Sitka is a scenic coastal city located in southeast Alaska. With its stunning natural beauty and rich indigenous culture, it’s no surprise that Sitka offers numerous parks and outdoor spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. From rainforests and coastal trails to gardens and community spaces, Sitka’s parks showcase the best of what this special place has to offer.
This article provides an overview of 12 of the most notable parks in Sitka, highlighting their distinctive features, landscapes, activities, and significance to the local community.
Southwest Parks and Coastal Trails
Sitka boasts spectacular coastal scenery and nature trails along its rugged shoreline. Three southwest parks take advantage of this abundant natural beauty.
St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Park is a small grassy area situated right on the shore overlooking Elias Harbor. Picnic tables and benches provide scenic spots to take in views of the harbor and surrounding mountains. A winding gravel trail leads down to the rocky intertidal zone, where visitors can explore tidal pools and observe ocean wildlife during low tides.
Just south is Keet Gooshi Heen Park, a linear strip of land tucked between West Sawmill Creek Road and the coast. A 0.5-mile gravel trail follows the shoreline, passing grassy areas and forest edges. Benches give glimpses of the water through the dense coastal rainforest vegetation. Bald eagles and harbor seals are commonly seen from this trail.
Castle Hill Trail, accessed from Japonski Island, follows an old military road up to the scenic Castle Hill summit. At 185 feet, it affords a sweeping 360-degree panorama of Sitka and the surrounding islands, sounds, and glaciated mountains. Interpretive signs explain the area’s rich cultural history as a former Russian and Tlingit settlement. Hikers are treated to views of sea lions and seabirds along the 0.75-mile out-and-back route.
Sitka National Historical Park
Encompassing over 2,500 acres, Sitka National Historical Park protects some of the largest and oldest stands of Alaska cedar and spruce temperate rainforest in the United States. It also preserves indigenous Tlingit heritage through archaeological sites and traditional villages.
The centerpiece of the park is the Russian Bishop’s House, an intricately carved log mansion built in 1842 as the private residence for the bishop of Russian America. Guided tours provide a glimpse into the luxurious yet isolated lifestyle of Russian colonial elites. Nearby Kotzebue Beach preserves archaeological remnants of a predominantly Alaska Native village dating back several centuries.
Over 10 miles of scenic rainforest trails explore the park. The most popular is the 1-mile Bishop’s Mitre Trail, which winds through towering old-growth spruce and cedar trees festooned with hanging lichen “beards.” Visitors keep an eye out for black-tailed deer, brown bears, and diverse birdlife. The Sheldon Jackson Campus Trail passes historic Russian homes and buildings that once comprised the town of New Archangel, Sitka’s original settlement.
Sitka Community Park and Skater’s Cabin
Sitka Community Park is a much-loved local park located centrally in town near Sitka Sound. Playground equipment, picnic shelters, baseball fields, and open grass areas cater to families with children and outdoor enthusiasts. A forested trail network passes through second-growth rainforest, looping around Duck Lake along boardwalks.
In winter, the park transforms into a popular spot for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. Skater’s Cabin, a cozy wood-paneled structure, offers shelter, warm drinks, and snacks to park visitors on the adjoining ice skating rink. Weekly bonfires draw crowds of skaters and sledders on snowy evenings.
Adjacent to Sitka Community Park, Sitka Sound Aquatic Center has an Olympic-sized pool and waterpark. It hosts swim meets, water aerobics classes, and family events. A boardwalk winds along the shoreline past rocky islets and breakwaters that are popular for crabbing at low tide.
Indian River and Herring Cove Parks
For a wilderness experience only minutes from downtown, visit Indian River or Herring Cove Parks. Both protect large swaths of coastal temperate rainforest and offer access to the ocean.
Indian River Park lines a beautiful forested estuary where Chinook, coho, and pink salmon spawn each fall. A 1-mile boardwalk loop meanders through giant Sitka spruce trees draped in lichen. Wildlife viewing is excellent, with frequent sightings of bald eagles and waterfowl along the shores. Picnic sites overlook the serene river mouth.
Herring Cove Park protects over a mile of shoreline just northwest of Sitka. Hiking trails access a scenic cobbled beach, where harbor seals lounge and seabirds congregate. Interpretive signs explain the rich historic and cultural significance of herring to native Tlingit peoples. The 2.5-mile roundtrip Crescent Bay Trail continues north through lush rainforest to a secluded pocket beach surrounded by colorful glacial rocks.
Gardens at St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
Situated right in downtown Sitka, the formal gardens surrounding St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church offer a lovely green respite from the bustle of Lincoln Street. Though small in size, the gardens pack in beauty and history.
A shady path leads through specimen rhododendrons, camellias, and Alaskan native cottonwood and Sitka spruce trees planted over a century ago. The Episcopal bishop’s house, built in 1892, overlooks a manicured lawn. At the rear, cottages and outbuildings from Sitka’s early Russian era have been preserved.
In summer, colorful perennials burst with blooms attended to by volunteer gardeners. Patio seating invites contemplation among pastoral beauty. Guided tours shed light on horticultural triumphs in Sitka’s cool maritime climate and pioneer spirit. The gardens serve as a community space for weddings, concerts, and town events throughout the year.
Mascot Park and Trail
Situated across Sawmill Creek, Mascot Park is a quiet woodland oasis for residents of Sitka’s Westneighborhood. Nature trails wind through old-growth Sitka spruce and mountain ash forests populated by ravens and Steller’s jays.
The Mascot Trail leaves from the park, skirting north along Sawmill Creek for 1.6 scenic miles. Boardwalks traverse marshy areas filled with leatherleaf ferns. Interpretive signs point out forest succession and habitats along the way. One section passes through a logged area in various stages of regeneration, highlighting the constant renewal of the rainforest.
At the far end, a spur trail leads to the historic Mount Edgecumbe Lighthouse, perched high on a rocky point. Completed in 1906, it remains staffed seasonally by the US Coast Guard and affords spectacular views of Sitka Sound and surrounding islands. Picnic tables grace forest clearings along the Mascot Trail loop, inviting walks of any length along this quintessential Southeast Alaska forest path.
Conclusion
With forests, coastlines, historic sites, and welcoming public spaces, Sitka’s parks celebrate the natural and cultural heritage that make this city so special. Whether seeking urban respite, unparalleled rainforest beauty, or indigenous cultural insight, these 12 park destinations have something for every visitor to enjoy.
Sitka generously shares its splendid natural setting through well-maintained parks that strengthen both conservation of the environment and community. Their scenic trails, recreational areas and interpretive elements create an inviting gateway to appreciating this historic Tlingit homeland amid Alaska’s coastal rainforests.