• 1.5 Miles (one way)
• 1 Hour (one way)
• Begins and Ends at National Park Service Visitor Center
• Elevation Gain: 20 feet
• Recommended Season: Year Round
• Level of Difficulty: Easy.  Well maintained, dry, level trail.

Access

The trail is located at the east end of Lincoln Street at Sitka National Historical Park.  Begin at the side doors of the National Park Service Visitor Center by the totem pole near the beach.

History

The Historical Park commemorates the site of the Battle of Sitka between the Tlingit Natives and the Russians in 1802.  An informative brochure with a map can be obtained from the Park Visitor Center.

Description

Sitka National Historical Park trail is made to order for the stroller who wants a taste of southeast Alaska's forests and waters in a non-strenuous setting.  The well maintained trail is in Sitka spruce-western hemlock forest and parallels the shoreline of Eastern Channel.  A guidebook is available at the Visitor Center that interprets the totem poles along the trail.  During mid to late summer, huckleberries and blueberries are common.  Also, watch the shore and trees for ravens, eagles and other birds.  Squirrels are likely to pop up anywhere year round.

There are numerous spur trails to the adjacent pebble and sand beach.  At the southwestern end of the park there are a series of paths running through the beach meadows and grass flats.  During the spring and early summer, these meadows support a wide array of colorful wildflowers.

The main trail leads along Indian River where pink, chum and coho salmon return to spawn during late summer and early fall.  This is truly an amazing sight as thousands of fish are side by side flopping up the river.  The best fish viewing point is the arched bridge.

Cross over the bridge and follow another loop trail southeast along the river past the Russian Monument, or northwest through the forest back to the bridge.