Explore Sitka's top attractions on a small-group van tour that includes a walk through Sitka National Historical Park, home to one of Alaska's finest collections of Tlingit and Haida totem poles. Over 2.5 to 3 hours, your local guide drives the full 14-mile road system, stopping at wildlife sanctuaries, scenic viewpoints, and the park locals call "Totem Park" for a firsthand look at Southeast Alaska's natural beauty and cultural history.

Walk among 18 Tlingit and Haida totem poles in the temperate rainforest of Sitka National Historical Park, the site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka
Watch rescued brown bears and black bears up close at Fortress of the Bear
Meet resident bald eagles, hawks, and owls at the Alaska Raptor Center
Take in dramatic ocean and mountain views along Sitka's scenic coastline
Hear stories of Sitka's Tlingit, Russian, and American history from a guide who knows the town inside and out

From the wildlife encounters to the quiet forest trails of Sitka National Historical Park, this tour packs the best of Sitka into a single morning or afternoon.

What's Included

Entrance fees to Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor Center, and Sitka National Historical Park
Guided transportation in a heated, small-group van (max 14 guests)
Complimentary drinks and snacks
Pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship terminal

Things to know

Tour operates with a maximum of 14 guests. The tour is primarily van-based with short walks at each stop. The Totem Trail at Sitka National Historical Park is a well-maintained, easy, level path. Suitable for all fitness levels.

Itinerary

Your guide meets the group at the Sitka Sound Cruise Ship Terminal, and you board a comfortable, heated van for the drive south along Sitka's 14-mile road system. The route hugs the coastline, with mountain peaks rising on one side and the Pacific stretching out on the other. Your guide provides running commentary on Sitka's layers of history, from the Tlingit peoples who have called this area home for thousands of years to the Russian colonists who made it the capital of Russian America, to its role in World War II. Note that the order of stops may vary depending on scheduling and conditions on the day.

Scenic Viewpoints

The drive includes several stops at overlooks along the coast where you can step out for photos. These viewpoints offer wide panoramas of Sitka Sound, the volcanic cone of Mount Edgecumbe across the water, and the surrounding islands and forests that define Southeast Alaska's landscape.

Fortress of the Bear

Near the end of the road system, the tour stops at Fortress of the Bear, a nonprofit rescue facility that is home to several Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears and Black Bears. You will observe the bears from elevated viewing platforms as your guide explains the backstory of each animal and the rescue work that brought them here. The black bears at this facility are the only ones on Baranof Island, making this a rare opportunity to see both species side by side.

Alaska Raptor Center

The next stop is the Alaska Raptor Center, a rehabilitation facility for injured birds of prey. The center's state-of-the-art flight training room houses resident bald eagles, great horned owls, hawks, and falcons. Staff share the backstory of each bird, from the injury that brought it in to its progress in recovery. You will see the birds up close and learn about raptor conservation in Southeast Alaska.

Sitka National Historical Park

The final major stop is Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska's oldest federally designated park and a place the locals simply call Totem Park. Established in 1890 and encompassing 113 acres of coastal temperate rainforest, the park preserves the site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka, the last major armed conflict between the indigenous Kiks.adi Tlingit and Russian colonizers. Your guide leads a walk along the Totem Trail, a mile-long path through towering Sitka spruce and western hemlock where 18 Tlingit and Haida totem poles stand among the trees. Each pole tells a story of clan lineage, legend, or historical events, and your guide will point out details that are easy to miss on your own, including the K'alyaan Pole, carved in 1999 to commemorate the lives lost in the 1804 battle. The trail follows the Indian River to the coast, where views open up across the water to the surrounding islands. Inside the Visitor Center, Alaska Native artists demonstrate traditional carving, weaving, and beadwork. Sitka National Historical Park is the kind of place that rewards slowing down, and the walk through the forest feels a world apart from the bustle of the cruise port.

Downtown Sitka

The tour wraps up with a drive through downtown Sitka, where your guide points out landmarks like St. Michael's Cathedral, the Sitka Pioneer Home, and the Russian Bishop's House. You will hear about the town's art scene, its Greek Orthodox and Tlingit cultural traditions, and get personal recommendations for restaurants and shops to explore on your own before returning to the terminal.

Pass-by highlights include: Crescent Harbor, the Sheldon Jackson Museum, the Sitka Sound Science Center, and views of Mount Edgecumbe across Sitka Sound.

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