TONGASS
NATIONAL FOREST
2019 VISITOR GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GETTING THE MOST OUT
OF YOUR VISIT...............................3
TONGASS FISHERIES....................4
SALMON FACTS............................5
CABINS & CAMPGROUNDS......... 5
KIDS, FISHING AND
A CHILDREN’S FOREST.................6
FOREST MAP...............................8-9
TONGASS FACTS...........................9
ANNUAL RAINFALL.......................9
BEAR VIEWING............................10
BEAR ENCOUNTERS....................11
SARKAR LAKE
RECREATION AREA.....................12
SUSTAINABLE
RECREATION .........................13-14
LEARN MORE...............................15
CONTACT US................ Back Cover
Welcome to the
Tongass National
Forest!
At nearly 17 million acres, this is the largest National
Forest in the Unites States, and the largest contiguous
temperate rainforest in the world. The Tongass
National Forest is a public treasure. It is a land of
beauty, mystery, and untold natural riches. Since time
immemorial, this forest has nourished and sustained
rich and unique human cultures.
It continues to sustain Alaskan communities and
culture today by creating jobs and bringing revenue
through tourism, recreation, watersheds, fisheries and
timber. The Tongass NF sees more than 2.8 million
visitors annually, generating more than $380 million
in spending and over 5,000 jobs!* All of this while
protecting and maintaining some of the most diverse
and beautiful ecosystems in the country.
The Tongass has something for everyone. Explore,
renew, and refresh among the islands and along the
coastline here in the Tongass, and take home exciting
memories of adventures in Alaska. We hope you enjoy
your time in the Last Frontier and will choose to
return often.
M. Earl Stewart
FOREST SUPERVISOR,
TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST
2
Produced by the Tongass National Forest.
All photos are courtesy USFS unless otherwise noted.
Thank you to the following photographers and writers:
Faith L. Duncan, Carla Hart, Cindy Lagoudakis, Ron Medel,
Katie Rooks and Libby Sterling.
Designed by Timberdoodle Studio.
Printed on recycled paper.
Getting the Most
out of Your Visit
KETCHIKAN, REVILLAGIGEDO ISLAND
Orient yourself at the Southeast Alaska Discovery
Center: attend programs, tour the exhibits, learn the
story of civil rights pioneer Elizabeth Peratrovich
and watch award-winning movies in the Peratrovich
Theater. Hike trails that range in difficulty from a
peaceful lakeside walk to a strenuous mountain climb
that rewards you with spectacular views. Explore Misty
Fjords National Monument via watercraft or air.
In April, experience the Hummingbird Festival.
CRAIG AND THORNE BAY, PRINCE OF
WALES ISLAND
Explore the island via Interisland Ferry. Day use areas
and hiking trails abound; check at the Hollis ferry
terminal for recreation information. Make a reservation
at the Thorne Bay District Office for a guided tour of El
Capitan Cave from late May through early September.
SITKA, BARANOF ISLAND
Enjoy camping in Starrigavan Creek Cabin, picnicking
and a self-guided nature walk along Starrigavan Bay,
and fish viewing in season within the Starrigavan
Recreation Area, located 1/4 mile from the ferry
terminal. Attend Sitka Summer Music Festival in June
or Alaska Day activities in October. Hike numerous
miles of trails from the Sitka road system.
WRANGELL, WRANGELL ISLAND
Retrace John Muir’s footsteps in Wrangell, located at the
mouth of the wild Stikine River. Attend mid-summer,
Friday-night campfire programs or explore the Rainbow
Falls Trail on a self-guided hike. Bring your camera and
capture memories at the Anan Wildlife Observatory, a
short plane or boat ride away. The Stikine River Bird
Festival is held in April and Bearfest is held in July
each year.
PETERSBURG, MITKOF ISLAND
The Petersburg Ranger District maintains several
scenic recreation sites, including a newly refurbished,
accessible picnic/day-use area and Swan Observatory.
