Page 333 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

The best-kept secret in Southeast Alaska is
Prince of Wales Island in the southern part of the panhandle. At 2231
square miles, Prince of Wales is the third largest island of the United
States, after Kodiak Island and the big island of Hawaii.
There are eleven different communities on Prince of Wales and
each has its own character and attractions. Craig is the largest with a
population of about 1300 people, and is home to many of the facilities
on Prince of Wales. Coffman Cove is a small logging town located on
the northeast coast, famous for its oyster farms. Hollis is the site of
the Inter-Island Ferry terminal with service to Ketchikan and the Alaska
Marine Highway. Hydaburg is one of three native communities. Kasaan is
the smallest organized settlement on Prince of Wales with a population of
about 35 people, recently been connected to the road system. Klawock is the
second largest community on the island and home to a fish hatchery. Naukati
is the gateway to Sea Otter Sound. Port Protection and Point Baker are two
quaint fishing communities on the very north end of the Island. Thorne Bay
was at one time the largest logging camp in North America. Whale Pass is
organizing as a city and the last community on the north end of the island
that is road accessible. Edna Bay is a small subsistence community located
on Kosciusko Island.
The cultural heritage is very rich and the island boasts three unique
totem parks. Both Tlingit and Haida had villages on the island and their
presence is seen in the various communities. Prince of Wales is also rich
with natural resources, abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery. The first
cannery in Alaska was built in the late 1870s at Klawock and the remains
are visible to this day. Alaska’s first two copper smelters were built in 1905
in Coppermount and Hadly and old steam donkeys can still be seen on the
beaches. Most of the communities on Prince of Wales owe their existence
to the timber industry, which boomed from the 1950s to the l980s. The Harris
and Thorne Rivers provide world-class fishing and spectacular wildlife viewing
opportunities abound. The island has a tremendous number of cave systems. El Capital
Caves are the largest in Alaska and the first where fossil bones were discovered. USFS provides
free guided tours through El Capitan Cave and also maintains many cabins, trails, boardwalks and
promenades on the island. Contact the USFS in Thorne Bay at (907) 828-3304. People from all over
the US come for the annual, certified marathon and half-marathon held the Saturday of Memorial Day
weekend from Craig.
The Island has Forest Service campgrounds, privately run RV parks and many types of lodging
available throughout the Island. Limited numbers of rental vehicles are available. One can fly to the various
communities via floatplane or to the airport in Klawock via wheel plane. For a free copy of the annual Island
Guide, information on the attractions and lodging available on Prince of Wales and how to get there, contact
the Chamber of Commerce at PO Box 490, Klawock, AK 99925. Phone: (907) 755-2626. Visit the website at: www.
princeofwalescoc.org or email: info@princeofwalescoc.org.

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