Shelikof Trail

For the highly adventurous, this is a 6.5-mile former logging road on Kruzof Island, about a 25-minute boat ride from Sitka. The road begins in Mud Bay and ends at the Shelikof River at Iris Meadows. From there it’s another 1.5-mile hike on foot across the meadows to Shelikof Beach, where you’ll find gorgeous black sand and ocean breakers. There is a Forest Service A-frame cabin you can rent by the night, which is heavily booked in summertime by locals. But it’s also a fantastic day trip - just be considerate of the cabin users, who enjoy this spot primarily for its solitude. The next beach across the river also has a cabin - North Beach Cabin - rented by ATV riders. On weekends, you’ll encounter many ATV riders offloading at Mud Bay. Most are very courteous - don’t be surprised if someone offers to haul your gear to the meadows!