The Visitor Information Center in downtown Petersburg
offers maps and advice on recreational opportunities.
The Tongass Rainforest Festival is held the second week
in September.
HOONAH, CHICHAGOF ISLAND
Take an opportunity to experience authentic Alaska in
this quiet community surrounded by ocean, forest and
mountains. Stop by the Ranger District Office to find out
how to plan your adventure to explore roads and trails,
or for information on cabins, NatureWatch, hunting,
and fishing.
JUNEAU, ON THE MAINLAND
Just a short drive from downtown Juneau you’ll find
the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier. The Mendenhall
Glacier Visitor Center has interpretive programs
and exhibits, a glacier observatory, a series of
interconnected trails, and an interpretive bookstore.
Juneau also features attractive campsites and bear
viewing opportunities.
ANGOON, ADMIRALTY ISLAND
Steeped in Alaska Native Tlingit tradition, this
community serves as the gateway to Admiralty Island
National Monument and Kootznoowoo Wilderness
Area. From here your wilderness adventure begins by
canoeing and portaging the Cross Admiralty Canoe
Route or view brown bears at Pack Creek Bear Viewing
Site. Contact the monument office in Juneau for more
information.
YAKUTAT, ON THE MAINLAND
Explore historic beaches, surf, or fish the Situk River,
a world class salmon and steelhead stream, all within
driving distance from town. The annual Yakutat Tern
Festival, in early June, offers family friendly activities
in celebration of local Aleutian and Arctic tern
(seabird) colonies.
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Tongass Fisheries:
Recreation and
Restoration
Fishing the Tongass is a one-of-a-kind experience
for visitors and residents alike. It is a recreational
opportunity that deserves notice. The Forest boasts
over 11,000 miles of coastline and hundreds of lakes
and streams, as well as massive trans-boundary river
systems including the Stikine, Taku, and Alsek. These
waterways and wetlands also offer opportunities
to explore the temperate rainforest through:
participating in guided trips and camps, working on
restoring fish habitat, and fishing with kids.
Thirty-two towns and villages in southeast Alaska
produce the largest salmon harvest in the state,
approximately 73 million fish, with approximately
64 million coming from Tongass watersheds. The
harvest bolsters one of the region’s largest economic
contributors, commercial fishing, supporting the
families and small businesses of southeast Alaska.
Restoration of streams and within watersheds
consists of reducing the erosion from roads and
landslides, eliminating fish barriers, promoting
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natural in-stream processes, and returning large
woody debris to streams to increase aquatic habitat.
Improving bank stability and reducing diversion of
the stream waters to improve the connectivity of
streams of different sizes for fisheries is also a major
restoration goal.
Restoration efforts have been successful across the
Tongass. Of the 900 watersheds on the Forest, 93% are
near natural condition thanks to the collaborative
efforts of the Tongass and community partners.
The fantastic health of Forest watersheds today has
allowed Forest staff to take part in collaborative
projects on neighboring, non-federal lands as well.
As part of the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership,
Tongass staff taught a hands-on workshop on
Huna Totem Corporation lands to restore Spasski
Creek, using hand tools to have less impact on the
environment. The effort will increase salmon returns
in the area, demonstrating the link between the forest
and the future of fisheries.
Tongass Salmon Factsheet
These facts are meant to further inform conversations
about Tongass National Forest, which produces more
wild salmon than all other national forests combined.
5
Public Use Cabins
There are 144 rustic cabins spread throughout the Tongass. They
each provide a cozy shelter, wooden bunks to sleep 2-15 people,
and an outhouse. There are two drive-up cabins, Middle Ridge and
Starrigavan. Twelve Mile Arm and Control Lake on Prince of Wales
Island are located a short walk to and from a drive.
COST: Varies by location and season.
STAY LIMIT: Varies by location. Maximum 7-14 night’s in summer;
10-14 nights in winter; 2 nights Juneau cabins only.
