Hoonah
Located just off the Icy Strait on Chichagof Island, the small Tlingit fishing village of Hoonah is so seldomly visited by individual tourists that even the residents wondered why on earth we were there. However, this lack of tourism makes for quiet recreation and a true look into a native fishing community. The first day we cruised the logging roads, making several stops for short walks in the woods. Although we had heard there was a large population of brown bears on the island, we soon realized how true that was. We saw our first bear on the other side of the first boardwalk trail overlooking the creek. Soon we ran into some local ladies who pointed out a couple of bears along the road. We made sure to make a lot of noise on the rest of our hikes! We camped overlooking False Bay where we saw bears, black-tailed deer, bald eagles and humpback whales.
Unnamed boardwalk trail - note bear to the far right
Same boardwalk trail (ISP managed)
Views of Icy Strait from FS 8530
Peat bogs and skunk cabbage
Lower Suntaheen Creek
Wukuklook Creek
Wukuklook Beach
False Bay
False Bay
The next morning we rattled back into town and ran across a deer and a bear warily eyeing each other. We spent an afternoon in town at the Misty Bay Lodge restaurant and the Office bar. The sun was shining which made it “swimming weather” for the locals who expertly jumped off the dock. In the evening we took another Forest Service road out to Freshwater Bay where we camped out on the peninsula.
Sitka black-tailed deer and coastal brown bear
FS Road 8508 Views
Splash!
Freshwater Bay
We took a short walk down to Bear Paw Lake where we spent a peaceful morning watching an ermine running the shore, woodpeckers in the trees and fish jumping in the water. We headed to the marina where we made use of the immaculate laundry and shower facilities. I was delighted to meet up with Jeff, an extended family member who owns and operates a fishing boat in the area. We spent a lovely and interesting evening on the boat eating dinner and chatting. In the morning, we caught the ferry to Juneau, having spent a fascinating time off the beaten track in Hoonah.
Bear Paw Lake
Bear Paw Lake
Views of Hoonah and the harbor
Same boardwalk trail (ISP managed)
Views of Icy Strait from FS 8530
Peat bogs and skunk cabbage
Lower Suntaheen Creek
Wukuklook Creek
Wukuklook Beach
False Bay
False Bay
The next morning we rattled back into town and ran across a deer and a bear warily eyeing each other. We spent an afternoon in town at the Misty Bay Lodge restaurant and the Office bar. The sun was shining which made it “swimming weather” for the locals who expertly jumped off the dock. In the evening we took another Forest Service road out to Freshwater Bay where we camped out on the peninsula.
Sitka black-tailed deer and coastal brown bear
FS Road 8508 Views
Splash!
Freshwater Bay
We took a short walk down to Bear Paw Lake where we spent a peaceful morning watching an ermine running the shore, woodpeckers in the trees and fish jumping in the water. We headed to the marina where we made use of the immaculate laundry and shower facilities. I was delighted to meet up with Jeff, an extended family member who owns and operates a fishing boat in the area. We spent a lovely and interesting evening on the boat eating dinner and chatting. In the morning, we caught the ferry to Juneau, having spent a fascinating time off the beaten track in Hoonah.
Bear Paw Lake
Bear Paw Lake
Views of Hoonah and the harbor
Hoonah marina
Comments