Wrangell, Alaska Information

Wrangell, Alaska is an undiscovered gem. The 2,300-person town is located at the tip of Wrangell Island at the mouth of the Stikine River. It is one of the most beautiful places on the southeastern Alaskan Panhandle.

The Tlingit people have used the Stikine River for thousands of year as a major trading route to interior British Columbia. The area has a huge number of ancient petroglyphs that date back nearly 8,000 years. They can be viewed at Wrangell's Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park. Wrangell is rich in history and has done a good job of preserving its past. This remote outpost has been ruled by four different nations during its colorful past: Tlingit, Russia, Great Britain, and currently the United States.

Remote is the best way to describe Wrangell. The only ways to get to this isolated town is by ferry or by airplane. It's location along the Inside Passage means the Alaska Marine Highway stops there regularly. Over the years, it has attracted people for gold prospecting and trading. Now it is an outdoor sports enthusiast's dream setting.

Wrangell offers unforgettable wild experiences. Its remoteness makes it a prime spot for adventure both onshore and offshore. Wrangell's protected waters make it an angler and boater's paradise. Sea kayakers can spend years exploring the untouched coastline, whitewater rafters will love the wild rapids, and both spin cast and fly fishermen will love to dip their lines in the bountiful waters for 5 species of Salmon and halibut.

Did You Know?
The Stikine River is navigable for 130 miles from the coast near Wrangell, Alaska to interior British Columbia, Canada.

Mountain bikers will love exploring the 100's of miles of forest roads on the Island, explorers will enjoy seeing the Chief Shakes Glacier and the LeConte Glaciers in the Stikine/Le Conte Wilderness, backpackers will be thrilled with easy access to the Tongass National Forest, hunters will be stoked to hunt bear and moose in the wilds, history buffs will love to visit the totem poles and footbridges of Chief Shakes Island, and wildlife photographers will be eager to snap up close shots of grizzly and black bears at the Anan Bear Observatory.

Wrangell is absolutely, stunningly beautiful. The scenery can be mesmerizing. On a short flight seeing trip on a bush plane you'll see glaciers protruding off the Stikine Icefields, narrow fjords with sparkling clear water, waterfalls tumbling off green cliffs, wildflowers in alpine valleys, snowcapped peaks, salt water lapping at rocky coastlines, turbulent rivers flowing through thick rainforest, and babbling brooks running out of fresh water springs. It's an awe-inspiring place.

Town Information:

City of Wrangell
http://www.wrangell.com/

Population: 2,308 (2000 census)
Location: 80 miles northwest of Ketchikan
Annual Precipitation: 79.27 in.
July Averages: Temperature - 65 F; precipitation - 4.48 in.

Lodging:

Grand View B&B
Mile 2 on Zimovia Hwy. (PO Box 927), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3225
http://www.grandviewbnb.com/

Harding's Old Sourdough Lodge
1104 Peninsula (PO Box 1062), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3613 / (800) 874-3613
http://www.akgetaway.com/

Rooney's Roost B&B
206 McKinnon (PO Box 552), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-2026
http://www.rooneysroost.com/

Stikine Inn
107 Stikine Ave. (PO Box 662), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3388 / (888) 874-3388
http://www.stikineinn.com/

Zimovia B&B
319 Websiteer St. (PO Box 1424), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-2626 / (866) 946-6842
http://www.zimoviabnb.com/

Wrangell Hostel
220 Church St. (PO Box 439), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3534

Camping:

Nemo Point Forest Service Campground
More than a dozen miles out of town

Shoemaker Bay Recreation Area
5 miles south of town

Did You Know?
Each spring Wrangell is home to the largest gathering of bald eagles in North America.

What to See:

Chief Shakes Island
Off Shakes St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3481

Kiksetti Totem Park
On Front St., Wrangell, AK

Petroglyph Beach
2/3 miles north of ferry terminal off Evergreen Ave.

Rainbow Falls
5 miles south of Wrangell

Restaurants & Bars:

Diamond C Cafe
215 Front St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3677

Bob’s IGA Deli
123 Brueger St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-2341

Zak’s Café
314 Front St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3355

Transportation:

Practical Rent A Car - Wrangell Airport
(907) 874-3975

Northern Lights Taxi
(907) 874-4646

Rainwalker Expeditions - Bikes, Canoes, Kayaks
(907) 874-2549
http://www.rainwalkerexpeditions.com/

Ferry Terminal:

Alaska Marine Highway
Stikine Ave., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-2021
http://www.ferryalaska.com/

Airport:

Wrangell Airport
1 mile northeast of downtown Wrangell
(907) 874-3415

Chamber of Commerce:

Wrangell Chamber of Commerce
224 Front St. (PO Box 49), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3901
http://www.wrangellchamber.org/derby.php

Did You Know?
The largest pink salmon spawning ground in Southeast Alaska is in Wrangell's Anan Creek.

Local Newspaper:

Wrangell Sentinel
205 Front St. (PO Box 798), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-2301

Hospital:

Wrangell Medical Center
310 Bennett St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-7000
http://www.wrangellmedicalcenter.com/

Fish & Game:

Fish & Game Department
215 Front St., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3822

Internet Access:

Nolan Center
296 Campbell Dr., Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3770

Irene Ingle Public Library
124 2nd St. (PO Box 531), Wrangell, AK
(907) 874-3535

 

Hunters and fishermen are welcome in the small community o0f Wrangell throughout the year. It's a friendly and happy community. The atmosphere exudes a great vibe whether you're relaxing in town or gearing up for a big adventure in the picture perfect wilderness.