RESERVATIONS & FEES
Visit recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 for the most up to date fees
and to make cabin and campground reservations.
Campgrounds
WHERE
NAME AND LOCATION
RESERVATIONS
#
SITES
REMARKS
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some sites
Fully accessible
Harris River
15 miles from Craig
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some sites
Fully accessible,
one group shelter
Ketchikan
Ward Lake Rec. Area
Signal Creek and Last Chance
campgrounds 3.5 miles from
ferry terminal
44
some sites
CCC Group Use Area can
be reserved through ranger
district for day or overnight
use. Signal Creek open yearround.
Wrangell
Nemo Campsite
14 miles from town
8
no
Wheelchair accessible
8 campsites at 4 areas
Lower Salamander Rec. Site
23 miles from town
3
no
3 covered picnic shelters
Petersburg
Ohmer Creek
21 miles from town
10
no
Open year-round,
weather permiting
Sitka
Starrigavan Rec. Area
near ferry terminal; 1 cabin
avail.
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some sites
Fully accessible,
open year-round; with
vehicle
restrictions Sept. 15 - April 30
Juneau
Mendenhall Lake
13 miles from town
6 miles from ferry
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All sites by reservation only.
Additional $10 reservation
fee - recreation.gov
Wheelchair accessible, tables,
grills, water, toilets, showers
Auk Village
1.5 miles from ferry
15 miles from town
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All sites by reservation only.
Additional $10 reservation
fee - recreation.gov
No RV facilities
Cannon Beach
3
no
Fully accessible, open yearround, tables, grills
9-Mile
6
no
Accessible, boat launch
Prince of
Eagles Nest
Wales Island 18 miles west of Thorne Bay
Yakutat
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Activities for Kids (and Kids at Heart ) !
There are so many cool ways to explore the Tongass
National Forest we can’t even begin to list them all
here! We can, however, share a few of our newest ways
to get out and explore!
AGENTS OF DISCOVERY
Have you ever wanted to be a
secret agent? Well, now’s your
chance! Download the free Agents
of Discovery app (available for
both Apple & Android) and find the
Tongass National Forest mission
sites closest to you - Mendenhall
Glacier, Mission 49: Journey to Alaska’s Past, Territory
of the Aak’w People, and Southeast Alaska Discovery
Center. In order to play, you’ll have to hit the trails to
find the challenges and figure out the answers.
Please note that most areas on the forest do not have
Wi-Fi, so please download the app and the mission
sites before heading out. Wi-Fi is not needed to play the
game itself.
BECOME A JUNIOR
RANGER
Check out our 2 newest Junior
Ranger booklets – the forest
wide Tongass National Forest
Junior Ranger and the site
specific Mendenhall Glacier
Junior Ranger! Explore your
surroundings and use your noggin to answer the
challenges. Once complete, bring your booklet to any
Tongass National Forest office to become an official
Junior Ranger!
TONGASS NATIONAL
FOREST FAMILY FIELD
GUIDE
Grab your friends and family and
go explore with this fun family
field guide! See how many of the
common plants and animals of the
Tongass National Forest you can
find! Who knows, you might just
find something new!
FISHING DERBIES
Fishing derbies for youth are held throughout the
Tongass National Forest, and emphasize the value of
watershed health and fish populations throughout
Southeast Alaska. The events take place on the shores
around Yakutat and Hoonah, on lakes in Sitka, Juneau,
Petersburg and Wrangell, and at a camp ground near
Thorne Bay. The latter honors the late Jim Beard,
a fisheries biologist and educator from Prince of
Wales Island.
In 2011, the Tongass was designated a Children’s Forest. This designation
acknowledged the contributions from all the Ranger Districts towards getting
kids outdoors, being stewards of present and future forests, and getting
involved with citizen science projects in their own backyards. A Children’s
Forest gains longevity and strength due to the abundance of community
partners that believe and support youth projects.
