INSIDE PASSAGE
Verdant rainforests, totem poles, Alaska's state capital, cruises
LAY OF THE LAND
The Inside Passage stretches along 500 miles of Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska coast. Life and landscape here are shaped by water, as protected shores wind past snowcapped mountains, massive glaciers and wooded islands. The changing mists of the Tongass National Forest, North America's northernmost temperate rainforest, evoke magic and wonder where ancient trees cling to steep mountainsides that suddenly disappear into the ocean. Wildlife abounds. Orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, and seals feed through the summer in the area's nutrient-rich waters, while five species of Pacific salmon nourish brown and black bears fishing in dark, rushing streams. Eagles converge in world-record numbers. The natural bounty has drawn diverse people too. The first evidence of humans was discovered in the 8,000-year-old carvings scattered across Petroglyph Beach. Alaska Native cultures, including the Tsimshian, Haida,
and Tlingit, have flourished here for generations. The Inside Passage was
the location of the last Russian America capital, a departure point for Gold Rush–era miners, a home for Norwegian fishermen and a magnet for lumberjacks from across North America. It all combines to create an unforgettable destination. Many visitors arrive by cruise ship. There are few roads here, so people commute on boats and planes, which only adds to an otherworldly feel. Your itinerary can focus on whatever you love most — adventure, history, wildlife, fishing, food — or a mix of all those things and more.
KNOWN FOR:
PARKS
Admiralty Island National Monument
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Klondike Gold Rush National
Historical Park
Mendenhall Glacier
Misty Fjords National Monument
Tongass National Forest
HISTORICAL SITES
Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall
National Historic Landmark
American Flag Raising Site
National Historic Landmark
Fort William H. Seward National
Historic Landmark
Sitka National Historical Park
St. Michael's Russian Cathedral
National Historic Landmark
Totem Bight State Historical Park
SCENIC BYWAYS
Alaska Marine Highway
Haines Highway
Prince of Wales Island Road System
Walden Point Road
(Annette Island)
Glacier Bay Nat'l Park & Preserve
Kluane Nat'l Park
Misty Fjords Nat'l Monument
Auke Bay
Tracy Arm Fjord
