Sitka Travel Guide

Sitka is undoubtedly the most beautiful of southeast cities in Alaska. Nestled on the west side of Baranof Island it has majestic snow-capped mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Enjoying a mild climate it gets a fair share of sunshine. The City and Borough of Sitka located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island are in the Alexander Archipelago in Alaska.

Old Sitka was founded in 1799 by Alexandr Baranov, the governor of Russian America. Urban Sitka or the downtown region usually thought of as the "city" is situated on the west side of Baranof Island. Sitka's unique position of being straddled between the Pacific Ocean and the most mountainous island in the archipelago creates an abundant variety of outdoor opportunities.

Floatplane "flightseeing" excursions are a breathtaking way to view the many sights from high above. May through September the city is flooded with tourists, attracted by the beautiful long 22-hour days in the summer, when breathtaking sunsets, the flora and fauna remain notable attractions.

In the late fall and early spring, the local waters are a breeding ground for Humpback Whales and sea lions. Tufted puffins, bald eagles and other birds are abundant in the summertime. Sitka’s diverse community offers a combination of Native Tlingit culture, Russian history and vast Alaskan wilderness.