Overview: The Portage Pass Trail in Chugach National Forest is a short but spectacular hike that rewards a relatively brief, steep climb with sweeping views of Portage Glacier, Portage Lake, and the surrounding snow-clad Chugach peaks. Hikers follow a historic pass used by native peoples and early travelers, then drop down to the gravel shores of Portage Lake where the glacier’s blue ice and calving fronts dominate the scene.

Overview: Perseverance Lake Trail in Tongass National Forest is a gently rolling forest hike that delivers rewarding lake views, coastal panoramas, and the chance to experience Alaska’s temperate rainforest up close. Winding through moss-draped Sitka spruce and hemlock, the trail skirts muskeg flats and boardwalks before opening onto the clear waters of Perseverance Lake. Along the way you may spot bald eagles, waterfowl, and if you’re fortunate, black bears feeding along the creek banks. This relatively low-elevation route is ideal for a half-day escape from nearby Ketchikan, combining easy footing with scenic variety.

Overview: The Herring Cove Trail winds through a lush coastal rainforest in Tongass National Forest before spilling out onto a rocky cove framed by waterfalls and tidal pools. This moderately challenging out-and-back hike rewards visitors with a mix of old-growth cedar and spruce groves, moss-draped boardwalks over muskeg wetlands, cascading streams, and panoramic views of Sitka Sound. Along the way you may spot river otters playing in the ocean shallows, bald eagles perched in the canopy, and black bears foraging on low tides.

Overview: The Mount Verstovia Trail in Tongass National Forest is a challenging and rewarding hike that rises steeply from Sitka’s coastal rainforest into open alpine ridges. Known locally as the “Arrowhead” climb, it offers expansive views of Sitka Sound, Baranof Island peaks, and the Pacific Ocean. Along the way you’ll pass through old‐growth hemlock and spruce, historic Russian charcoal pit sites, and subalpine meadows where bald eagles ride the thermals. Whether you turn around at Picnic Rock or push on to the true summit, this trail delivers one of Southeast Alaska’s finest panoramas.