3 walks to do in Sitka (free + easy!) from a cruise ship 🏔 Sitka Alaska cruise port tips

Hi there!

Your starting point for easy walks in Sitka is downtown.

Most likely, your cruise ship will dock at Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. If this is the case, there will be a free shuttle that will drop you in downtown Sitka, at the Harrigan Centennial Hall. On google maps, it is also marked as “cruise buses.” (map)

Otherwise, if Sitka is a tender port for you, then your tender boat (“water shuttle”) will also drop you off in downtown Sitka, at the Crescent Harbor. This is also near the “cruise buses.” (map)

Either way, getting to downtown Sitka is not a problem when you arrive by cruise ship!

And from downtown Sitka, there are a few easy walks that you can do!

 

 

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It’s very possible to walk around Sitka on your own downtown.

But Sitka is also a small Alaskan town with much history to appreciate (in particular, Russian American history!), and you’ll get a better appreciation for it by walking it with a local! And so, the must-do walk is the guided downtown Sitka walking tour.

And when you’re in Sitka, you also have a chance to go walking in the largest national forest in America through a guided hike in Tongass National Forest.

You can also go to Tongass National Forest on your own in Sitka. See my post about hiking in Alaska cruise ports.

 

If you are interested in walking around Sitka on your own, I also recommend going inside the Centennial Hall once you arrive. When I’ve gone there, they have had paper maps to guide you around downtown Sitka. It was also possible to attend a Russian cultural show at the hall for around $15.

I have been to Sitka by cruise ship a couple of times (on Princess and NCL cruise ships), and here are my picks for easy walks to do!

You can do all of these if you have a day in Sitka. They are all pretty close to the cruise ship shuttle drop-off spot.

And now, here are things to do in Sitka on your own from a cruise ship!

 

 

1. Sitka Sea Walk

The Sitka Sea Walk starts around the cruise shuttle drop-off, and then goes along the Crescent Harbor. You can walk out to the Sitka Breakwater at the harbor.

Then you can keep walking just a little bit further and you’ll see there’s an area where you can walk along the shoreline. It’s a beach walk, Alaska-style!

 

 

Continue walking in the same direction and you will get to the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center! Once here, you can do an easy walk through the forest on the Totem Trail to see totem poles in Sitka. There’s also an exhibit at the visitor center to learn about Native Alaskan totem poles.

Near the Sitka Sea Walk is also the Sitka Sound Science Center which has an aquarium. (map)

 

How much time do you need?

To walk from the cruise shuttle to the start of the Sitka Sea Walk is less than 5 minutes.

Then the walk along the harbor is another few minutes. If you make your “destination” the Sitka breakwater, you’ll get there in 10 minutes. (map – you don’t need to follow this exact walking route. Just get yourself to the harbor, and you’ll see a walking path!)

To get to the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center, it is around a 15 minute walk from the cruise shuttle. (map)

 

 

2. Russian Bishop’s House

Sitka used to be the capital of Russian America. There are many ways to explore Russian American history in Sitka, and going to the Russian Bishop’s House is one way. You can stop by on your way to the Sitka Sea Walk.

According to the National Park Service, the Russian Bishop’s House is one of the few surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America.

Read more about the Russian Bishop’s House.

 

 

 

How much time do you need?

To walk from the cruise shuttle to the Russian Bishop’s House is less than 5 minutes. (map)

Once there, you’ll want to give yourself an hour to fully walk around and explore.

The National Park Service says you’ll want at least 20 minutes to walk around and explore the exhibits to learn about the history, and then another 30 minutes for the guided tour.

Guided tours are offered during the main Alaska cruise season, from May to September.

If you’re at the beginning or end of this time and the Russian Bishop’s House is of great interest to you, you might want to reach out to the National Park Service to find out if/when tours are available. Look for “contact” info.

At other national park sites, I have had success in reaching visitor centers by calling the phone number listed at the very bottom of the page.

 

 

 

Russian cultural show in Sitka

If your cruise ship is in Sitka on Wednesdays, you can attend the Russian and Ukrainian Folk Dance Show.

And it does look like it’s only on Wednesdays, per the calendar.

Tickets are available at the door, or you can buy tickets in advance.

 

 

3. Baranof Castle State Historic Site

This is my “one last thing” that I did quickly before it was time to go back to the cruise ship. So if you find yourself with 30 to 40 minutes before the last shuttle back, then you can make it a walk to the Baranof Castle State Historic Site.

This is another opportunity to learn about the history of Sitka and Russian America, and because you’re going up to get to it, it offers nice views of Sitka too!

According to the National Park Service, Baranof Castle State Historic Site is one of the most historically significant sites in Alaska. It is a National Historic Landmark and it is on the National Register of Historical Places.

Read more about Russian American history of Castle Hill.

 

 

 

How much time to do you need?

To walk from the cruise shuttle to the Baranof Castle State Historic Site will take less than 10 minutes. It’s a very short loop once you are on the top of the hill, so it doesn’t actually require that much time. There are a few signs to read, but even then, you probably won’t need more than 10-15 minutes to read them all. Other than that, you might want to stay at the top of the hill just to sit back and take in the views!

If you have extra time, then “just around the corner” is Totem Square. (map)

On the way back, I walked over to the bridge for some views of the water. (There are no sidewalks along the road so it is not the safest thing.)

 

 

Finally, if Sitka is a tender port for you, it is VERY important that you pay attention to the instructions you are given the night before! It will likely be included in the daily activity schedule that will be delivered to your stateroom (cabin).

If you don’t figure out what’s going on until the day you’re in Sitka, you could be one of the last ones off the ship! In most cases, a ticket is necessary to get off the ship, so the sooner you get the ticket, the better! And you will only know how to get the ticket by reading the instructions!

Honestly, tender ports are annoying because there’s a lot of waiting going on to get off the ship. So bring your patience!

 

 

To better plan your day of walking, see my post with the Sitka cruise port map with the cruise ship shuttle drop-off whether you will be tendering off-shore or docking at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. This also includes how to find out where your specific cruise ship will dock.

 

More easy walks in Alaska: Ketchikan | Juneau | Skagway | Icy Strait Point | Victoria | Vancouver

More walking: Hiking in Alaska cruise ports

More for your cruise ship visit: All things Sitka on the blog

 

HAPPY WALKING IN SITKA!