Petersburg, Alaska

Petersburg is a beautiful seaside harbor town located in the heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage and Tongass National Forest, situated on the northern tip of Mitkof Island. Petersburg is a town that makes its living from the sea and is not a port of call for large cruise ships. Petersburg celebrates its strong and distinctive Norwegian heritage.

Petersburg is the youngest community along the Inside Passage founded in 1897, but boasts of having the largest home-based halibut fleet in Alaska, some say the world. More than $40 million worth of seafood is processed annually through three canneries and two cold-storage plants. Several of the canneries sit above the water on pilings overlooking three boat harbors bulging with vessels and a constant flow of barges, ferries and floatplanes.

Visitors to Petersburg can enjoy many activities such as sightseeing around town, flightseeing by floatplane, local cruise tours, wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

Whale Watching

During the summer, hundreds of humpback whales live and feed about 50 miles north of Petersburg where Frederick Sound joins with Stephens Passage. Humpback whales and orcas are sometimes seen swimming off the shores of Mitkof Island.

Wildlife

Wildlife abounds in Petersburg. Eagles are regularly seen in the trees and on beaches around town. Eagle Roost Park right in town is a popular place to view Bald Eagles. Over 240 species of birds have been recorded in the Petersburg area on Mitkof Island. Mitkof Island is also home to healthy wolf, black bear, deer, and moose populations. Sea lions and seals are often seen in the harbor and the waters surrounding Petersburg.

Fishing

All species of wild Alaska salmon can be caught in the waters around Petersburg. Crab, halibut and rockfish are also plentiful just a short boat ride from town. You can fish from shore, rent a motorized boat, join one of the many charter boat or fishing tour operators, or stay at a fishing lodge.

Le Conte Glacier

Le Conte Glacier lies 40km east of Petersburg and is the southernmost active tidewater glacier in North America. Visitors can enjoy day cruises to view the glacier at close range and flightseeing excursions over the glacier.

Little Norway Festival, May

Petersburg’s Little Norway Festival has grown over the last 49 years to span the 3rd weekend of May The 4-day festival featuring Norwegian Viking and Valkyrie costumes, a parade, games and dances, great food, a smorgasbord, shrimp feeds, pastries and plenty of fun.

Little Norway Festival, Petersburg, Alaska

Access: Scheduled daily jet service from major Inside Passage communities with connections to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Seattle. Schedule air taxi and air charter. Alaska state ferry with connections to all Inside Passage cities, Bellingham, WA and Prince Rupert, BC. Small cruise ship. No road access.

Location: Petersburg is located on the northwest end of Mitkof Island, where the Wrangell Narrows meet Frederick Sound. It lies midway between Juneau and Ketchikan, about 192 km from either community.

Population: 3,155.

Accommodations: Two hotels/motels, 15 bed and breakfasts, 1 hostel, 5 restaurants, gift and variety shops, hardware, marine centers, food and most supplies.