Sitka National Historical Park and Totem Trail, Sitka

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By Greg Peters, editor · Updated October 2026

Where106 Metlakatla St

SeasonPark grounds year-round; visitor center hours vary by season

CostFree entry (NPS fees page)

AccessFrom the shuttle stop at Harrigan Centennial Hall, walk east along Lincoln Street past Sheldon Jackson campus; the 2026 Visit Sitka map puts it about 20 minutes on foot.

From the docksAbout 14 min walk · Directions · 3D walking map

Alaska's oldest federally designated cultural and historic park, where a mile-long forest trail passes carved poles on the way to the site of the 1804 Tlingit fort near the Indian River.

Highlights

Eighteen totem poles along a trail of about a mile (Travel Alaska)
Set aside in 1890, a national monument from 1910 and a national historical park from October 18, 1972
Many poles were gathered by Governor John Brady in 1903-05, some after display at the 1904 St. Louis world's fair
The visitor center's cultural-arts program dates to 1969, when the Alaska Native Brotherhood took it over (Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center)
332,964 recreation visits in 2025 (Wikipedia, citing NPS)

Facts checked October 19, 2026 with nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov. Hours and prices change, so confirm before you go.

Park details →

Map: Sitka National Historical Park and Totem Trail

The 3D map shows the walk here from the shuttle stop. Expand it to switch to the tender landing and explore.

3D walking map with times →

Map: USGS elevation; streets and buildings © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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