PHOTO: ISTOCK
Adventures In Petersburg
Attractions & Activities All Over Mitkof Island & Beyond
Start your Petersburg adventure at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center located at 1st and Fram Street downtown, where you'll find maps, brochures, local insights, and our comprehensive Petersburg Visitor Guide - your essential resource for exploring everything Petersburg has to offer. From downtown to all around the island & more - attractions & activities abound!
PHOTO: WILD IRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO: PSG BOROUGH
Explore Downtown Petersburg
Visit Historic Downtown From galleries to outfitter stores, Petersburg's downtown offers authentic Alaska charm. Enjoy fresh seafood or a cup of coffee while browsing unique local and Native artwork.
As you stroll the streets, look down to discover intricate bronze artwork inlaid in the sidewalks and look up to admire the Norwegian rosemaling adorning storefronts. Several vibrant murals painted by local artists brighten buildings throughout town, while nearby you'll hear the hustle and bustle of canneries and the fishing fleet-Petersburg stays busy all year long!
For a complete list of downtown restaurants, galleries, shops, and services, visit our Chamber Member Business Directory to discover the authentic businesses that make Petersburg special.
Clausen Memorial Museum
Discover Petersburg's colorful history just two blocks up from Nordic Drive (which locals still call Main Street).
This charming museum houses a thoughtful collection of local and regional memorabilia, from Alaska Native artifacts to early commercial fishing gear and processing equipment. Browse their selection of videos and DVDs showcasing the culture and history of Petersburg and the surrounding region, and visit the small gift shop for local treasures and souvenirs.
PHOTO: CLAUSEN MUSEUM
Sons of Norway
Sons of Norway Hall & Bojer Wikan Fishermans Memorial Park The historic Sons of Norway Hall, built in 1912 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, remains a vibrant community center.
During summer, watch the Leikerring dancers perform traditional Norwegian folk dances for visitors, complete with Norwegian pastries and coffee. Adjacent to the hall lies a peaceful outdoor park featuring a commemorative memorial for those who made their living from the sea, centered around a striking 9-foot bronze sculpture honoring local fisherman Bojer Wikan. Both the hall and park sit above the tidal waters of Hammer's Slough.
PHOTO: WILD IRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Petersburg
Boat Harbor
Our three harbors serve as homeport to over 400 commercial and sport vessels.
While strolling the docks, you'll see an impressive variety of boats-tugs, small cruise ships, charter boats, salmon trollers, seiners, gillnetters, longliners, and crabbers-often with fishermen hard at work. Take in the fantastic views of nearby islands and mountains, and keep an eye out for the occasional sea lion.
For detailed harbor information and services, visit our Port of Petersburg page.
PHOTO: WILD IRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Scenic Spots & Parks Within City Limits
COASTAL BIKE & WALKING PATH
The Coastal Bike & Walking Path from the ferry terminal south to Scow Bay encompasses approximately 3 miles of paved walkways with excellent scenery and easy riding or walking for all. The path is located on the water side of the road, providing beautiful waterfront views and a safe, accessible route for visitors and residents to enjoy Petersburg's coastal beauty. For possible guided tours to these scenic locations, bike rentals during the summer season, or outdoor adventure planning, check our Chamber member business directory for local experts who know the best times and places to visit.
EAGLE ROOST PARK
Just a short walk from town on North Nordic Drive, this borough-operated park features two picnic tables, a Wrangell Narrows viewing platform, benches, and classic Petersburg landscaping. It's an excellent spot to observe eagles roosting in trees or take the trail down to the beach to watch eagles and other waterfowl, or explore tidal pools at low tide.
HUNGRY POINT
Walk or bike from downtown to Hungry Point, where the north end of the famous Wrangell Narrows opens up to Frederick Sound. From this spectacular vantage point, enjoy awesome views of the mainland that include the majestic Devil's Thumb piercing the sky. Watch an array of fishing vessels cruise by on their way to Inside Passage fishing grounds. Look for the two red channel markers where sea lions are usually taking naps or making noise that echoes across Frederick Sound you can even hear their calls all the way up the nearby Petersburg Boardwalk Nature Trail. This trail leads to the baseball field and connects to elevated wooden trails that rise above the muskeg, creating a scenic walking loop. Along the Narrows, you might also spot river otters, harbor seals, bears, porpoises, ravens, sea ducks, and a wide variety of seabirds.
OUTLOOK PARK
Located halfway between town and Sandy Beach on Sandy Beach Road, this charming small park features a covered timber-framed shelter built by a local shipwright, reminiscent of Norwegian longboats or Stave Churches. Surrounded by manicured gardens and comfortable benches, the park provides telescopes and binoculars for scanning Frederick Sound for icebergs, breaching humpback whales, and other marine life, gazing at snow-covered Coastal Mountain peaks, and viewing the dramatic Devil's Thumb Mountain. This unique and scenic spot has become a popular location for wedding ceremonies.
SANDY BEACH
Three miles southeast on Sandy Beach Road, Sandy Beach Park offers extensive tidelands featuring ancient Alaska Native petroglyphs and remnants of prehistoric fish traps. The park includes two picnic shelters with fireplaces and picnic tables, a large playground, forest trails, restrooms, and borough water. Sandy Beach provides excellent tide pooling opportunities during medium to low tides, and for the adventurous, swimming in the frigid glacial waters. The newly installed wooden City Creek Trail, a one-hour hike, begins at the park's south end with information placards describing the different types of salmon in the area before reaching the charming troll bridge and house, then leads to City Creek, which is known for black bear sightings as they catch salmon. Near the playground, a new totem pole with information displays tells the history of the Native peoples who fished in this area long ago, connecting visitors to the deep cultural heritage of this special place.
