Kodiak Island Borough: Nature, Culture and Island Experiences
Accommodation in Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak Island Borough combines impressive natural experiences with a multifaceted history. Between rugged coastlines, spruce forests, rivers and historic sites, you will find inspiration for active days as well as cultural discoveries. Those looking for a vacation rental or holiday home can choose their accommodation based on whether wildlife observation, fishing, trails along the water or the history of Kodiak are the main focus.
Wilderness, Wildlife and Waterways
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge offers wildlife observation, hiking, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching and camping. The refuge is home to 3,500 bears. The refuge's exhibition hall offers a special view of the wildlife: it displays the complete skeleton of a 36-foot-long gray whale. For trip planning, it is important to know that Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge can only be reached by boat or floatplane. Anyone wishing to include this remote natural area in their plans should take the necessary onward journey into account when choosing accommodation and planning their days.
The state parks also showcase a variety of landscapes. Shuyak Island State Park encompasses pristine Sitka spruce forests, miles of rugged coastline, beaches and protected waterways. Afognak Island State Park features rugged topography, dense old-growth Sitka spruce forests and salmon spawning grounds. Kodiak brown bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk and the endangered Aleutian tern live there. You can hunt, fish, camp, observe wildlife, hike, cycle, kayak and go packrafting there. The forest roads within Afognak Island State Park are closed to public motor vehicles, but may be used for hiking and cycling.
For anglers, the Buskin River and Pasagshak River offer specific destinations. At the Buskin River, you can fish for sockeye and coho salmon. Buskin River State Recreation Site is connected to Kodiak's road system and is a short drive from both the city center and the airport. Old military roads through the spruce forest connect structures from World War II there. Pasagshak River State Recreation Site provides access to the lower Pasagshak River for sport fishing, camping and picnicking. The bay of Pasagshak and its surroundings are home to brown bears, whales, seals, dolphins, seabird colonies, eagles, overwintering waterfowl, shrimp and crabs, among other wildlife. Pasagshak River is considered an excellent sport-fishing river on Kodiak Island; there you can fish for Dolly Varden as well as sockeye, pink, chum and coho salmon.
Trails and Island History
If you want to compare different trail lengths, Near Island offers a 4.25-mile loop along the island as well as shorter and longer loop options. For centuries, Woody Island was home to the Alutiiq and served as a staging area for military communications during World War II. Today, Woody Island is suitable for kayaking and camping. This combination of Indigenous history, more recent history and activities on the water makes the island a versatile topic for trip planning.
Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park also combines landscape and history. The park encompasses surf-carved cliffs, spruce forests, wildflower-covered meadows and a trout lake. You will also find the ruins of a World War II coastal defense installation there. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
Culture in Kodiak
The Russian-American Magazin is the oldest of only four surviving Russian structures in the United States and continues to operate as the Kodiak History Museum. Permanent photo, object and text exhibits there present Kodiak's history from 1808 to the present day. At the Alutiiq Museum, visitors can explore 7,800 years of Alutiiq/Sugpiaq cultural heritage. The museum also offers guided tours on Alutiiq culture and history. Another distinctive building is the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak, built in 1945 and featuring blue onion domes.
Festival and Getting There
The Kodiak Crab Festival began in 1958 to promote the king crab industry. It is held annually, takes place from Thursday to Sunday and ends on Memorial Day. The program includes parades, a fleet blessing, running and kayak races, live music, as well as fishing and king crab competitions. If you want to combine culture, local traditions and activities during a stay, this event is a travel occasion in its own right.
Kodiak can be reached via a connecting flight through Anchorage; the flight from Anchorage takes about one hour. Alternatively, depending on the schedule, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry travels from Homer to Kodiak in a full day or overnight. Vehicles can be taken on board; alternatively, passengers can travel on foot. When choosing a vacation rental, it is therefore worthwhile to consider your planned excursions and preferred form of arrival together. For orientation within the borough, Kodiak as a separate locality should be included in your trip planning.
For the general travel overview: Alaska.
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