Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System Reservation and Ticketing Agent

Akutan is located in the center of some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world, and huge amounts of seafood products -- primarily crab, halibut, cod, pollock --are processed in the shelter of its deep bay and at a large shore-based processing plant. Although the Aleut population of the local village remains at 90-100, it peaks at about 1,000 during certain fishing seasons.

Angoon

Angoon, located on Admiralty Island some 60 miles south of Juneau, is surrounded by miles of picturesque waterways noted for fishing, hunting, and sightseeing opportunities.

Bellingham

Bellingham, Washington, southernmost terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway System, is 1-1/2 hours north of Seattle and one hour south of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the traditional gateway to the San Juan Islands and Alaska. Bellingham's new multi-modal facility offers train, bus, Alaska, Victoria and San Juan Island ferry service, all in one location. The ferry terminal and visitor information center are adjacent to the historic Fairhaven district. Shuttle services are available for travel between the terminal and major airports. See also Port of Bellingham for information about this multimodal facility, and related links.

Chenega Bay

In 1996, the Alaska Marine Highway began "whistle-stop" service to the small communities of Tatitlek and Chenega Bay, made possible by the construction of new docks to provide staging areas for oil spill response capabilities in Prince William Sound.

Chignik

Chignik is actually three villages: Chignik Lake, Chignik Lagoon, and Chignik Bay, where the State ferry docks at one of two canneries at its first stop on the run out the Aleutian chain. Like the other Aleutian Island communities, Chignik provides a fishing lifestyle for its residents in a rugged but beautiful environment. In the Aleut language, "Chignik" means "windy".

Cold Bay

Cold Bay, located 634 air miles from Anchorage, is surrounded by the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Abundant seabirds and waterfowl, as well as caribou and brown bear, make it a popular spot for sportsmen and naturalists. Two active volcanoes provide a spectacular backdrop when the frequently inclement weather allows a glimpse.

Cordova

Cordova is a fishing port where you can watch commercial fishermen bring in their catch or try your hand at Alaska-style sport fishing. Tour the salmon canneries, visit the famed "million dollar bridge", walk on Sheridan Glacier, or ride the chair lift to the top of Eyak Mountain. The activities and adventures are endless.Cordova Chamber of Commerce Web Page.

Dutch Harbor

Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, at the end of the Aleutian Chain, is also its largest community, with over four thousand residents. A busy fishing and seafood processing port, Dutch Harbor is also a tourist destination, with sport fishing, bird and wildlife viewing, cultural and historical exploration, or hiking and beachcombing awaiting the adventurous traveler.

False Pass

False Pass is a picturesque Aleutian community in a strategic location. The town sits on the south side of Isanotski Strait, the shortest transit route between the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Its economy is based on fisheries: mostly for salmon, herring, halibut and crab.

Haines

Haines connects the Inside Passage year-round with the Alaska Highway at Haines Junction, in Canada's Yukon Territory. While in Haines, visit historic Port Chilkoot, the Native arts center, or camp within sight of glaciers at Chilkat State Park. The highlight of fall is viewing the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world at the Chilkat Balk Eagle Preserve just outside the city. Many travelers board the ferry at Haines and sail to nearby Skagway, birthplace of the Klondike Gold Rush. See also Haines Visitor Bureau Home Page.

Homer

Homer sports a lively recreation scene along the 5-mile long, world famous Homer Spit, and offers travelers a spectacular view of Kachemak Bay. The harbor is lined with charter boats for hire, and fresh halibut, crab and shrimp can be purchased from seafood shops along the docks. See also Kenai Peninsula Resource Network, includes info about AMHS ports of call: Homer, Seldovia and Seward.

Hoonah

Hoonah was once the major village of the Huna Indians, a subdivision of the Tlingit tribe. Fishing boats line the harbor, and seafood processing is the major industry. Pleasure fishing in the area is excellent for Silver and King Salmon, as well as Cutthroat, Rainbow, and Dolly Varden trout.

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska's energetic capital and gateway to Glacier Bay, rests between towering Mt. Juneau and the Gastineau Channel. Although a modern city, Juneau wears its romantic Gold Rush past proudly. Exhibits, museums, and enchanting performances are waiting to entertain you. The Mendenhall Glacier and U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center offers programs, a naturalist to answer questions, trails and nature walks, and a panoramic view of the glacier face. Nearby Admiralty Island National Monument shelters the largest brown bear population in Southeast Alaska. See also The Juneau Web and Juneau Convention & Visitors' Bureau.

Kake

Kake is named for the tribe of Tlingit Indians which has occupied Kupreanof Island since prehistoric times. It is the site of the world's largest totem pole -- 132.5 feet high -- and enjoys a brisk logging and fishing trade.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is Alaska's southernmost major city. Its waterfront buildings rise above Tongass Narrows supported by a forest of pilings and joined together by a picturesque boardwalk. Visit the world's largest collection of totem poles at Saxman, Totem Bight, and the Totem Heritage Center. See also City of Ketchikan Web Page.

King Cove

King Cove rests on a sand spit and adjacent uplands which are located at the north end of a natural bay nestled between high mountain ridges. The community of 1,000, mostly Aleuts, has developed around one of the largest fish processing centers in the United States.