Since 2015 the Every Kid in the Park program has offered fourth graders
and three members of their families an opportunity to enjoy public land
fee areas free of charge for one year. The Tongass National Forest has been
encouraging youth of that age to apply online and receive their certificate,
exchange it for a plastic identification card at several fee stations like the
Mendenhall Visitor Center, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, and
District locations, and use the card to explore public lands throughout the
United States. Go to everykidinapark.gov to get your 4th grader a pass!
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WHAT MAKES A COASTAL
TEMPERATE RAINFOREST?
• More than 55 inches of annual precipitation
with 10% or more occurring in the summer.
• Cool, frequently overcast summers with
midsummer average temperatures less than 61
degrees Fahrenheit.
• A dormant season caused by low temperatures.
• Infrequent forest fires.
• Close proximity to the ocean.
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TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST
Forest Facts
• Designated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, the
Tongass National Forest is over 100 years old.
• At appx. 17 million acres, the largest national
forest in the United States and part of the largest
coastal temperate rainforest in the world.
• Managed for multiple use including recreation,
fisheries, timber harvest, mining, and wilderness
preservation.
• Includes two national monuments, 13
campgrounds, 19 wilderness areas,
144 recreational cabins, and 450 miles of
hiking trails.
• There are no threatened or endangered species
on the Forest.
• There are more brown bears on one island
(Admiralty) than the entire lower 48 combined.
ANNUAL RAINFALL/SNOWFALL
(IN INCHES)
Angoon
Craig
Haines
Hoonah
Hyder
Juneau
Kake
Ketchikan
Klawock
Little Port
Walter
43/63
120/140
52/133
100/71
78/162
54-92/101
54/44
162/32
120/40
Metlakatla
Pelican
Petersburg
Port Alexander
Sitka
Skagway
Thorne Bay
Wrangell
Yakutat
115/61
127/120
106/97
172/85
96/39
26/39
120/40
82/64
132/219
225/119
Learn more at www.fs.usda.gov/tongass
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Bear Viewing
Bears live, forage, and travel everywhere in the Tongass. Here is
a selection of four sites where visitors can watch and learn about
bears without disturbing them. Forest Service staff are on-site
throughout July and August. Watch for group size limits and other
restrictions. Pets, food and camping are not allowed at these sites.
ANAN WILDLIFE OBSERVATORY
Anan is located 30 miles south of Wrangell, and
accessible by boat or floatplane. Season is late-June
through mid-September. Passes required during
peak season July 5 to August 25, and costs $10 plus
reservation fee. Passes are obtained at http://www.
recreation.gov. Commercial guides are available at
nearby communities.
FACILITIES: Boardwalk trail is 1/2-mile from beach to
observation deck, shelter, viewing blind, and outhouse.
Anan Bay Cabin requires a reservation
RESTRICTIONS: No camping near Anan Creek; visitors
must stay on trails between June 15 and September 15
annually. The trail is rated moderate to difficult.
LOOK FOR: brown and black bears, pink salmon,
eagles, otter, and seals. Saltwater fishing only.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: or to obtain a pass please
contact the Wrangell Ranger District at 907-874-2323.
FISH CREEK WILDLIFE
OBSERVATION SITE
Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site is located 75 air
miles northeast of Ketchikan and three miles north of
Hyder, by road, in the Salmon River valley. The site is
open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
FACILITIES: parking area, viewing deck, restroom.
Camping is available in Hyder at non-FS locations.
FEES: Entry fees for July 1 - September 15: $5 a day; $10
for 3 days; $20 for 7 days. Fees payable at the Fish Creek
viewing site.
LOOK FOR: brown and black bears, eagles, geese, ducks,
mink, beaver, songbirds, and pink and chum salmon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: call the Ketchikan Misty
Fjords Ranger District 907-225-2148 year round or the
Hyder office from May 1 through September 25 at 250636-2367.
