Become a Junior Ranger! Learn about Tlingit culture, the rainforest, Russian American history, and the coastal environment. You'll earn an official badge so that you will not forget how important you are to the National Park Service.
The intertidal zone is full of variety, and when the tide is out there are tidepools and wide flats to explore.
15 Minutes
Salmon are easily observed from the bridge over Indian River when they spawn each summer and fall. Strong ties bind them to the people, plants, and animals of Sitka.
15 Minutes
Search for the usual suspects, such as bumblebees and hummingbirds, among the park's flowers, but don't forget to hunt for less obvious pollinators like hoverflies and slugs. You can find a lot to observe in different habitats. Don't forget to look for representations of pollinators on totem poles and in museum objects in the visitor center.
15 Minutes
When you bend down low and examine the forest floor you find a lot of variety, and even some drama! Low-growing plants, fungi, moss, lichens, insects, banana slugs, cones, and more go about their business beneath the trees. Take time to observe the little things that support large trees.
15 Minutes
Find evidence of Sitka's distant past in outcrops of bedrock. These large pieces of graywacke are sedimentary rocks formed beneath the ocean, lifted up by tectonic forces, and weathered by ice and water.
10 Minutes
As berries ripen, they dot Sitka's greenery with bright reds, luminous oranges, and muted blues and grays. Enjoy their colors and shapes as you walk through the park. If you choose to taste some, be respectful of the park's history, know what's allowed, and be certain you know what you're about to touch or eat.
15 Minutes
Artists demonstrate traditional Tlingit and Haida forms of carving, weaving, beading, and metalworking. Many of the things they create have ceremonial uses.
15-60 Minutes
Fishing is a popular tradition in Sitka. Fish responsibly, follow regulations, and have a license when necessary. Be aware that bears share fishing grounds in the park and know what to do to keep yourself and the bears safe.
The historic landmarks in Sitka are portals in time to significant events in Alaska history. Locations of battles and fort sites, churches, schools, military installations and more provide us with a glimpse into the rich and diverse past of Sitka, and its substantial role in Alaskan (and American) history. Use the information guide with a map and start your trip back in time.
1-4 Hours
The estuary, shores and forests of Sitka NHP are excellent places to watch birds that are migrating through in the spring and fall. We also boast a fabulous array of birds that are hardy enough to stay all year around.
1-3 Hours
Watch a 15-minute film for an overview of Tlingit, Russian, and American history in and around the park.
15-15 Minutes
Watch an 18-minute film for an overview of the Russian Bishop's House and the history of Saint Innocent's efforts to reconcile Tlingit and Russians.
18-18 Minutes
The Russian Bishop's House is one of only four surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America. Built in 1843, it served as the residence of Orthodox bishops and clergy for over 120 years. Today, it houses a museum on Russian-American history, and the restored residence of the first bishop to live in the house, Bishop Innocent.
20-60 Minutes
Ranger-led programs are a great way to learn more about the park and history of Southeast Alaska.
15-60 Minutes
A historic trail lined with Haida and Tlingit totem poles passes through classic Southeast Alaska temperate rainforest to the site of the Battle of 1804.
30-90 Minutes
Learn about Tlingit culture and way of life through historical and contemporary ceremonial objects. Observe demonstrating artists in the wood, regalia, or metalworking studios or outdoors at the carving shed.
1-4 Hours