Sitka Tour with Totem Park, Bears and Raptors

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.