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PACK CREEK BROWN BEAR
VIEWING AREA
Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area is located
on Admiralty Island, 27 air miles south of Juneau,
accessible by boat or floatplane. Season runs June 1
through September 10. Permit required, commercial
guides available.
FACILITIES: Beach walk to observation pad, camping
on nearby Windfall Island, no shelter or restroom.
FEES: Adults $50 and youth $25 per person during
peak season
LOOK FOR: brown bears, deer, and birds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: call the Admiralty
National Monument at 907-586-8800.
MARGARET CREEK WILDLIFE
OBSERVATION SITE
Forest Service hosts are on site intermittently in
August and the first two weeks of September. Located
on Revillagigedo Island, 26 miles north of Ketchikan.
Accessible by boat or floatplane. Commercial guides
available.
FACILITIES: 1/4-mile gravel trail located one mile from
Margaret Bay dock takes visitors through old-growth
temperate rainforest to viewing platform.
FEES: No fees or permits required.
LOOK FOR: black bears, birds, and four species of
salmon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: call Ketchikan/Misty
Fjords Ranger District at 907-225-2148
Bear Outdoor Viewing Ethics
AVOID ENCOUNTERS BY BEING ALERT.
Bears are active day and night, and can be anywhere.
Watch for tracks, scat, and smells.
KEEP YOUR FOOD AND GARBAGE AWAY
FROM BEARS. Use bear-resistant food containers,
hang it in a tree, keep it in your pack, but never let a bear
get any or it will come looking for more.
MAKE NOISE TO AVOID SURPRISING A BEAR.
Be especially careful in dense brush where visibility is
low, and along rivers where bears cannot hear you over
the noise of the water.
GIVE BEARS LOTS OF SPACE. Never approach a
bear. Stay on observation decks and marked trails.
If the bear is unaware of you, back away quietly and
quickly, putting lots of space between you and the bear.
If the bear approaches you, stand your ground and keep
your pack on. Talk calmly in a low voice and slowly
wave your arms over your head. Continue to stand your
ground unless you are on its trail or adjacent to its food
source. Bears that stand up on their hind legs are not
threatening you, but merely trying to identify you.
Should a bear charge you, stand your ground and keep
your pack on. Bears sometimes charge, coming within
ten feet of a person before stopping or veering off.
Dropping a pack may encourage the bear to approach
other people for food. Stand still and talk to the bear
until it moves away, then slowly back off.
If a bear actually makes contact, fall to the ground
and play dead. Lie flat on your stomach, or curl up in
a ball with your hands behind your neck. Typically,
a bear will slow its attack once it feels the threat has
been eliminated. Remain motionless for as long as
possible. If you move, and the bear sees or hears you,
it may return and renew its attack. If the attack is
prolonged, fight back vigorously.
For more information about Alaska’s bears,
visit the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game’s Living with Bears website.
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Off the Beaten Path:
Sarkar Lake Recreation Area
Sarkar Lake lies in “the middle” of Prince of Wales
Island. It is a median recreation destination between
the north end of the island and the southern
attractions. In 2015, the access point got a major
facelift. Thanks to Federal Lands Access Program
(FLAP) funding, a large covered pavilion, concrete
vault outhouse, enlarged parking and paddlecraft
launch were added. The site is now located just off
the new paved road that continues past the town
of Naukati.
From this new and improved access point, visitors
can travel one of the most scenic chains of lakes
in Southeast Alaska via paddlecraft- an entire
freshwater ecosystem adventure awaits. Sarkar Lake
Cabin lies almost at the end of the first lake. Built
in the 1960’s and snuggled on a mossy peninsula of
larger hemlock and spruce growth, this small but
cozy Pan-Abode cabin affords warm and dry shelter
to both locals looking for a weekend getaway or the
hardier who come for a canoe route adventure.
At approximately 15 miles, the route is just
challenging enough to provide a day or two of
adventure. It can be done in a day by experienced
paddlers. The Forest Service skiff (provided for cabin
renters only, please) can be rowed or motored with
a small outboard (not provided) to the cabin and
first portage, near which a stream inlet offers a good
opportunity to catch dinner.
