Sitka
Sitka is the only Inside Passage community that faces the Pacific Ocean, hugging the west coast of Baranof Island in the shadow of Mount Edgecumbe. The city of about 8,500 people, located on Sitka Sound, is known for its Tlingit culture and picturesque remnants of its Russian heritage, such as the onion-shaped domes and gold-colored crosses of the beloved Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The city and borough boundaries include the majority of Baranof Island, where Sitka is located, as well as south Chichagof Island and many other small, forested islands along the coast.
Downtown Sitka is home to a number of art galleries, a fine bookstore, gift shops, several lodging options, and restaurants with spectacular views and fresh local seafood, all nestled between the mountains and the sea. The Sitka Music Festival is a major summer event in the city. Pick up a map at the Sitka Visitor Information Center and set out on a walking tour of the city's history and culture. There are 22 historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Sitka, including the Russian Blockhouse, Russian Bishop's House, Princess Maksoutoff's Grave, and Baranof Castle State Historic Site, to name a few.
The Russian Bishop's House is Sitka's oldest intact Russian building, built in 1842 by the Russian American Company as a residence for the Orthodox Church's Bishop. Its first resident was Bishop Innocent (Ivan Veniaminov). The house has been restored to its historic period of the 1850s, when it served as a school, bishop's residence, and a chapel. The house has been designated a National Historic Landmark. From 1804 to 1867, the hill was occupied by a succession of Russian buildings, and on this site, the Russians officially handed over Alaska to the United States on October 18, 1867. Alaska State Parks manages this historical site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sitka has dozens of trails that start in the lush rainforest that surrounds the city and often end high in the mountains. Many of these trails are located in the Tongass National Forest, the country's largest national forest. Trails for all skill levels explore the forest, coves, lakes, and alpine areas of the area. The Tongass National Forest Sitka Ranger District Office can provide hiking trail information and maps. Fly-fishing for salmon, char, trout, and steelhead in Sitka's lakes and rivers. Ocean fishing charters provide world-class halibut and salmon fishing. Sitka is home to several fishing lodges that offer multi-day fishing trips with comfortable lodging and meals.
