Sunrise Aviation Incorporated

Post Office Box 432
Wrangell, Alaska 99929
(800) 874-2311 Fax: (907) 874-2546

• Stikine River/LeConte Glacier Flight:
  
  Depart Wrangell Airport for the Stikine River, an international waterway between the United States and Canada. The river delta area is a migratory stopover for ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and shorebirds traveling the Pacific Flyway. In April, it has the highest concentration of bald eagles following the "hooligan" run up the river. The river valley is crisscrossed with many river channels, sand dunes, gravel bars, and lush moose meadows with the rugged Coast Mountains as a backdrop.
  
  Fly over Shakes Lake, the site of a natural hot spring, where tubs have been put in place for the enjoyment of those traveling on the river. Continue to the face of Shakes Glacier that calves into the lake and notice how the moraines on the glacier almost make it look like a road. As you proceed over the icefield, several stunning peaks will capture your attention: Kate's Needle elev. 10,023', Devil's Thumb elev. 9,077', and Castle Mountain elev. 7,329'.
  
  The icefield is laced with deep cravasses and jewel-like blue pools of water making it a truly indescribable sight. Next comes the face of LeConte Glacier which towers some 500 feet above the water. The bay at the face of the glacier is 810 feet deep and choked with icebergs calved from LeConte Glacier. On the icebergs will be hundreds of seals, as this is a seal pupping area. The flight continues through LeConte Bay, back over the Stikine River flats, a flyover of Wrangell and lands back at the airport. Time required is 45-50 minutes.
  
  
• Anan Bear Observatory:
  
  Located 15 minutes by air from Wrangell, the Anan site is the only developed black bear observatory in the world. During the salmon runs in July and August, the bears can be seen from a platform run by the United States Forest Service. There are also several brown bears that call this area home, but it is primarily for the black bears. There is a Forest Service cabin at the site that can be rented by contacting the Wrangell Ranger District. Sunrise can transport you to the site for either a day trip or for a week's stay at the cabin. Please call for details on maximum load for the plane, cost, etc.
  
  
• United States Forest Service Cabins:
  
  The Forest Service has put a cabin on many of the remote lakes in the area. Cabins can sleep between 4-6 persons and there is a boat at each one. You must supply your own food, sleeping and cooking gear. Most lakes are accessible only by floatplane, so it is truly a wilderness experience. Contact the Wrangell Ranger District, Post Office Box 51, Wrangell, Alaska 99929 for a brochure listing all the cabin sites and a reservation.
  
• Return to Alaska Vistas Stikine Rafting page
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