Prince of Wales Island

One of the largest islands in the U.S. — surpassed only by Hawaii and Kodiak — Prince of Wales Island covers more than 2,577 square miles of rain forest. Over 2,000 miles of roads crisscross the island, more than the rest of Southeast Alaska combined. Although many of these are old logging roads, paved routes connect the various Prince of Wales towns. Largest is Craig, a fishing port on the west side, with the Tlingit Native village of Klawock just a few miles distant. The villages of Klawock, Hydaburg, and Kasaan all have interesting collections of totem poles, while both Craig and Thorne Bay are popular for sport fishing. Prince of Wales ...

One of the largest islands in the U.S. — surpassed only by Hawaii and Kodiak — Prince of Wales Island covers more than 2,577 square miles of rain forest. Over 2,000 miles of roads crisscross the island, more than the rest of Southeast Alaska combined. Although many of these are old logging roads, paved routes connect the various Prince of Wales towns. Largest is Craig, a fishing port on the west side, with the Tlingit Native village of Klawock just a few miles distant. The villages of Klawock, Hydaburg, and Kasaan all have interesting collections of totem poles, while both Craig and Thorne Bay are popular for sport fishing. Prince of Wales is connected to Ketchikan and Wrangell by daily ferry service through the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. Logging on Forest Service and Native land was a mainstay of the POW economy for decades, but the big sawmill at Thorne Bay closed in 1999, and many of the island's clearcuts are slowly growing back. Spelunkers can explore El Capitan Cave on the north end of the island, and sea kayakers appreciate a multitude of little islands surrounding Prince of Wales.

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.