Sitka Fortress of the Bears & Totem Park Adventure

Experience some of Sitka's most popular destinations

The tour begins at Harrigan Centennial Hall, where guests board a comfortable, full-size passenger van. From there, the journey heads south along Sitka’s scenic road system, with opportunities to spot bald eagles perched in the treetops and Sitka Black-Tailed deer grazing by the roadside. The route follows the shoreline of Silver Bay, a stunning body of water surrounded by towering mountains, and in later months, Humpback and Minke whales may be visible.

At the end of the road, the Fortress of the Bear awaits. This nonprofit rescue facility is home to seven Alaskan bears, including four Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears and three Black Bears, which are the only black bears found on Baranof Island. Visitors can get up close to these magnificent animals and learn about their rescue stories.

The next stop is Sitka National Historical Park, a lush temperate rainforest that stretches out to a peninsula. The park offers a variety of accessible trails that wind along Indian River and the Eastern Channel, with totem poles marking the way. The park is also the site of a historic 19th-century battle between the Sheetka Kwan Kiksadi Clan and Russian American troops. Guests may choose to walk the trails or explore the cultural center, which features exhibits and demonstrations on traditional crafts such as carving, beadwork, fur working, and metalworking.