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Coffman Cove is a community of less than 200 people located on the northeast side of Prince of Wales Island. Surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and adjacent to Clarence Strait, this town has a variety of services and businesses to support visitors wanting to explore the surrounding areas on Prince of Wales Island. Lodging availability is limited so be sure to plan ahead.
Many Prince of Wales communities are connected through an extensive road system and island access route (via the Inter-Island Ferry Authority terminal in Hollis). The road connectivity of these communities enables visitors to utilize resources that may be limited in smaller communities, such as medical services.
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General Area Overview and Information Sources:
- Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce
- City of Coffman Cove
- U.S. Forest Service: Tongass National Forest
- U.S. Forest Service: Coffman Cove Motor Vehicle Use Map (PDF)
- U.S. Forest ServiceNorth POW Area Motor Vehicle Use Map (PDF)
- Coffman Cove Clinic, 102 Harpoon Way; (907) 874-4700
Birding and Wildlife Resources:
Birding Trail Map for Coffman Cove (click on site names for details).
Sites in Coffman Cove
Beaver Falls
Sandhill Cranes are also known to nest in this area.
Coffman Cove Town Center
Seaside Park in Coffman Cove is a great spot to see waterfowl, seabirds and shorebirds.
El Capitan Cave
El Capitan Cave is the longest mapped cave in Alaska.
Head of Coffman Cove
Arrive 1-2 hours before high tide, as the rising tide will move the birds closer to shore.
Sarkar Lakes
Trumpeter Swans regularly use the lake in the fall and spring.
Sweetwater Lake
There is a canoe/kayak route that paddlers can take to get from Sweetwater Lake back to Coffman Cove.
Birding Photo: Ben Sullender
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