Glaciers & Other Natural Wonders
A flightseeing trip provides a bird’s eye view of the brilliant Baranof Icefields, home to 53 named glaciers. Baranof Island is home to more glaciers than any island in the world. Baranof Island is also the largest city in North America in terms of land mass (4,710 square miles).
About 15 miles south of Sitka, you’ll find historical Goddard Hot Springs. These “supposed” medicinal waters, traditionally visited by Tlingit Natives, became a highly visited sanitarium run by Dr. Goddard in the 1840’s. Though the area has become wilderness, it is still visited by locals and a few visitors today.
Sitka rests in the shadow of the dormant Mt. Edgecumbe volcano, with the last known eruption 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. The 3,201 foot symmetric cone, named last by Captain James Cook in 1778, bears resemblance to the snow-covered Mt. Fuji volcano in Japan.
The only place in Southeast Alaska where you can drive to the top of a mountain is Harbor Mountain. This main road was built during WWII as part of a secret military installation using the newest radar. This hairpin mountain road is home to an annual mountain bike race and run, as well as a hiking trail located at the top.