Local Favorites For Cruise Ship Visitors in Wrangell, Alaska
Your essential guide to the best things to do, eat, and explore in Wrangell, Alaska—handpicked by a local walking tour guide.
Top Land Activities in Wrangell, Alaska
Volunteer Park Trail
Forest • Peaceful • Scenic
Enjoy Wrangell’s Nature Trail, an easy gravel trail loop through forest and muskeg with interpretive signs, wildflowers, and local birdlife. Accessible, family-friendly, and ideal for learning about the Tongass environment on a short outing.
Thoms Lake Trail
Forest • Nature • Scenic
This 1.4‑mile gravel and boardwalk trail leads to Thoms Lake, a peaceful forest lake known for waterfowl, fishing, and a nearby public recreation cabin. A great half‑day adventure south of Wrangell.
The Nolan Center & Museum
Culture • History • Museum
Explore the Nolan Center & Museum for Wrangell history, Tlingit cultural artifacts, geology exhibits, and rotating displays. This welcoming, easy‑to‑reach museum offers helpful visitor information and a great introduction to the island’s story.
Rainbow Falls Trail
Nature • Scenic • Waterfall
Walk Rainbow Falls Trail for lush Tongass rainforest, boardwalks, birdsong, and a dramatic waterfall overlook. This rewarding, moderate hike showcases Wrangell’s vibrant temperate ecosystem and is a favorite for visitors seeking classic Southeast Alaska scenery.
Petroglyph Beach Historic Park
History • Nature • Scenic
Discover ancient rock carvings along a quiet shoreline just a short walk from town. A meaningful stop for travelers curious about Wrangell’s deep history. 1.2 miles from the cruise ship dock.
Nemo Saltwater Access Trail
Nature • Peaceful • Scenic
A short 0.5‑mile boardwalk leading to Turn Island’s sandy beach. Enjoy coastal forest, muskeg, and moderate hiking with panoramic shoreline views just off Nemo Loop Road—perfect for a quick, rewarding outdoor stop.
Muskeg Meadows Golf Course
Meadows • Recreation • Scenic
Play nine holes at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course, a uniquely Alaskan course set among coastal muskeg with beautiful mountain views. Friendly, relaxed, and great in long summer daylight, it offers a memorable Wrangell experience.
Mt. Dewey Trail
Nature • Scenic • Vistas
Hike through quiet forest to the Mt. Dewey overlook, where sweeping views of Wrangell and nearby islands reward a short, scenic climb. A great choice for visitors seeking nature, vistas, and a quick adventure. 0.4 miles from the cruise ship dock.
Long Lake Trail
Forest • Relaxing • Scenic
A 0.6‑mile boardwalk descending to Long Lake and its lakeside shelter. An easy, family‑friendly walk with fishing, quiet forest scenery, and classic Tongass tranquility just southeast of Wrangell.
Chief Shakes Island
Culture • History • Totems
Experience Chief Shakes Island’s historic Tlingit totems and the exterior of the clan house—an easy downtown landmark with rich culture, scenery, and photo ops. 0.6 miles from cruise ship dock.
Top Water Activities in Wrangell, Alaska
Stikine River
Nature • Scenic • Vistas
Experience Alaska’s “Great River” by jet boat or canoe—glacial valleys, hidden sloughs, and the vast Stikine Delta. Prime birding during the spring eulachon run, plus waterfalls, icebergs, and sweeping Coast Mountain views from Wrangell.
Shakes Glacier
Nature • Scenic • Vistas
Journey upriver into the Stikine‑LeConte Wilderness to a lake packed with blue ice. Navigate sloughs and waterfalls to the glacier face for photography, geology, and serene wilderness textures few visitors ever see.
LeConte Glacier
Nature • Scenic • Vistas
The southernmost tidewater glacier in North America delivers close‑up calving, glittering ice gardens, and abundant harbor seals. Small‑boat tours from Wrangell thread LeConte Bay for jaw‑dropping, immersive glacier viewing.
Chief Shakes Hot Springs
Forest • Peaceful • Relaxing
After a day on the river, soak in Forest Service redwood tubs amid lush rainforest. Boat‑accessed hot springs offer year‑round warmth, rustic facilities, and classic Alaska serenity deep in the Stikine‑LeConte Wilderness.
Anan Wildlife Observatory
Bears • Nature • Scenic
Premier bear viewing near Wrangell where black and brown bears fish salmon‑rich Anan Creek. Arrive by boat or floatplane, and watch eagles and seals in classic Tongass rainforest—an unforgettable Southeast Alaska wildlife experience.