Just a mile and a half from Hoonah, home to many Tlingit, you'll find Alaska's only private cruise ship port. It's owned by the Huna Totem Corporation and many Tlingit Hoonah residents are shareholders. Cruise ships started coming here in 2004, and the port was planning on more than 400,000 cruise ship visitors in 2020.
Getting here from Hoonah is easy; just follow the 1.5-mile-long walkway. Signage along the way talks about the area's history and geography, though you may well be more focused on the gorgeous views and opportunity to see whales, sea lions, eagles, and seals.
You'll find lots to do here. There's a renovated cannery museum, where you can explore the site's original purpose as a working salmon cannery built in 1912. You can also experience the world's largest continuous zipline - a 90-second thrill ride down a mountain to the ocean's edge. Or take one of dozens of tours, which range from Jeep rentals to whale watching. Or just explore the restaurants, boardwalk, shops, and nature trails. New for 2021 is a second dock for the ships and aerial gondolas to move people to the main part of the port or up the mountain.
Call ahead to reserve space on tours: 907-789-8600.
