There are many different attractions in Angoon. You can visit its pristine beaches, which are miles long and have different types of sand, pebble, and clay. Or, you can take a kayak or canoe ride along its scenic water trail. This scenic destination is considerably sunnier than other Southeast Alaskan cities.
Pack Creek
One of the best places to see bears in Angoon is Pack Creek. Visitors can hike to a viewing tower or watch bears from a panoramic viewing area. Visitors can watch the bears feed on the salmon spawning in the creek. While the bears don’t pay much attention to people, the viewing area is still popular among birdwatchers. Bald eagles and other bird species can be seen in abundance in the area.
Pack Creek is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Visitors are greeted by a ranger at the South Spit where they can choose from a viewing spit or observation tower. A ranger will provide information on the area’s rules and regulations. Visitors can view bears from the viewing spit and the observation tower, which can accommodate up to eight people.
Visitors to Pack Creek should bring rubber boots. The area receives up to 100 inches of rain each year, which benefits wildlife. Seals and sea lions live here. Visitors can kayak or floatplane around the area, and you can also hire a guide to show you the best spots.
If you are an avid bear watcher, Pack Creek is one of the best places to see bears in Angoon. It is part of the State Wildlife Sanctuary and offers up-close viewing. You can also spot Sitka black-tailed deer, river otter, marten, and other animals. Besides bears, you can enjoy the beauty of the area by watching birds.
Admiralty Island National Monument
Admiralty Island has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years and features numerous archaeological sites. You can find ancient Tlingit ruins in Angoon, Tyee, and Whitewater Bay. Angoon is also one of the oldest isolated Tlingit villages and is home to seven Tlingit clans. These people descended from the ancient Tlingit that migrated down the Stikine River.
Admiralty Island, Alaska is a big island that is home to different climates and ecosystems. It is 96 miles long and 30 miles wide at its widest point. The island contains several bays and covers more than one million acres, or 1,664 square miles.
Admiralty Island is home to one of the largest unspoiled coastal island ecosystems in North America. It contains dense, old-growth forests and the highest concentration of brown bears anywhere in the world. The island is also home to nesting bald eagles and trumpeter swans.
Admiralty Island is easily accessible by boat or floatplane from Juneau. The ferry runs two times weekly and daily, and the float plane takes thirty minutes. Several outfitters coordinate private plane trips for visitors. You can also book tours and enjoy the area’s top attractions.
Admiralty Island is home to the highest concentration of brown bears in North America. If you want to see brown bears up close, you can visit the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area, located on the island. Typically, visitors arrive by float plane from Juneau and hike up a mile-long trail to the observation tower, where they can watch the bears feast on spawning salmon.
Native Alaskan community houses
Angoon, Alaska is a small community in Southeast Alaska. It is located on Admiralty Island, bordered by the Chatham Strait on the west and Kootznahoo Inlet on the east. The community has a history of Native Alaskan culture and is one of the only permanent settlements on the island. It is part of the Tongass National Forest and boasts many historical landmarks.
The community first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the Native village Augoon, with about 420 residents. The village was a part of the Tlingit tribe. In 1890, it was reclassified as Hoochinoo. The village was not on the census again until 1920, but it has been on each subsequent census ever since. In 1963, the community was incorporated as a city.
Located on the west shore of Admiralty Island, Angoon is home to approximately 450 year-round residents, as well as summer visitors. This small town has a vibrant Tlingit culture that has been practiced for at least 1,000 years. Traditional Tlingit ways of life, such as fishing, subsistence farming, and special potlatches, keep the local culture alive. Besides, visitors can enjoy the nearby Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area to see brown bears in their natural habitat.
Angoon’s community has many natural assets, and this village has been attracting tourists for years. With a new visitor center, locals hope to develop a cultural tourism industry. In addition to this new visitor center, the village has received funding to develop an app-based cultural walking tour. It is a great opportunity for the community to share its history and culture with the world.
Bear-viewing area
The Alaska Board of Game wants to open up bear hunting on the Admiralty Islands, including Angoon. But before it does that, it wants to close the Bear-viewing area at Swan Cove. But the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends against this, and the Board has backpedaled on a regional meeting about the proposed closures.
In addition to brown bears, the bear-viewing area is also home to several other wildlife species. Visitors can spot Sitka black-tailed deer, river otter, mink, marten, and a variety of birds. Visiting this area is the perfect way to get up-close and personal with these animals.
Several bear-viewing locations are accessible by boat or floatplane. The most popular viewing area is at Pack Creek, a tidal flat where a variety of species live. An observation tower overlooks the area. Most visitors arrive via floatplane with a guide from Juneau.
The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and Kootznoowoo, the Native corporation of the village of Angoon on Admiralty Island, hope to open a new bear-viewing area near Angoon. Another goal is to reintroduce traditional logging practices in the area.
Waterfront facilities
Despite its small size, Angoon, Alaska is home to a rich culture and heritage. Visitors can view Tlingit homes and enjoy a traditional Alaskan lifestyle. The town has 16 tribal community houses, where visitors can learn about the culture of the Tlingit people.
The town is situated on Admiralty Island. Also known as Kootznoowoo (Fortress of the Bears), this island is home to one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in North America. The town is 55 miles southwest of Juneau and serves as a gateway to Admiralty Island National Monument. The Tlingit community of about 500 people is located on a strip of land between Kootznahoo Inlet and Chatham Strait, which lead into the heart of the 1,493-square-mile island.
Visitors can experience world-class sport fishing and prime wildlife viewing from the lodges located nearby. Ninety percent of the Admiralty Island is protected as wilderness, which makes it home to a variety of wildlife. You can also take canoe and kayak trips to explore the surrounding area. The Cross Admiralty Canoe Route is 32 miles long and provides excellent access to many species of wildlife.
Aside from fishing, tourists can also camp, relax, and enjoy the picturesque coastal environment. The region is a marine sanctuary and qualifies as an AMSA. It encompasses the South Arm of Hood Bay, the North Arm of Hood Bay, and the mid-channel.
Native heritage
When you’re traveling in Alaska, you’ll want to get a sense of the local Native heritage. One of the best ways to do this is to go to the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. This center provides education, shares the culture of the local Natives, and encourages conservation. The center’s exhibits feature the history, culture, language, and way of life of 11 different Native groups. There are also live performances and lectures every day to help you learn more about the unique traditions and customs of these people.
Native people have long been living in Alaska, and their culture is a fascinating aspect of this vast land. In addition to learning about their ways of life, you can also experience what it was like to live among these communities. The museum features modeled villages representing the major indigenous groups in the state. These groups make up about 17% of the entire population of Alaska, and their traditions are very rich and diverse.
While in Alaska, you may also want to visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which covers more than 13 million acres. This park also features authentic native dwellings and traditional handicrafts. The park also includes a ranger-led tour, where you can learn more about the local culture and its people.