Can You Walk To Sitka From The Cruise Port?

Sitka is a small town in Alaska that offers a variety of sights within walking distance on one day in port. The Alaska cruise port schedule for 2024 indicates that STI and STO are next to the cruise ship. A free shuttle from the Sitka Sound cruise port to downtown Sitka is available, which takes around 12 minutes and goes every 10-15 minutes. The shuttle drop-off is at the Sitka Visitor Center.

The town offers several attractions, including Baranof Castle, Sitka Historical Museum, St. Michaels Cathedral, Tlingit Clan House, Sheldon Jackson Museum, and Sitka Sound. Excursions can be arranged independently, with shore excursion operators lined up at Centennial Hall. The area is relatively flat, well-paved, and traffic is usually light.

Upon arrival at the Sitka cruise port, there are two options to reach the park: walking or taking the Sitka Sea Walk. The park is within easy walking distance from the cruise port and downtown Sitka, taking approximately 15-20 minutes. The Sitka Sea Walk starts around the cruise shuttle drop-off and then goes along the Crescent Harbor, leading to the Sitka Breakwater at the harbor.

The dock is several miles away, so passengers need to ride the shuttle into town. The Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal is about five miles from town, and there is a small shopping mall with a restaurant. A free shuttle is available for those who want to explore Sitka on their own. Most attractions are within walking distance, such as the Sitka National Historical Park, the sea walk, the boat harbor, a playground, and a dock.

Sitka is considered one of the best walking ports in Southeast Alaska, depending on how far you can comfortably walk.

Can you walk to Sitka National Historical Park?

Getting around Town. Most of the park, including the Russian Bishop’s House, park visitor center, Totem Trail loop, Riverview Trail, and Russian Memorial Trail loop, is an easy walk from downtown Sitka. It takes most people about 10 minutes to walk between the visitor center and Russian Bishop’s House.

Getting to Sitka. Sitka is on Baranof Island and can only be reached by air or sea; no roads connect it to the mainland. Visitors can travel to Sitka by scheduled and charter air services, ferry, and cruise ships.

By Air. Daily jet and air taxi service is available to Sitka’s airport. The airport is one mile from downtown Sitka and 1.5 miles from the park. Taxi service is available from the airport. Several local hotels offer pick-up and drop-off service from the airport.

How do I get to Sitka from Cruise Port?

Are the large ship docking areas far from town?. Old Sitka Dock is located about six miles north of downtown district.A free shuttle bus service is provided by the port to and from downtown Sitka. The drop off / pick up location is Harrigan Centennial Hall. The shuttle ride is 10 to 15 minutes and the buses depart every 10 minutes.

The two larger ship lightering areas, Crescent Harbor and O’Connell Bridge, are both located in Sitka’s downtown area.

Are there paid public showers available in Sitka?. Yes, at the Hames Center and Blatchley Middle School.

Can you walk around Sitka from a cruise ship?

To walk from the cruise shuttle to the start of the Sitka Sea Walk is less than 5 minutes.

Then the walk along the harbor is another few minutes. If you make your “destination” the Sitka breakwater, you’ll get there in 10 minutes. (map – you don’t need to follow this exact walking route. Just get yourself to the harbor, and you’ll see a walking path!)

To get to the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center, it is around a 15 minute walk from the cruise shuttle. (map)

2. Russian Bishop’s House. Sitka used to be the capital of Russian America. There are many ways to explore Russian American history in Sitka, and going to the Russian Bishop’s House is one way. You can stop by on your way to the Sitka Sea Walk.

How far is Sitka National Park from Cruise Port?

It’s a very short walk away from the port, less than a mile. Just start walking down the Katlian street and you’ll see the park sign in ten minutes!

Is Sitka National Historical Park free?

An entrance pass is not required to access Sitka National Historical Park.

Other National Park Service sites may require an entrance pass or fee. Depending on your trip plans, an interagency pass may save you money.

2024 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks. Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

• Monday, January 15 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Saturday, April 20 — First Day of National Park Week
• Wednesday, June 19 — Juneteenth
• Sunday, August 4 — The Great American Outdoors Act
• Saturday, September 28 — National Public Lands Day
• Monday, November 11 — Veterans Day

How to get around in Sitka?

Getting Around Town. Once in Sitka, visitors can travel by taxi, tour bus, rental car, or bicycle, for those not bringing their car or RV via the ferry. The downtown area is centrally located and most points of interest are within walking distance of one another.

Where does the cruise shuttle drop you off in Sitka?

So if you’re a paper map type of person (I am!) and you want to walk around downtown Sitka, the first thing you’ll want to do once you get off the cruise ship is go to the Harrigan Centennial Hall!

This is right in front where you will be dropped off by the cruise ship shuttle!

No matter where your cruise ship is located it will require some sort of shuttle to get to downtown. Depending on your cruise ship location, this will be a land shuttle from the cruise terminal or a water shuttle (tender boat) from your cruise ship anchored off-shore.

So you’ll be just a short walk away from getting your Sitka map!

How to get around Sitka?

Getting Around Town. Once in Sitka, visitors can travel by taxi, tour bus, rental car, or bicycle, for those not bringing their car or RV via the ferry. The downtown area is centrally located and most points of interest are within walking distance of one another.

Does Sitka Alaska have Uber?

You book a vacation rental outside of the downtown area. Taxis in the summer are a hot commodity and can be hard to reach. You would not want to plan your day, tours, dinners, or appointments, on calling a taxi. Unfortunately, Sitka does not offer Uber or Lyft services at this time so that’s off the table.

April Specials: 3 person min!! 15% off 4 guests, 20% off 5 guests, 25% off 6 guests.

• Flying to Sitka
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Can you see bears in Sitka?

Bears are sometimes sighted within the park; however, it is unlikely you will see a bear during your visit. The best opportunites for bear viewing in the Sitka area are found in remote locations accessible only by boat.

The southeast region of Alaska is dominated by a temperate rainforest. The temperate rain forest ecosystem stretches along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to Alaska; other temperate rain forests are found in several isolated areas throughout the world. What defines a rain forest quite simply is rain lots of it. Precipitation in Sitka approaches 100 inches of rain each year. The dominant species in the rain forest are Sitka spruce and Western hemlock; some grow to tremendous size, reaching 300 feet in height and 23 feet in circumference.

Western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and red alder are found in the park.

Is Sitka, Alaska a walkable town?

Experience the best of Sitka as you take to the streets on a one-hour guided walking tour. Stretch those legs as you explore Sitka’s historic downtown. The area boasts an array of sights from totem poles to a prominent harbor as well as the Russian Bishop’s House, St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral, and many more sights.

Take a stroll through Crescent Harbor, Sitka Sound Science Center, Sheldon Jackson Historical College, and several other historical sites. Gain a unique local perspective of Sitka as you are led through the downtown of a city rich with Tlingit indigenous culture.

The standard tour involves walking on paved streets and sidewalks for 60 minutes. At the conclusion of the tour, you’ll have the option to walk up 5 flights of stairs to the summit of Castle Hill.