Page 40 - RV Alaska

SOUTHEAST ALASKA
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
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).
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.
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 (2023 estimates)
Southeast Alaska. .....................58,996
Haines. ......................................... 1,767
Haines Borough. ........................2,575
Juneau. ......................................31,549
Ketchikan Gateway Borough. ..13,475
Ketchikan City............................ 7,803
Sitka. .............................................8,231
Skagway.......................................1,127
Wrangell..................................... 2,039
State Fair
Southeast Alaska Annual State Fair
Haines, Alaska • July 25-28
www.seakfair.org
Farmers Markets
Haines Farmers Market
Under Paysons Pavilion, Haines.
June to mid-September, Saturdays,
10am-12pm.
Sitka Farmers Market
Plaza outside the museum end of
Harrigan Centennial Hall. 10am-1pm
on July 2, 16, 30, August 13, 27, Sept.
10 & 24.
Skagway Garden City Market
Located at Skagway Brewing Company’s
covered east deck. Every month 3rd
Saturday 3-5pm..
River Street Market in Petersburg
Saturdays 9am - 12pm across from
Croakers Spot beside the Historic
Farmers Market Building in Old Towne
Petersburg.
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 Convention & Visitors
Bureau
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
(867) 821-4111
Year-round: 8am–midnight
(Yukon time)
Haines Highway #3
Pleasant Camp, B.C. • (907) 767-5540
Year-round: 8am–midnight
(Yukon time)
United States Customs and
Border Protection
(202) 325-8000 • www.cbp.gov
Klondike Highway #2
Skagway, Alaska • (907) 983-2325
Year-round: 7am–11 pm (Alaska time)
Haines Highway #3
Dalton Cache, Alaska • (907) 767-5511
Year-round: 7am–11 pm (AK time)
Photo courtesy of Skagway CVB | Andrew Cremata
Southeast Alaska, also known as the Alaska
Panhandle, is a picturesque area of mountains,
fjords, rainforests and small coastal towns.
EVERGREEN
CEMETERY
WILLOUGHBY AVE
WILLOUGHBY AVE
NINTH ST
PARKS ST
SEATER ST
MARTIN RD
EVERGREEN AVE
ALDER ST
HEMLOCK ST
TROY AVE
IRWIN ST
ELEVENTH ST
TENTH ST
W. SEVENTH ST
W. EIGHTH ST
W. NINTH ST
SITKA ST
CORDOVA ST
FOSTER AVE
FOSTER AVE
PIONEER AVE
NOWELL AVE
FAIRBANKS ST
DOUGLAS HWY
GLACIER AVE
GLACIER AVE
COPE PARK RD
JUNEAU - DOUGLAS BRIDGE
GOLD CREEK
COPE PARK
MARINE
PARK
DOUGLAS ISLAND
SPRUCE ST
BEHRENDS AVE
EGAN DR
EGAN DR
GOLD ST
NELSON
KENNEDY ST
PARK ST
ST
MAIN ST
FRONT ST
FERRY WAY
TRAM
FRANKLIN ST
FRANKLIN ST
GASTINEAU AVE
SEWARD ST
A
B
C
D
E
to Perseverance Trailhead and
Last Chance Mining Museam
to Mendenhall Glacier,
Ferry Terminal and Hospital
to Mt. Roberts
Trailhead
BASIN RD
HIGHLAND DR
i P
GLACIER AVE
WHITTIER ST
CAPITAL AVE
F ST
D ST
TWELFTH ST
C ST
B ST
A ST
FIRST ST
MARINE WAY
SECOND ST
THIRD ST
THIRD ST
FOURTH ST
FIFTH ST
HARRIS ST
EAST ST
SIXTH ST
SEVENTH ST
VILLAGE ST
DIXON
GOLDBELT
CALHOURN
EIGHTH ST
AURORA
HARBOR
HARRIS
HARBOR
COAST GUARD DOCK
N
Alaska’s capital city
Fast Facts
➨ Population: 31,549 (2023 estimate)
➨ Founded in 1881
➨ Area: 3,248 sq miles
➨ The longest day is June 21
(18 hrs, 18 min of daylight)
➨ The shortest day is December 21
(6 hrs, 21 min of daylight)
DOWNTOWN JUNEAU
Exploring Alaska’s dramatic southeast coast
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