The city of Wrangell, located on Wrangell Island in Southeast Alaska, was founded by Russians, though the area was first settled by the Tlingit people. It was formerly a U.S. military post, has been a fur trade, mining, fishing and logging hub, and has a healthy tourism industry based on its rich history and beautiful scenery. It distinguishes itself by being the only city in the state to have been governed by four different legal systems: the Tlingit clan and the governments of Russia, Great Britain and the U.S.
WRANGELL ATTRACTIONS
Alaska Vistas offers day trips to Anan Creek wildlife viewing site and to the lower Stikine River. You can kayak or raft there alone or with a guide, or go on a multi-day trip to Telegraph Creek beyond the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area.
WHERE: Wrangell City Dock
WHEN: June to Sept.: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
PHONE: 907-874-3006
EMAIL: info@alaskavistas.com
Anan Creek supports one of the largest pink salmon runs in Southeast Alaska. A wide variety of fish-eating animals are attracted to the seasonal abundance. Here, visitors may see black and brown bears, bald eagles, and sea lions. Anan is accessible only by floatplane or boat. It features a half-mile boardwalk and observation platform with a covered shelter.
WHERE: 30 miles southeast of Wrangell
WHEN: Passes required during peak season, July 5 to Aug. 25
PHONE: 907-874-2323
The museum offers a historical interpretive walk through Wrangell's colorful history. Exhibits feature everything from natural environment to Native culture, fur trade, gold rush, military presence and much more.
WHERE: In the James and Elsie Nolan Center
WHEN: Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; winter (Oct. 1 to April 30) 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tues.-Sat.
PHONE: 907-874-3770
EMAIL: museum@wrangell.com
The Stikine (Stik-heen) River gets its name from the Tlingit word for "great river." It's 400 miles from its headwaters in British Columbia to its mouth near Wrangell. The delta flats are 11,000 hectares long and 16 miles wide, extending from the river mouth to the town of Wrangell.
PHONE: 800-367-9745
Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park
Some of the best surviving examples of Native artistic expression are petroglyphs found in southeast Alaska. Petroglyphs (derived from the Greek words for "rock" and "carving") are designs or symbols pecked into rocks and are found on boulders and bedrock outcrops on the shore just above or below mean high tide, usually near important salmon streams and habitation sites. In Wrangell, the rock is metamorphic and tends to be dark gray, fine grained, moderately hard and durable, and highly fractured.
PHONE: 800-367-9745
Alaska Charters and Adventures
Experience Alaska up close and personal, from gigantic icebergs tumbling into the sea to untouched rainforests, bears catching salmon and eagles overhead. Alaska Charters and Adventures prides itself on high quality, customized outdoor adventures for very small groups, with a focus on attention to detail, personalized service, and unprecedented safety standards.
WHEN: Call for reservations.
PHONE: 888-993-2750
EMAIL: info@alaskaupclose.com
Summit Charters is owned and operated by Captain John W. Taylor, a resident of Alaska since 1984 with more than 30 years of experience operating jet boats on the Stikine River. Summit Charters offers visitors a grand experience in one of the world's last wild, natural places on earth, the Tongass National Forest. Select a customized sightseeing charter or tours of the Stikine River, the Anan bear and wildlife observatory, and LeConte Glacier.
WHERE: Wrangell
WHEN: Call for reservations.
PHONE: 907-874-2402 or 907-305-0416
Editor's Note: The print edition of the visitors' guide was published with some of the entries above incorrectly filed under Wrangell-St. Elias Attractions. We apologize for any confusion.
This information appeared in the 2015 Alaska Dispatch News Visitors' Guide to Alaska. Contact special sections editor Jamie Gonzales at jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com.