Alaska Vistas: South Etolin Wilderness Area

Alaska Vistas offers a number of unique activities into the Etolin Island Wilderness area. Opportunities include observing and photographing nature, camping, kayaking, trout fishing at Krogh lake or beachcombing along McHenry Inlet. Access is provided by our vessels or floatplane. Camping can be at selected sites or on a floating cabin moored in one of the many inlets in the wilderness.

Alaska Vistas will work with you to design the custom kayak trip that allows you to take advantage of this relatively undiscovered wonderland.

The South Etolin Island Wilderness area comprises 83,642 acres on the south end of Etolin Island and several smaller islands. It is located about midway between Ketchikan and Wrangell in Southeast Alaska. The wilderness area consists of spruce/hemlock forests from sea level to about 2500 feet in elevation. Above 2500 feet, the vegetation takes on the characteristics of a subalpine/alpine forest. Bessie and her sisters Alice and Virginia tower 3900 ft above sea level skirted by fish streams and high mountain lakes.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game has identified 28 anadromous fish streams in the South Etolin Wilderness. Together these streams provide habitat for cutthroat and steelhead trout, Dolly Varden, char, and pink, chum, coho and sockeye salmon. One of the first fish hatcheries in Southeast Alaska was built at Hatchery Lake. Operations began in 1882 to improve sockeye salmon habitat. The project was abandoned in 1907. Wildlife within the wilderness include black bear, Sitka black-tailed deer and moose. Brown bear are known to transit the area. In 1987, 33 Roosevelt and 17 Rocky Mountain elk were released on Etolin and their introduction has been successful. Elk have been now been sighted on neighboring Zarembo Island. The areas of McHenry Anchorage, Onslow Island and Canoe Pass support large concentrations of eagle nesting and harbor seal haulout sites. Many nights while anchored in Sunny Bay we have heard wolves calling throughout the night.

South Etolin Island Wilderness area has maintained its natural integrity. The natural appearance of the area provides spectacular vistas and a great variety of scenery. In this wilderness we experience isolation from the sights and sounds of human activity. Since there are no maintained access routes into the interior of the wilderness, chances are slim that we'll see other human visitors. According to the Forest Service we are the only outfitter operating in this area. There is no other known commercial activity occurring in this wilderness.

Photos by R.E. Johnson unless otherwise noted.