Tongass National Forest

It's a land of glaciers, mountains, waterways, and thousands of islands separated by straits and channels.

The Tongass offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, among them are such experiences as salmon fishing, viewing magnificent scenery while threading your way through the Inside Passage, and sleeping in a primitive cabin near a creek or lake or near salt water.

Within the boundaries of the Tongass are 19 designated wildernesses and two national monuments: Misty Fiords and Admiralty Island. Pack Creek is a famous destination—one of the few places where you're almost guaranteed to be able to observe a bear. The Tongass's many glaciers can be visited either through wilderness or at the Mendenhall Glacier, which has fully developed visitor's facilities.

Because of its size, the Tongass is divided into three areas. The Ketchikan Area includes the southern portion from Prince of Wales and the outer islands to Misty Fiords and north to the Cleveland Peninsula. The Stikine Area includes the islands north of Prince of Wales and south of Admiralty Island and the mainland north to Cape Fanshaw. The Chatham Area covers the northern portion of the panhandle and the area around Yakutat. Juneau, the state capital, is located in the Chatham Area.