 16, June 13, July 11, August 8, Sept
19, Oct 17: 3-5pm on the East deck of
the Skagway Brewing Company.
River Street Market in Petersburg
Saturdays 9am - 12pm at 30 River
Street.
Visitor Information
HAINES
Haines Convention & Visitors Bureau
visithaines.com • (907) 766-2234
JUNEAU
Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau
traveljuneau.com
Toll Free 1-888-581-2201 • (907) 586-2201
KETICHIKAN
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
visit-ketchikan.com • (907) 225-6166
PETERSBURG
Petersburg Visitor Center
www.petersburg.org • (907) 772-4636
SITKA
Sitka Alaska Convention & Visitors
Bureau
visitsitka.org • (907) 747-5940
SKAGWAY
Skagway Visitor Department
skagway.com
(907) 983-2854 • 1-888-762-1898
WRANGELL
City & Borough of Wrangell Alaska
Visitor Information
www.wrangell.com/visitorservices
(907) 874-2381
Customs Stations
Canada Border Services Agency
1-800-461-9999 • www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Klondike Highway #2
Fraser, British Columbia
Year-round: 8am–midnight
(Yukon time)
Haines Highway #3
Pleasant Camp, B.C.
Year-round: 8am–midnight
(Yukon time)
United States Customs and
Border Protection
(202) 325-8000 • www.cbp.gov
Klondike Highway #2
Skagway, Alaska
Year-round: 7am–11 pm (Alaska time)
Haines Highway #3
Dalton Cache, Alaska
Year-round: 7am–11 pm (AK time)
40
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
Southeast Alaska, also known as the Alaska
Panhandle, is a picturesque area of mountains,
fjords, rainforests and small coastal towns.
Photo courtesy of Skagway CVB | Andrew Cremata
Exploring Alaska’s dramatic southeast coast
RV Note: Most Southeast
communities are ferry- or air-access
only. The Alaska Marine Highway
accepts RVs; book early for summer.
Southeast Alaska is popular with
visitors for its scenery and mild
climate. The inside passage offers
activities such as whale watching,
kayaking and canoeing. It is also a
popular route for cruise ships during
the summer.
More than 80 percent of Southeast
Alaska is part of the Tongass National
Forest, which, at 16.9 million acres,
is the largest National Forest in the
United States. Almost half of Tongass
is covered by ice, water, wetlands and
rock. It includes Mendenhall, LeConte
and Hubbard glaciers as well as the
Alexander Archipelago.
The Alaska portion of the inside
passage runs through channels and
fjords which are formed by the tops
of submerged mountains of the
Coast Ranges. These mountain tops
make up the 1,100 islands of the
Alexander Archipelago.
The southeast was the first area of
Alaska settled when it was acquired
by the United States from Russia in
the Alaska Purchase in 1867.
Native American and Russian
influences can be seen in the small
Sitka
Sitka is an island community boldly
living between the mountains and
sea, where the arts flourish and an
ancient native culture still thrives.
Surrounded by rainforest, we share
our home with brown bears, bald
eagles and all five species of Pacific
salmon. In Sitka, we are deeply
connected to the natural world
around us. It informs our culture
and inspires our art. Sitka is the
place where wilderness and culture
collide. Curiosity is encouraged! Are
you outdoorsy or a museum fan?
A thrill seeker or a nature lover?
Looking for an unusual getaway
or an inspiring retreat? In Sitka,
we’ve got you covered. Inspire
your imagination. Refresh your
spirit. Explore, grow and connect with
our community’s welcoming spirit.
Sitka has something for everyone.
Famous for world-class fishing in salt
and fresh water, you can book guided
trips or rent a boat and gear for your
own adventure. Sitka is the wilderness
home to eagles, brown bears, whales,
sea lions and all five species of
Pacific salmon. The community is a
welcoming melting pot of ancient
native Tlingit culture, Russian trader
influence and modern American
culture. Visitor highlights include
Sitka National Historic Park, the site
of the 1804 Battle of Sitka between
invading Russian traders and the
local Tlingit clan. Russian influence
can be found across downtown,
coastal towns along the inside
passage. The onion-domed, icon-
laden churches are evidence of the
Russians who once settled the land.
The Tlingit, Haida and Tsmishian
people have lived in Southeast Alaska
for over 10,000 years. Their history is
carved into towering totem poles.
The towns of Haines, Skagway
and Hyder are all accessible by
road through Canada but most
communities, such as Juneau (the
capital of Alaska) are only accessible
by sea or air. The Alaska Marine
Highway provides transportation
between towns and also connects
Southeast Alaska with the rest of
Alaska and the continental United
States.
Juneau
In Juneau, Alaska’s scenic capital
city, cosmopolitan charm and rich
history combine with the stunning
wilderness of the Tongass National
Forest and the bountiful waters of the
Inside Passage. Juneau became the
capital city of Alaska in 1906 when
the government was moved from
Sitka. It is Southeast Alaska’s hub with
convenient air and ferry service to
Inside Passage communities, Glacier
Bay National Park, Anchorage and
Seattle (only 2 hours by air).
Photo courtesy of Visit Sitka
most notably at St. Michael’s Russian
Orthodox Cathedral, an active
church that houses an important
collection of artifacts and icons
that date to the 17th century. Sitka
is home to two renowned animal
rehabilitation centers that are open
to the public – Fortress of the Bear
and Alaska Raptor Center. A visit
is not complete without tasting a
luscious bite of freshly caught local
seafood, which can be found at over
a dozen restaurants from one end
of the island to the other. And you
can purchase fresh seafood to take
home or cook at your campsite.
Sitka is brimming with local artists
who create everything from nature
inspired paintings, handwoven
baskets to hand carved native metal
bracelets. Local artisans create an
amazing array of special treats that
are locally sourced and locally crafted
including handmade soaps, kelp
pickles, smoked salmon, pure sea
salt and lotions made from the local
Among other things, visitors can
enjoy Alaska’s most accessible
glacier, fly over the Juneau Icefield,
discover the State Museum, gaze at
humpback and orca whales, take a
glacier cruise, tour a historic gold
mine, ride the Mount Roberts Tram,
savor fresh Alaskan seafood, shop
downtown galleries, catch salmon
and watch sea lions, seals, eagles
and possibly bears. Juneau also has
a thriving arts community with a
local symphony, two major statewide
music festivals, an award-winning
theater, and countless local artists.
Best of all, these authentic Alaskan
experiences are all within 15 minutes
of downtown Juneau.
Mendenhall Glacier is Alaska’s
famous “drive-in” glacier. It is only
13 miles from downtown Juneau
along a paved road. The glacier can
be viewed from the road or from the
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
devil’s club plant.
Being an island community, Sitka is
only accessible by water or air. The
Alaska Marine Highway Ferry makes
regular stops in Sitka, and barges
arrive multiple times per week.
Sitka offers four RV parks and a free
municipal dump station. Suppliers
include two hardware stores, an auto
supply store, three grocery stores,
four outdoor gear locations and a
large marine supply center.
The Alaska Marine Highway System
provides an extraordinary opportunity
to navigate the Inside Passage at
a leisurely pace. Passengers can
embark – with or without their
vehicle or RV – at Bellingham,
Washington (just north of Seattle)
from the south, and in Skagway or
Haines, Alaska from the north. Sitka
Tours ferry shuttle provides daytime
transportation to/from the Sitka Ferry
Terminal (907) 747-5800 or contact a
local taxi company in advance.