Frequent wildlife seen and heard from the cabin
and along the canoe route include; owls, Trumpeter
swans, waterfowl of all kinds, wolves, bears, eagles,
loons, otter and mink.
Come see all that this amazing recreation
opportunity offers.
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Written by Katie Rooks, Craig Ranger District
Choosing Sustainable
Recreation
SUSTAINABILITY IS FOR EVERYONE
The choices you make matter. The decisions you
make while you plan your trip, while you explore
the Tongass, and when you leave it, all make an
impact on the forest, the sea, and even the planet.
With more people visiting the Tongass National
Forest, it is critically important to protect the forest
from human impact so it can be enjoyed by future
generations. Some call it sustainability. Some call
it stewardship. Whatever you call it, you have an
important role to play in the future of the Tongass.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A PLAN
How you get to your destination and how you
move through it can be one of the most important
decisions you can make in considering your impact
to the forest. Exhaust fumes from boats, planes,
and automobiles is one of the leading contributors
of carbon emissions. While the remoteness of
many villages and natural attractions in southeast
Alaska makes traveling by these methods almost
inevitable, organizations like SEAtrails are promoting
non-motorized recreation throughout the forest. Over
the last ten years, the non-profit group Sea Trails
has emphasized non-motorized access to specific
resources on the Forest. Bicycle trips on Prince of
Wales Island are one example. Some trips include
camping and short hikes along a canoe or kayak routethis is a great way to make your trip more sustainable.
For more information to help you plan your next
adventure around the Tongass, visit seatrails.org.
Also consider alternative transportation. Ferries such
as the Alaska Marine Highway System and the Inter
Island Ferry Authority run regular routes between
ports within the Tongass and allow you to transport
bikes and kayaks to different locations. The cost of the
energy use for the ferry trip is shared by all the users.
ONCE YOU’RE HERE
With its endless coastline and abundant wildlife, it is
no wonder why visitors from all over the world flock
to the Tongass. Unfortunately, the world’s oceans are
plagued by one of the greatest environmental
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problems of our time: trash. Single-use plastics like
food wrappers, plastic bags, and drink bottles are not
only washing up on shores of the Tongass, but they are
also threatening the health of marine wildlife that eat
them, mistaking trash for food.
You have a role to play in reducing waste. You can
help reduce the demand for single-use plastics by
bringing a water bottle and filling it at one of our
water bottle refilling stations. Choosing to dry your
hands with a hand dryer rather than paper towels or
simply using just one sheet can make an important
contribution to reducing waste. Don’t overlook
microtrash such as juicebox straws, bottle caps, and
bits of torn food wrappers. From birds to whales,
curious wildlife often eat small plastic items which they
can’t digest and accumilate in their stomachs.
Keep wild animals wild. Leftover food in recreation
areas can attract wildlife, which can change their
behavior. Animals can become dependent on food
scraps and can even become aggressive toward people.
Help stop the spread of invasive species. Nonnative
animals and plants hitch hike their way to natural
areas throughout southeast Alaska on boats, trailers,
and outdoor gear. Clean your boots after a hike to
prevent spreading plant seeds from one area to another.
Thoroughly clean boats and trailers with biodegradable
soap before moving to new areas. Once nonnative
species make their home in a new area, they are very
tricky to get rid of, so prevention is key. For more
information about invasive species, contact the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, adfg.alaska.gov.
Everything runs downstream. A common
misunderstanding is that trash on land is separate
from trash in the ocean. Trash doesn’t often remain
in place for very long. Wind and rain move trash into
waterways, which all run into the ocean. Please be
clean everywhere you go.
WE’RE DOING OUR PART, TOO
READY TO GO
When you are preparing to leave your campsite or
picnic area, try to leave the area better than you found
it. Remember the mantra “pack it in, pack it out”. Many
recreational areas in the Tongass lack trash cans. Pack
all your trash out of recreation areas and dispose of it
when you get back into town. You can be prepared by
carrying a trash bag with you.
