Prince of Wales Island is known not only for its fabulous hunting and fishing, but also for its beautiful scenery. It truly is a Northern paradise. Prince of Wales Island (POW) is beautiful all the time, and breathtaking when the sun shines!
Prince of Wales Island is the third largest island in the United States, after Kodiak and the big island of Hawaii. There are more than 1,500 miles of roads, connecting the island's communities. Less than 5,000 people live here year-round, because much of the island is forested. Most of the roads were originally built for logging, and the majority have a gravel surface.
There are a number of hiking trails and several Forest Service campgrounds. We'll be happy to tell you where they are and how to get there.
Some of the wildlife you may see are black bear, Sitka black-tailed deer, beaver, river otters and martens. Eagles, raven, great horned owls, gulls and chickadees are common. You probably won't see any of the wolves because they're very secretive, but they are here.
Southeast Alaska is well-known for its abundant rainfall, so be sure to bring along your wet-weather gear.
If you want to tour the El Capitan Caves, you must make reservations. It is only available for touring certain days and times of the year. The web address is www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/pow, but you have to call the Thorne Bay District office (907-828-3304) to make reservations.
