Located about 15 miles west of Juneau, this monument encompasses 955,567 acres, over 90 percent of Admiralty Island. The island is bounded on the east and north by Stephens Passage, on the west by Chatham Strait and on the south by Frederick Sound.
The predominantly Tlingit village of Angoon lies at the mouth of Mitchell Bay on the west side of Admiralty Island, adjacent to the wilderness. The terrain of the island is gentle and rolling with spruce and hemlock forest interspersed with small areas of muskeg. Tree line is generally at 1,500 to 2,000 feet. Above timberline, the forest changes to alpine tundra with rock outcrops and ice fields.
Activities and Attractions
The island boasts the densest population of brown bears in the world, averaging 1 per square mile. Other wildlife includes Sitka blacktail deer, bald eagles, harbor seals, whales and sea lions. Because it is isolated from the mainland, some species occurring elsewhere along the Inside Passage are not found on the island. Outstanding areas are the numerous bays and inlets. Seymour Canal, the major inlet on the east side of the island supports one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in Southeast Alaska.
Kayaking and canoeing around the island are popular, as are hunting, fishing, bird watching, nature study and photography. Mitchell Bay and Admiralty Lakes Recreational Area are the two major recreational attractions within the monument. A 25-mile trail system links the eight major lakes on the island. This system is part of the Cross-Admiralty canoe trail, which consists of a series of lakes, streams and portages across the island from Mole Harbor on the east to Mitchell Bay. Guided trips and canoe rentals are available in Juneau for the Cross-Admiralty trail. The trail is a popular winter traverse then the lakes are frozen. The other two attractions within the monument are Seymour Canal for sea kayaking and Pack Creek for bear viewing (see Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary for details on Pack Creek bear viewing).
Accessibility
Primary access to the monument is by boat from Juneau or Angoon or by floatplane from Juneau. There are overnight accommodations at Angoon. Facilities in the monument include one commercial lodge on Thayer Lake and scattered shelters and 18 recreation cabins maintained by the Forest Service. Cabins are on a reservation basis. Follow the link below for more information on cabins.
Fees
Cabin, camping and recreation fees may apply. Check with the Admiralty Island National Monument Information Center in Juneau – (907) 586-8800.
Weather and Climate
Annual precipitation is 100 inches over most of the island. Angoon, in the rain shadow of Baranof Island, is drier.
Facilities
Admiralty Island National Monument Headquarters – (907) 586-8800 – 8461 Old Dairy Road, Juneau (open year round)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/admiralty/