Angoon means “isthmus town” and offers miles of beaches to explore: from sandy stretches in front of town, to clay/mud expanses and pebble and shale beaches. Go beachcombing to see what the tide brings in (most desired: Japanese glass buoys), or just to lose yourself in the sights and sounds of the natural world.
Just choose a spot and start walking. You can be assured of gorgeous views, with probable eagle and marine life sightings along the way.
On the Chatham Strait side, Aanya Street and several homes line the beach. This was the site of an 1882 Naval bombardment that destroyed the village. Continue walking north, and you’ll get to Danger Point, Admiralty Island’s best spot for watching humpback whales that come here to bubble net feed. On the other side of the isthmus, the beach offers a view of Kootznahoo Inlet and Mitchell Bay.
The tidal range here is extreme, with water rushing in and out, and the tide going up and down 16 to 20 feet every 12 hours. When it’s low, it can sound like a waterfall. When it’s high and slack, other sounds of nature cut through – wind, lapping waves, eagles screeching and whales passing by.