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The Tongass National Forest is pursuing sustainable
operations to compliment these and other sustainable
efforts, both in our facilities and our procedures.
Districts have “Green Teams” who plan and implement
programs that staff participate in to reduce their
environmental impacts, such as recycling and powering
down electronics. The agency is also assessing the
carbon footprints of facilities and operations across the
Forest and works to reduce our resource use.
We encourage you to come and recreate on the Tongass,
whether visiting for the first time or using it daily. Your
sustainable actions benefit these publically-owned
resources, promote and enhance their longevity.
With these actions we all benefit.
SOUTHEAST ALASKA DISCOVERY CENTER
At the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, discover the
unique ecology, diverse cultures and thriving communities
of Southeast Alaska. Walk through a rainforest, experience a
Native fish camp, view wildlife up-close through a spotting
scope, or explore salmon’s mighty migration from forest to
ocean and back. Films are shown every half-hour in our highdefinition theater, and check the schedule for daily ranger
programs. Families can enjoy scavenger hunts and Junior
Ranger programs. Just one block from the cruise ship dock in
downtown Ketchikan.
HOURS
Summer: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Closed federal holidays.
Winter: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday only.
CONTACT: 50 Main Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901; 907-228-6220.
MENDENHALL GLACIER VISITOR
CENTER
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau
is the Forest Service’s first visitor center, and was
constructed in 1962. The center offers a wide range
of activities including watching spawning salmon
along Steep Creek, spotting mountain goats from
the center’s observatory, and outstanding glacier
viewing.
HOURS
Summer: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.
Winter: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday. Closed federal holidays in the winter.
CONTACT: Glacier Spur Road, Juneau, AK 99801,
907-789-0097.
PARTNER IN OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION: DISCOVERY SOUTHEAST
For over 30 years, Discovery Southeast has connected
people to the Tongass National Forest through hands-on
nature and science programs. In partnership with the
Forest Service, they offer a variety of programming that
helps to ensure children growing up in America’s largest
national forest will develop a meaningful relationship
with nature and a sense of place in the outdoors.
In support of this effort, Discovery Southeast operates
the bookstore and gift shop the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in
Juneau. The store features predominately local artists and authors,
and all proceeds support education on the Tongass National Forest.
Many of the clerks at the store even participated in Discovery
Southeast programs as school children!
To learn more, visit www.discoverysoutheast.org
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FOREST SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE
648 Mission Street
Federal Building
Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591
907-225-3101
ADMIRALTY NATIONAL MONUMENT/
JUNEAU RANGER DISTRICT
8510 Mendenhall Loop Road
Juneau, AK 99801
907-586-8800
CRAIG RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 500
Craig, AK 99921
907-828-3271
THORNE BAY RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 19001
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
907-828-3304
HOONAH RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 135
Hoonah, AK 99829
907-945-3631
KETCHIKAN/MISTY FJORDS RANGER
DISTRICT
3031 Tongass Avenue
Ketchikan, AK 99901
907-225-2148
PETERSBURG RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 1328
Petersburg, AK 99833
907-772-3871
SITKA RANGER DISTRICT
2108 Halibut Point Road
Sitka, AK 99835
907-747-6671
WRANGELL RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 51
Wrangell, AK 99929
907-874-2323
Many recreational sites in the Tongass National Forest have
a user fee. The money collected is used to improve the visitor
experience at the site or facility. Spotting scopes, interpretive
signs, trail improvements, and extra staff are all paid for with
fees collected from visitors like you. Thanks!
Forest Service
Alaska Region
R10-RG-234
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
April 2019
YAKUTAT RANGER DISTRICT
P.O. Box 327
Yakutat, AK 99689
907-784-3359
Follow us on
Facebook at TongassNF
Twitter @TongassNF
Web at fs.usda.gov/tongass
