Tongass National Forest Guide
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Tongass National Forest, located in Alaska, is the largest national forest in the United States. It covers most of Southeast Alaska and encircles the iconic Inside Passage. It’s a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, offering opportunities to see eagles, bears, and spawning salmon. Campers can immerse themselves in the stunning landscapes of Alaska here. You can rent an RV from RVShare to experience Tongass National Forest RV camping With cabins, group camping campgrounds, and RV campgrounds, Tongass caters to a range of camping preferences. Popular campgrounds include Starrigavan Recreation Area, which offers well-maintained campsites, while dispersed camping is available for those seeking a more remote, off-the-grid experience.
Camping in Tongass National Forest
There are three RV-friendly camping areas in Tongass National Forest — Juneau RD, Sitka RD, and Wrangell RD.
RV Campgrounds in Tongass National Forest
$20-$36 per night
Starrigavan Rec Area Campsites
$12-$30, depending on the season
Private Campgrounds Near Tongass National Forest
Check the top campgrounds in Alaska to find a suitable option near the forest. Look for campgrounds in places nearby, like Juneau and Sitka.
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Glacier Nalu Campground
After a day of hiking and exploring Tongass National Forest, enjoy a picnic in the gazebo at Glacier Nalu Campground. Easily get around Juneau because this campground is on the city’s bus route. Rates start at about $40 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms, showers, laundry
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Auke Bay RV Park
Auke Bay RV Park is open year-round. This 31-site campground offers one pull-through site. Inquire about the rates at this campground where only 30-amp electricity is available.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms, showers, laundry
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Mendenhall Lake National Forest Campground
Enjoy a stunning view of Mendenhall Glacier from Mendenhall Lake National Forest Campground located about 13 miles from Juneau. Each site comes with its own grill for meal prep and a picnic table. Rates start at about $10 per night at this campground that is open from May to September.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire grills
Tongass National Forest Hiking Trails
Tongass National Forest has more than 700 miles of hiking trails. You can find hiking trails for all difficulty levels, distances, and scenes here.
Easy Hikes for Beginners
Admiralty Cove To N. Young Lake trail
Distance: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Challenging Trails for Experienced Hikers
Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Difficult due to undeveloped routes and steepness.
Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult due to unmaintained route.
Mole Harbor To Alexander trail
Distance: 2.42 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Most Scenic Trails
Distance: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Naha River National Recreation trail Distance: 5.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
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Mt. Roberts Trail
Enjoy views of Gastineau Channel, Juneau, and Douglas on this climb up Mt. Roberts. The trailhead lies at 2,000 feet, and you gain almost 4,000 feet in elevation before you reach the summit. This trail is a fantastic place to go bird-watching, and you may also see bears along it.
Length: 4.5 miles
Intensity: Strenuous
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Mt. Juneau Trail
This trail quickly climbs above the tree line before you hike along some long switchbacks. On a clear day, the views of Chilkats, Lemon Creek Glacier, and the ice field are beautiful. You are almost guaranteed to see mountain goats near the summit, and you may see a brown bear in the alpine meadow.
Length: 2.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
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Perseverance Trail
This trail is especially pretty when the summertime wildflowers are in bloom. It starts in downtown Juneau and allows you to climb above Gold Creek Valley. Pick some salmonberries for a snack along this trail’s edge. There are several historical mining artifacts to see along this relatively flat trail.
Length: 3 miles
Intensity: Easy
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Sturgill’s Landing Trail
If you love to get the tough going over early, then Sturgill’s Landing Trail near Skagway, Alaska, is perfect for you because the steepest part is at its beginning. Then, it leaves the mountainside to meander through a forest by the beautiful Lower Dewey Lake. Watch your step on the last leg of this journey as it runs across rocks that can be slippery when wet.
Length: 4.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
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Gold Creek Flume Trail
This boardwalk trail is relatively flat. You will love seeing the waterfall along it. Except in the winter, thick deciduous growth grows along it throughout the year. It is a particularly gorgeous place to go hiking in the autumn when the leaves change color.
Length: 1.4 miles
Intensity: Easy
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West Glacier Trail
Hike below the Mendenhall Glacier’s trimline through groves of willow, cottonwood, and alder trees on this hike, which starts at the parking lot on Skater's Cabin Road. In a few places, you will enter a Sitka spruce and western hemlock forest. This out-and-back hike ends at a rock outcropping offering breathtaking views of the glacier.
Length: 3.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Activities in Tongass National Forest
You can engage in multiple recreational activities when camping in Tongass National Forest. Here are the top things to do in Tongass National Forest.
