Southeast Alaska Birding Trail Craig

Craig Town Center

A great spot for whale watching, especially when the herring are spawning.

From the town of Craig you can explore the coastal and tidal areas that surround the town. You can hike either the Graveyard Island Trail through coastal rainforest on the south edge of town to Cape Suspiro or hike the Sunnahae Mountain Trail to get alpine views. The Graveyard Island Trail is a nice area with a flat, easy hike that is close to town and a close walking distance from many accommodations in Craig. The trail ends at Cape Suspiro with a nice beach and a bench, that is a great spot for whale watching, especially when the herring are spawning. Evening is the best time to look for marine mammals from these spots. The best viewing is during the herring spawn (15-Mar to 15-Apr) with peak spawning in late March. The Sunnahae Mountain Trail passes through young growth of varying age classes and yields great views of Craig and surrounding ocean. Muskeg and alpine areas are found in higher elevations. The trail has had some recent trail improvements, but remains a strenuous hike on a very steep trail taking between 3 to 4 hours to reach the top. The diversity of habitats around Craig holds a big diversity of bird species with over 100 species detected in and adjacent to the town.

Directions:

From Ketchikan you can either ferry to into Hollis on the Prince of Wales on the Inter-island Ferry or fly into Klawock. From either location you will need to rent a car or call a taxi to get to Craig. Alternatively or you can take a float-plane directly to Craig.

Dark-eyed Junco.
Dark-eyed Junco. Photo: John Schoen

Birding Resources:

Species Checklist:

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