Admiralty Island National Monument

One of the loveliest islands along Alaska's Inside Passage, Admiralty is famous for its dense rain forests, verdant alpine areas, varied shoreline, brown bears, and bald eagles. Virtually all of this million-acre island lies within Admiralty Island National Monument, managed by Tongass National Forest. Summertime salmon runs attract brown bears to many island creeks, but Pack Creek has achieved national attention. Located 20 miles west of Juneau, this is one of the top bear-viewing spots in Alaska. Visitation is restricted to protect the bears, with most visitors coming on half-day floatplane trips from Juneau. Seymour Canal — a fine sea ...

One of the loveliest islands along Alaska's Inside Passage, Admiralty is famous for its dense rain forests, verdant alpine areas, varied shoreline, brown bears, and bald eagles. Virtually all of this million-acre island lies within Admiralty Island National Monument, managed by Tongass National Forest. Summertime salmon runs attract brown bears to many island creeks, but Pack Creek has achieved national attention. Located 20 miles west of Juneau, this is one of the top bear-viewing spots in Alaska. Visitation is restricted to protect the bears, with most visitors coming on half-day floatplane trips from Juneau. Seymour Canal — a fine sea kayaking area — is nearby, with a cabin and boat tram at the north end. The Tlingit village of Angoon on the southwest side of Admiralty is the only island settlement. Behind it, Kootznahoo Inlet wends through a maze of small islands, connecting with the Cross-Admiralty Canoe Route, a string of wilderness lakes and trails.

About the Expert

Don Pitcher has written or photographed 10 travel guidebooks to Alaska, Wyoming, Yellowstone-Grand Teton, and the San Juan Islands for Avalon Travel Publishing, Random House, and Sasquatch Books.