*Sitka is one of my favorite stops during an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. The harborside city shows you two sides of Alaska’s history, blending Russian influence and native Tlingit heritage. It’s easy enough for me to spend the day downtown eating something nice at Wildflour Bakery and browsing the shops, but one afternoon I, got to try something different by going on an excursion. By the end of it, I had learned a bit more about Alaskan nature by visiting Sitka National Historical Park, the Fortress of the Bear, and the Alaska Raptor Center. If any of these places are on your Sitka must-see list, read on!
Sitka National Historical Park
Even without an excursion, I try to come here every time we call in Sitka. As soon as you approach the forest, there’s such a sense of peace. I love taking a pause before stepping onto the trail and just looking up at the trees and totem pole towering overhead. Sitka National Historical Park is part nature, part living history. Locals have nicknamed it “Totem Park” because of the hand-carved totems dotted throughout. There’s also an interpretive site that commemorates the 1804 Battle of Sitka, a decisive clash between Russian fur traders and the native Tlingit people, after which the Tlingit suffered great losses and the Russians got a real foothold into the area, shaping the history of Sitka. You can learn more about both cultures (and even catch a live carving demonstration) at the visitor’s center at the mouth of the park (there are restrooms here, as well). Walking through the park treats you to views of old-growth trees and snatches of the seaside. Keep an eye out for bears!
Can you walk to Sitka National Park from the cruise port?
First, take the free shuttle from the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal into downtown Sitka. You’ll get dropped off at Harrigan Centennial Hall. From there, yes you can walk to Sitka National Historical Park from downtown Sitka. It’s a very pleasant 15-minute walk along the waterfront!
Fortress of the Bear
After a beautiful scenic drive past silver lake (incredibly deep as it was carved out by a glacier, by the way), we pulled up to Fortress of the Bear. Normally anything resembling a zoo makes me sad, but a visit to the Fortress gave me some new information that led to a new perspective. The Fortress was born out of a desire to save orphaned bear cubs. Apparently in Alaska, it’s against the law to release a bear back into the wild once it’s lived in captivity, so the Fortress works to give them the best lives possible. You could see caring well for the bears is the primary concern, from the hearty meals served to the size of the enclosures (the Fortress is in a repurposed pulp mill, and the enclosures are what used to be water clarification tanks–making them roughly 8-9 times larger than average urban zoo enclosures.). Make sure to hold onto your things as you peer over the edge, though–the center even has an “oops” box of mauled personal items. Good for a giggle!
How do you get to Fortress of the Bear from the Sitka cruise terminal? Can you walk to Fortress of the Bear?
If you haven’t booked an excursion, the first thing you’ll want to do from the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal is take the free shuttle to downtown Sitka. From there, the Fortress of the Bear is a ~15 minute taxi, so it is not walkable from town. Alternatively, you can take a ~40 minute public bus ride (Blue Line), ending with a 10-ish minute walk to the Fortress. Just make sure to keep an eye on the local bus schedule so that you don’t miss your ride back to town!
Alaska Raptor Center
Also a rehabilitation center, the Raptor Center has the goal of releasing birds back into the wild. We saw birds that were recovering from collisions, fights, and even gunshot wounds. Some of them are too injured to ever regain flight, and live out their time comfortably. After a welcome briefing, you’re taken to see the indoor rehab hall, and then are free to step outside and view the different birds. It’s probably the closest you’ll ever get to a bald eagle–I was just excited to see a snowy owl that looked a lot like Hedwig!
Can you walk to the Raptor Center? Is the Raptor Center in Sitka worth it?
You can technically walk to the Raptor Center from downtown Sitka–in fact, there’s a trail in Sitka National Historical Park that will lead you in that direction, although I’ve never done the walk myself. If you’re very much into conservation or seeing birds of prey up close, then a visit to this avian hospital makes sense. Also, if it’s included in an excursion (as was the case when I went), then you can certainly learn a new thing or two. But if I were visiting Sitka independently, I wouldn’t go out of my way to go here.
If you want a controlled way to see different wildlife and nature all in one afternoon, then a Sitka excursion like this might be worth it. Happy exploring!
Xx Denae
*All opinions are my own
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