Attractions
| Hiking & Birdwatching
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Two free handouts (a trail guide entitled Haines is for Hikers and a checklist of Birds of the Chilkat Valley are available at the Visitor Center, downtown on 2nd Street.
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Alaska Indian Arts |
Once the Hospital in Fort Seward, Alaska Indian Arts is dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Coast Native Tribes. See carvers and artists at work on masterpieces that have been known to find homes around the globe. Open year round.
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| American Bald Eagle Foundation
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Interpretive wildlife display featuring a diorama that represents the 48,000-acre Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Live bird presentations in our new New Raptor center with live eagles and raptors. Open year round.
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| Birding
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Birding is a growing activity and Haines is a perfect place to indulge the interest being home to a total of 260 species of birds throughout the year. Go it alone and keep your binoculars handy or check out our tour operators for opportunities to enhance the birding experiences of Haines. Click on Birds of the Chilkat Valley Checklist for an on-line, printable version or stop by the Haines Visitors Center. For birding information in Haines and statewide, check out the state program Wings Over Alaska |
| Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
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The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was created by the State of Alaska in June 1982. The Preserve was established to protect and perpetuate the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat.
The combination of open water and plentiful food brings over 3,000 eagles into the Chilkat Valley beginning in early October and lasting until January. The peak of the gathering usually occurs in mid-November. Visitors to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve need only drive 18 miles from Haines on the Haines Highway to find excellent eagle viewing areas. Newly-created pullouts along the highway are provided for eagle watchers and photographers. Interpretive displays, walking trails, and shelters now enhance the experience. Each winter during the months of November and December, photographers and nature lovers flock to the Chilkat Valley to view the spectacle of thousands of Bald Eagles as they gather at the Chilkat River Council Grounds to feed on a late run of chum salmon. This unique event is described more completely on the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival web page. |
| Chilkat State Park |
8 miles south of Haines on Mud Bay Road * Very scenic * 32 pull-through sites, 3 beachfront tent sites * Fire rings, water, toilets, fishing, boat launch, hiking trails, cabin * Summer hosts provide information & reference materials at log cabin interpretive center * Views of Rainbow and Davidson Glaciers * $10/night * Season is from May 15 to September 15 |
| Chilkoot State Park |
10 miles north of Haines off Lutak Road * Very scenic * 32 spaces, some with lake views * Fire rings, water, toilets, picnic tables, fishing, boat launch * Summer hosts provide information & reference materials at last sote * $10/night * Season is from May 15 to October 15 |
| Eldred Rock Lighthouse
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First lit on June 1, 1906 and one of the remotest lighthouses in North America, the Eldred Rock Lighthouse was built after some disastrous shipwrecks in the vicinity, especially during the 1898 Gold Rush, when the Lynn Canal was full of steamships bringing miners to Skagway for their climb over Chilkoot Pass.
Eldred Rock is the oldest original Alaskan Lighthouse building. The octagonal building is constructed of the same huge timbers brought to the island by the US Government in 1905. The light was situated 91 feet above sea level and had a range of more than 15 miles. The fog signal was a first order, compressed air siren. In addition to the lighthouse and quarters, there is a boathouse, tramways and other small outbuildings used for storage and maintenance. There are currently no tours to Eldred Rock although some water tours get close enough for great photos ops. For more information about the lighthouse, visit the Sheldon Museum's Eldred Rock Lighthouse information page. |
| Fort William H. Seward
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Established as a result of a border dispute with Canada, Fort William H. Seward was named after the man who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from the Russians. Due to the confusion in the post office caused by the city of Seward also honoring the man, the Fort was renamed Chilkoot Barracks in 1922. The original name was resumed when the Fort was declared an Historic Landmark in 1972. Decommissioned in 1947, five former veterans purchased the Fort with plans to make it an arts and crafts area of the community. Most of the original buildings still stand and are now private residences, accommodation establishments, eateries, and galleries showcasing local art. For more information about the Fort, visit the Sheldon Museum web site. A Fort Seward Walking Tour brochure is available at the Visitor Center. |
| Haines Totem Poles
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Ten totem poles can be found in the Haines area. Stop by the Visitors Center for list of totems and their location (or view and download a copy Here). Visitors are welcome at Alaska Indian Arts in the Fort Seward area to view carvers in action.
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| The Hammer Museum
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History and Progress as viewed through the eye of the Hammer * Over 1700 different hammers from the colonial era, through the industrial age to the present day. Seasonal, May through September.
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| Hiking |
For the extreme adventurer to the casual, low impact walk, several trails are accessible to soak up the beauty of the Haines area. Learn about the flora and fauna of the forest on a guided hike or strike out on your own. Stop by the Visitors Center for the Haines is for Hikers pamphlet.
Visit the Sea Trails web site for maps of trails in communities throughout Southeast Alaska including Haines. |
| Klukwan
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The original settlement of the Tlingits, Klukwan translates into "Eternal Village." This is a flourishing Alaska Native Community known for its rich cultural history and legacy of artwork. The new Klukwan Tribal Tour is the best and encouraged way to see and learn more about the village and its people. For reservations or more information call 907-767-5770.
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| Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center
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Discover Chilkat Valley treasures! Native Tlingit art and culture, Haines history (Mission, Eldred Rock lighthouse lens, Army, local industries, people), and the work of local artists. Groups welcome. Open year-round; call for hours.
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