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Located in the Chilkat River valley near the junction of the Chilkat, Tsirku, and Klehini rivers is the Tlingit Village of Klukwan, a federally recognized tribe known as the Chilkat Indian Village. During your visit to Klukwan, you can learn about the culture of this tribe and the bald eagle preserve at the Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage and Bald Eagle Preserve Visitor Center.

The Chilkat River is a scenic river that runs for over 50 miles from high in the British Columbian mountains of Canada to Chilkat Inlet near Haines. This river has the largest concentration of American Bald Eagles in the United States with several thousand eagles congregating in October and November for a late-season chum salmon run. The area is known as the “Valley of Eagles” and the State of Alaska established a 48,000-acre Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve along the river adjacent to Klukwan to protect this important congregation area and valuable habitat. Klukwan celebrates the fall congregations of eagles with an annual Bald Eagle Festival held in November each year.

Klukwan is located 22 miles north of Haines, Alaska, and on the Haines Highway, and 18 miles south of the US-Canadian border. You can reach Klukwan by driving the Alcan Highway south from Haines Junction YT or by driving north from Haines after arriving by ferry. Remember to bring your passport if you are planning on crossing between Canada and the U.S.

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General Area Overview and Information Sources:

• Chilkat Indian Village
• SEARHC - Klukwan Community Clinic

Birding and Wildlife Resources:

• Klukwan Birding Checklist
• eBird: Haines Alaska eBird Region
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Bald Eagle Preserve
• Alaska Department of Natural Resources: Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
• Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center and Bald Eagle Preserve Visitor Center