Tidepooling and Sand Play: Explore rocky tidepools and sandy beaches along the Tongass' 11,000-mile coastline. From the rugged shores of Kruzof Island to the inlets of Misty Fjords, the diverse shoreline offers endless opportunities for sand play and marine exploration.
Bicycling: Enjoy scenic rides through the forest, ranging from leisurely boardwalk trails to challenging mountain biking routes.
Mountaineering: The iconic rocks, ice, and peaks of the Tongass make it a prime destination for climbing enthusiasts. Many mountains lack formal trails, so adventurers should be well-prepared with maps, a compass, or GPS for navigating remote terrains.
Wildlife Viewing: The Tongass is home to black and brown bears and has six designated bear-viewing areas. You can also spot moose and flying squirrels in some parts of the forest. Make sure you follow the wildlife viewing etiquette during your visit.
Sea Kayaking: Experience sea kayaking in the pristine waters of the Petersburg Ranger District, from iceberg-filled fjords like LeConte Bay to the remote Keku Islands. This activity requires skill and preparation, as the cold water, large tides, and rugged terrain can make navigation difficult.
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Identifying Flora and Fauna
Western hemlocks cover about 70% of the forest, followed by Sitka spruce, Alaska’s state tree, which covers about 20% of the land. Below the trees, you can see a thick layer of muskeg. Stepping on the muskeg can be messy because this decomposing layer holds a tremendous amount of water. Many of the trees grow their roots in the muskeg, and when the wind blows, you can watch entire areas of the forest rise up as if it wants to blow away.
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Fishing
Anglers often catch halibut, salmon, and lingcod in the saltwater bodies of water within Tongass National Forest. This location is known for its outstanding cold-water fishing. White salmon and steelhead trout fishing are often excellent in the rivers while cutthroat trout often grow to be enormous in the forest’s largest lakes.
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Nature Watching
There are several special areas in Tongass National Forest where the likelihood of seeing a bear is extremely high, especially during the summertime salmon run. From July 5 to August 25, hire an expert guide with a floatplane so that you can visit the Anan Wildlife Observatory. Another great area to go is Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. You may see brown and black bears at this site that remains open during the summer and fall. Another option is Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area, which is open from early June through mid-September.
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Stargazing
Juneau’s Marie Drake Planetarium often hosts planetarium shows for school and community groups. The dark skies at many locations in Tongass National Forest make it a great place to go stargazing. The area near the Mendenhall Glacier can be an incredibly fascinating place to see stars.
How to get to Tongass National Forest
Address: 6000 Glacier Spur Rd, Juneau, AK 99801
Fee: Entry fee $0
By Car
Due to the remote nature of Alaska's Inside Passage, most of Tongass National Forest is inaccessible by mainland roads. However, local roads within communities like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka allow for exploration of nearby areas. To reach these towns by car, you'll need to use the Alaska Marine Highway, which provides a ferry service connecting communities in the Inside Passage to Bellingham, WA, and Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada.
By Air
Flying is a convenient way to access the Tongass National Forest, with daily flights available from Seattle and Anchorage to major Inside Passage communities such as:
Juneau International Airport (JNU)
Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (SIT)
Ketchikan International Airport (KTN)
Petersburg Airport (PSG)
Wrangell Airport (WRG)
Seasonal Restrictions
Some parts of the Tongass National Forest may be closed due to rainfall, and water activities may be closed at certain times due to risks related to tides. Make sure you check the warnings and safety protocols of the forest.
Fees in the Tongass National Forest
Visiting the Tongass National Forest is generally free; however, certain facilities and activities may require fees or passes for travelers over 16. These passes can be purchased at the visitor center or online through the USGS Store. The fees vary according to the area you wish to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tongass National Forest
Is there a fee to get into Tongass National Forest ?
There is no fee to get into Tongass National Forest. However, there is a $5 fee to visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and learn more about the area.
How many hiking trails does Tongass National Forest have?
The Tongass National Forest has more than 700 miles of hiking trails throughout the forest. Trails range from wheelchair-accessible boardwalks to backpacking trails through alpine areas.
Does Tongass National Forest offer free camping sites?
Yes, there are free camping sites in Tongass National Forest. Dispersed camping is allowed within the forest and does not cost. There are also developed campgrounds and cabins that can be reserved for a fee.
What type of wildlife lives in Tongass National Forest ?
Tongass National Forest is home to wildlife including moose, deer, beaver, and porcipines. You'll also find all five kinds of Pacific salmon in the waters of this national forest.
Can you kayak, canoe, or raft in Tongass National Forest ?
You can canoe and kayak in the various lakes in the Tongass National Forest. There are also local outfitters that lead rafting trips in the Tongass National Forest area as well.