Adventures On Mitkof Island
Explore the Tongass National Forest Using Petersburg as your vacation base, venture out by car or rental vehicle to experience the world's largest temperate rainforest. Discover stands of virgin oldgrowth forest alongside vigorously growing 50-year-old+ stands of Sitka spruce and Western hemlock.
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Visit the accessible boardwalk trail at Blind River Rapids
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Hike the Ohmer Creek Trail
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Fly fish in peaceful Ohmer Creek
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Beachcomb the beaches of Mitkof Island
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Pick berries on hillsides
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Explore the forest trail at Man-Made Hole
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Visit the Blind Slough Recreation Area
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Explore the muskegs & meadows throughout the island
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Launch a canoe or kayak on pristine wilderness waters
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Visit the Three Lakes area (Sand, Hill, and Crane Lakes) connected by a loop trail you can hike, or drive to the trailhead to access one of the lakes where you can borrow rowboats for exploration (check with USFS for rowboat availability)
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Use the island's extensive road system of old logging roads for countless recreational opportunities throughout this magnificent wilderness
PHOTO: TROY LARSON
For comprehensive information about Tongass National Forest recreation opportunities, visit the US Forest Service Tongass website, view online Petersburg Visitor Guide, or stop by the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center for maps, brochures, and local insights or contact us here.
Find local outfitters, gear rental companies, and guided tours in our Chamber Member Business Directory to enhance your island adventures.
Marine Adventures
Our Chamber Business Member Directory features experienced charter captains, fishing guides, whale watching operators, and glacier tour companies-all local experts ready to help you experience Petersburg's incredible marine environment.
LeConte Glacier Bay
Just 15 miles by boat from Petersburg lies North America's southernmost active tidewater glacier. When conditions are right, icebergs float into Frederick Sound and can be seen from Petersburg's shoreline. In Leconte Bay's dramatic fjord, discover bergs of every size and shape. Charter boat, kayaking, and flightseeing tours offer spectacular viewing of this natural wonder.
PHOTO: WILD IRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Humpback Whales of Fredrick Sound
Thirty miles north of Petersburg by boat, where Frederick Sound meets Stephens Passage and Chatham Strait, you'll find some of North America's best humpback whale viewing. Take an all-day boat cruise to see these magnificent creatures along with the historic Five Finger Lighthouse and the magical Brother Islands. Charter boats operate most days, but advance reservations are recommended.
PHOTO: PSG BOROUGH
World-Class Fishing
Troll for king and silver salmon or drop a line for Pacific halibut that can grow as large as barn doors-400-pound halibut have been caught in Petersburg waters! Cast for dollies or jig for herring right off the harbor docks. Along with natural fish runs, the Crystal Lake Hatchery releases millions of salmon fry annually, ensuring excellent fishing opportunities.
PHOTO: TROY LARSON
PHOTO: E.M. THOMPSON
Hiking &
Wilderness Cabins
Petersburg offers hiking trails both in town and throughout the island road system. Options range from wheelchair-friendly paths to challenging single-plank boardwalks crossing muskegs. The surrounding area features 20 US Forest Service Recreation Cabins available for reasonable rental fees. While most require water or air access, the nearby Raven's Roost Cabin is accessible from town via a steep, arduous 4-mile hike.
For more information about cabin reservations and trail conditions, visit the US Forest Service Tongass website , view online Petersburg Visitor Guide or stop by the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center for detailed maps, trail guides, and local recommendations or contact us here. Find local hiking guides, cabin booking assistance, and wilderness outfitters in our Chamber Business Member Directory to help plan your backcountry adventures.
Neighboring Islands & Excursions
KUPREANOF ISLAND
Cross the Wrangell Narrows to visit the City of Kupreanof, gateway to Petersburg Creek - a beautiful, scenic waterway abundant with wildlife. Despite its "city" designation, most residents live in cabins scattered along the shoreline, connected only by boat or trail. Access Kupreanof trails leading to Petersburg Mountain's crest or US Forest Service cabin on Petersburg Lake.
WRANGELL & BEYOND
Travel by boat through the amazing Wrangell Narrows to visit nearby Wrangell, situated close to the mouth of the historic Stikine River. Explore Chief Shakes Island's authentic totems and lodge house, or venture up the wild Stikine River itself.
For transportation to neighboring islands and guided excursions, visit our Chamber Business Member Directory to find local operators specializing in Southeast Alaska adventures.
The Bigger Picture
The Petersburg Ranger District manages 1.6 million acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest that surrounds our community, featuring thousands of miles of shoreline, the Stikine lcefield, Kuiu Island Wilderness, Devil's Thumb, and countless other natural wonders. There's simply too much to see and do in just one visit-Petersburg is your gateway to endless Southeast Alaska adventures.
PLAN YOUR PERFECT PETERSBURG EXPERIENCE
Visit the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 1st and Fram Street or contact us for:
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Detailed maps and local recommendations
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Event schedules and seasonal activity information
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Petersburg Visitor Guide featuring a town and island maps, business listings, history, and additional information
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US Forest Service information, maps, and cabin reservation assistance
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Personal assistance from knowledgeable local staff
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Current weather and travel conditions
PHOTO: PSG BOROUGH
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION:
US and Canadian residents can request detailed Petersburg information to be mailed to them using our information request form.
FIND LOCAL BUSINESSES:
Our Chamber Business Member Directory connects you with trusted local companies offering everything from guided tours and equipment rentals to restaurants and accommodations - all the services you need to make your Petersburg adventure unforgettable.
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SPECIAL EVENTS & FESTIVALS:
For information about specific festivities and events throughout the year, please visit our Events page. Petersburg offers the perfect combination of small-town hospitality and world-class wilderness access. Let us help you discover why visitors return year after year to this remarkable Southeast Alaska community.