National Historical Park

Sitka National Historical Park

Alaska

About Sitka

On an island amid towering spruce and hemlock, Sitka National Historical Park preserves the site of a battle between invading Russian traders and Indigenous Kiks.ádi Tlingit. Totem poles from Tlingit and Haida areas line the park’s scenic coastal trail, and the restored Russian Bishop’s House is a rare reminder of Russia’s colonial legacy in North America.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Alaska
Designation: National Historical Park
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Sitka.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Park Trails

Mon: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Tue: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Wed: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Thu: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Fri: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Sat: 6:00AM - 10:00PM
Sun: 6:00AM - 10:00PM

Park grounds are open for day-use year-round. Pedestrian through-traffic is allowed between Sawmill Creek Road and the visitor center parking lot (over the Indian River footbridge) at any time provided pedestrians do not loiter.

Weather and when to go

Sitka experiences a temperate maritime climate, characterized by heavy precipitation and a small temperature range between seasons. Summer temperatures range from high 50s to high 60s F with frequent rain. Winter is rainy and snowy with temperatures from the high teens to the 40s F. Well prepared visitors will have rain gear and layered clothing at any time of year.

Getting there

Sitka National Historical Park is located in downtown Sitka, Alaska. Sitka is situated on Baranof Island, on the outer coast of Alaska's Inside Passage. No roads connect the city to the mainland; Sitka can be reached only by air or sea. Visitors can travel to Sitka by scheduled and charter air services, ferry, and cruise ships.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 106 Metlakatla Street, Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 318-2170
Email: SITK_Information_Requests@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/sitk

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Sitka

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Sitka

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Tour the Russian Bishop's House

Museum Exhibits · about 35 min

The Russian Bishop's House is one of only four surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America. Built in 1843, it served as the residence of Orthodox bishops…
Take the Totem Trail

Hiking · about 50 min

A historic trail lined with Haida and Tlingit totem poles passes through classic Southeast Alaska temperate rainforest to the site of the Battle of 1804.
Watch An Icon Reborn

Park Film · about 20 min

Watch an 18-minute film for an overview of the Russian Bishop's House and the history of Saint Innocent's efforts to reconcile Tlingit and Russians.
Watch Voices of Sitka

Park Film · about 15 min

Watch a 15-minute film for an overview of Tlingit, Russian, and American history in and around the park.
Explore Exhibits on Tlingit Life

Museum Exhibits · about 2 hours

Learn about Tlingit culture and way of life through historical and contemporary ceremonial objects. Observe demonstrating artists in the wood, regalia, or metalworking studios or…
Find Sitka's Bedrock

Hands-On · about 15 min

Find evidence of Sitka's distant past in outcrops of bedrock. These large pieces of graywacke are sedimentary rocks formed beneath the ocean, lifted up by tectonic forces, and wea…
Explore at Low Tide

Wildlife Watching · about 15 min

The intertidal zone is full of variety, and when the tide is out there are tidepools and wide flats to explore.
Search for Pollinators

Wildlife Watching · about 15 min

Search for the usual suspects, such as bumblebees and hummingbirds, among the park's flowers, but don't forget to hunt for less obvious pollinators like hoverflies and slugs. You…
Watch for Salmon

Wildlife Watching · about 15 min

Salmon are easily observed from the bridge over Indian River when they spawn each summer and fall. Strong ties bind them to the people, plants, and animals of Sitka.