Kodiak

Kodiak was the first capital of Russian America (1783-99). Remnants of the Russian occupation live on for you to see today. Kodiak also harbors Alaska's largest commercial fishing fleet and is home to the mighty Kodiak Brown Bear. Close to 3,000 of these giant bears live in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Metlakatla

Metlakatla is located on Annette Island, at the southern tip of Alexander Archipelago in Southeastern Alaska. Originally a religious colony, Metlakatla's population first consisted of 800 Tsimshian Indian converts who had moved from British Columbia. The native name means, "a passage joining two bodies of water."

Pelican

Pelican, in the mid 1930's, was nothing more than two large barges serving as cold-storage for locally-caught salmon. Pelican grew with the fishing industry, and now consists of a main boardwalk and a cluster of weather- worn buildings that cling to the side of Chichagof Island. Besides great fishing and beautiful scenery, Pelican's main attraction is Rosie's bar, where fishermen have been carving their initials in the ceiling since the first beer was served.

Petersburg

Petersburg is off the beaten path of cruise ships and is famous for its Norwegian heritage which shows so beautifully in the decorative designs found on its homes and shop fronts. Local tours await you, too, offering spectacular views of the LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America. See also Petersburg Visitor Information provided by Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

Port Lions

Port Lions, in Settler Cove on the northeast coast of Kodiak Island, offers the amenities of larger destinations such as full-service hunting and fishing lodges, the beauty of waterfalls tucked away in spruce-filled coves, beach combing, and sea kayaking through the still, blue waters of Kizkuyak Bay.

Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is an ideal starting point for drivers wishing to cruise up the Inside Passage. Take an archaeology tour, or visit the Museum of Northern B.C. with its carving shed and settlement history of the B.C.'s north coast. Tour the North Pacific Cannery Village Museum, a restored heritage site which offers a live performance to highlight its history. See also B. C. Ferries Corporation for sailings to Prince Rupert from other Canadian ports.

Sand Point

Sand Point was originally founded as a cod fishing station in 1887, and today it continues to support the regional fishing industry. The city's harbor is home to a locally based fishing fleet, and is also heavily used by transient vessels during and between fishing seasons. Its population is mostly of Aleut and Scandinavian descent.

Seldovia

Seldovia is accessible only by air or water and, therefore, has been able to maintain many of its age-old Russian traditions. Seldovia offers a view of Alaska's fishing industry with vessels moving in and out of Kachemak Bay, fresh catches in live tanks and fish processing at a local salmon plant. See also Kenai Peninsula Resource Network, includes info about AMHS ports of call: Homer, Seldovia and Seward.

Sitka

Sitka was the seaside capital of Russian America and a visit here is like stepping back in time to the 18th century. Visit St. Michael's Cathedral, one of the finest examples of rural Russian architecture. Stroll through the town's quaint shops and enjoy performances of Russian dancing. All of this entertaining history is presented under the shadow of stately Mr. Edgecumbe, a 3,201-foot-high, Fuji-like extinct volcano. See also Sitka Convention & Visitors' Bureau.

Skagway

Skagway, the "Gateway to the Yukon," owes its birth to the Gold Rush of '98. The U.S. Park Service and the City of Skagway have made this one of the best historic sites in Alaska. The Klondike Highway follows part of the White Pass route and connects with the Alaska Highway at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Tatitlek

Tenakee Springs

Tenakee Springs was once a leading Alaska spa, with early miners coming from around the Territory and the Yukon to "take the waters" of its warm mineral springs. Today, the year-round residents are joined by summer visitors who still come to "take the waters" but who have also discovered the excellent saltwater fishing in the area.

Valdez

Valdez began as a trading station in the early 1890s and served as a port of entry for gold seekers bound for the Klondike. The old city was destroyed by the 1964 earthquake, but its spirit lives in a new Valdez. This ice-free, saltwater port is the terminus of the 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline, which carries oil from the North Slope. See also City of Valdez Web Page.

Whittier

Whittier is nestled between the glacier-capped Chugach mountains and Prince William Sound. Built by the U.S. Government during World War II as a port and petroleum delivery center, today Whittier is the gateway to a recreational wonderland. The city is connected by ferry to Valdez and Cordova during summer months. Whittier is now accessible by road through North America's Longest Tunnel. The Anton-Anderson Toll Tunnel is open during specific scheduled times. You may not be able to make your sailing if you do not arrive at the tunnel when it is open. Please check the Whittier Tunnel Web Site for scheduled tunnel openings for vehicles. Or call the Toll free877-611-2586. Bicycle and foot traffic is prohibited through the tunnel. Vehicles restrictions may apply.

Wrangell

Wrangell, a half-mile walk from the Wrangell Ferry Terminal, is Alaska's fourth oldest city and its only community to have existed under four nations: the Tlingit, Russian, British, and American. Its even more ancient history is revealed by mysterious petroglyphs left centuries ago by early Alaskans. These artifacts are easily seen at low tide. You will also enjoy the Chief Shakes Community House with its many totem poles, the replica tribal Chilkat blanket, and other historic items.Wrangell is the "Gateway to the Stikine River", the fastest free-flowing navigable river in North America. Wrangell also hosts the largest springtime concentration of bald eagles in the world. Local tours are available to both the river and the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory. See also City of Wrangell Web Page.