Admiralty Island National Monument
Occupying most of Admiralty Island , the 7th largest in the United States, this monument is part of Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska . The monument protects the densest known population of brown bear on Earth, along with habitat for the Sitka black-tailed deer. Most of the monument has been designated as the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, restricting future development. The Greens Creek mine lies within the monument.
- Region
- Alaska, USA
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- sightseeing
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Pack Creek permits allow visits from 9 a.m…
- Managed by
- USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest. Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area is managed cooperatively with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
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Photos of Admiralty Island National Monument
How to get there
Pack Creek has no road access. Reach the bear viewing area by floatplane, motorboat, sailboat, kayak, or canoe, with a permit purchased before arrival. Confirm transportation and current access requirements with the operator and managing agencies; do not treat the monument’s geographic reference point as a trailhead or campsite.
- Pack Creek — floatplane access
Floatplanes are a documented means of reaching Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area. Arrange transport separately from the required advance permit; the wilderness site has no facilities.
- Pack Creek — water access
Motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes can provide access to Pack Creek. Confirm arrival arrangements with the managing agencies rather than assuming a developed landing or visitor facilities.
Sources: fs.usda.gov · National monument inventory · Wikipedia. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Alaska, USA · United States
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Winter Camping
- Skiing
- Sea Kayaking
- Beachcombing
A national monument with living Tlingit ties
Designated on December 1, 1978, Admiralty Island National Monument occupies most of Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago. It is part of Tongass National Forest, and most of the monument is also designated as the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, restricting future development. The island’s geography includes Seymour Canal and the long, narrow Glass Peninsula to its east; Frederick Sound separates Admiralty from Kupreanof Island to the south. Protection here has a cultural history as well as an ecological purpose. The monument is sacred to the Angoon Community Association, a Tlingit tribe based in Angoon on the island’s western coast. Tlingit people advocated for island protection through ANILCA legislation and continue to steward its natural resources. Many Angoon residents use the monument for daily subsistence. Visitors should treat it as a lived-in cultural landscape, not simply an unoccupied wilderness. The Greens Creek mine also lies within the monument.
Rainforest habitat and four-season preparation
Old-growth temperate rainforest in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness supports brown bears, bald eagles, and Sitka black-tailed deer. The monument protects the densest known brown bear population on Earth; Admiralty Island is home to an estimated 1,500 brown bears and the world’s highest concentration of bald eagle nests. The Tlingit name Kootznoowoo means “fortress of the bears.” At Pack Creek, coastal brown bears eat sedges and clams, rest, and fish for salmon. Watching these activities requires respect for animals occupying their own habitat. Preparation should reflect the rainforest setting in all four seasons: spring trips call for waterproof layers and checking current conditions; summer visitors still need rain protection rather than assuming dry weather; autumn plans should account for cold, wet exposure; winter demands a conservative assessment of weather and transport feasibility. These are planning considerations, not assurances of seasonal access. Carry weather protection and keep wildlife viewing subordinate to safe behavior.
Pack Creek access, permits, and visitor limits
Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area offers a documented way to watch bears within the monument’s federally designated wilderness. There is no road to Pack Creek: access is by floatplane, motorboat, sailboat, kayak, or canoe only. No facilities are available on site, so plan to be self-sufficient and confirm transport arrangements before committing to a visit. A Pack Creek permit allows its holder to visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., April 1 through September 30. Permits must be purchased online through Recreation.gov before arrival. The daily limit is 24 visitors, with half the permits available for public purchase and half reserved for commercial companies providing guided tours. These rules apply specifically to Pack Creek; they do not establish monument-wide admission requirements or access outside that period. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish & Game staff jointly manage the viewing area and provide orientations and answers to visitor questions. Confirm current requirements and any other planned monument access with Admiralty National Monument at 907-586-8800.
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Admiralty Island National Monument, United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 57.6400, -134.3500
- Latitude (DMS)
- 57° 38′ 24.0″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 134° 20′ 60.0″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Admiralty Island National Monument, not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
Occupying most of Admiralty Island , the 7th largest in the United States, this monument is part of Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska . The monument protects the densest known population of brown bear on Earth, along with habitat for the Sitka black-tailed deer. Most of the monument has been designated as the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, restricting future development. The Greens Creek mine lies within the monument.
Key takeaways
- Region: Alaska, USA
- Country: United States
- Good for: sightseeing
- Coordinates: 57.640, -134.350
Intended uses
sightseeing
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Admiralty Island National Monument
- Canoeing
Paddle routes, portages, and put-ins.
- Kayaking
Sheltered and open-water paddling lines.
- Fishing
Resident gamefish, seasons, and the water that holds them.
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Winter Camping
Cold-season travel and camp craft; layering matters more than mileage.
- Skiing
Ski-touring access when the road closes for the season.
Animals around Admiralty Island National Monument
A national monument with living Tlingit ties
Designated on December 1, 1978, Admiralty Island National Monument occupies most of Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago. It is part of Tongass National Forest, and most of the monument is also designated as the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, restricting future development. The island’s geography includes Seymour Canal and the long, narrow Glass Peninsula to its east; Frederick Sound separates Admiralty from Kupreanof Island to the south. Protection here has a cultural history as well as an ecological purpose. The monument is sacred to the Angoon Community Association, a Tlingit tribe based in Angoon on the island’s western coast. Tlingit people advocated for island protection through ANILCA legislation and continue to steward its natural resources. Many Angoon residents use the monument for daily subsistence. Visitors should treat it as a lived-in cultural landscape, not simply an unoccupied wilderness. The Greens Creek mine also lies within the monument.
Rainforest habitat and four-season preparation
Old-growth temperate rainforest in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness supports brown bears, bald eagles, and Sitka black-tailed deer. The monument protects the densest known brown bear population on Earth; Admiralty Island is home to an estimated 1,500 brown bears and the world’s highest concentration of bald eagle nests. The Tlingit name Kootznoowoo means “fortress of the bears.” At Pack Creek, coastal brown bears eat sedges and clams, rest, and fish for salmon. Watching these activities requires respect for animals occupying their own habitat. Preparation should reflect the rainforest setting in all four seasons: spring trips call for waterproof layers and checking current conditions; summer visitors still need rain protection rather than assuming dry weather; autumn plans should account for cold, wet exposure; winter demands a conservative assessment of weather and transport feasibility. These are planning considerations, not assurances of seasonal access. Carry weather protection and keep wildlife viewing subordinate to safe behavior.
Pack Creek access, permits, and visitor limits
Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area offers a documented way to watch bears within the monument’s federally designated wilderness. There is no road to Pack Creek: access is by floatplane, motorboat, sailboat, kayak, or canoe only. No facilities are available on site, so plan to be self-sufficient and confirm transport arrangements before committing to a visit. A Pack Creek permit allows its holder to visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., April 1 through September 30. Permits must be purchased online through Recreation.gov before arrival. The daily limit is 24 visitors, with half the permits available for public purchase and half reserved for commercial companies providing guided tours. These rules apply specifically to Pack Creek; they do not establish monument-wide admission requirements or access outside that period. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish & Game staff jointly manage the viewing area and provide orientations and answers to visitor questions. Confirm current requirements and any other planned monument access with Admiralty National Monument at 907-586-8800.
Route options
- Pack Creek floatplane visit
Use floatplane transport for a permitted visit to the bear viewing area. Coordinate arrival and departure with the permit’s visiting hours and seek the on-site staff orientation.
- Pack Creek boat or paddle approach
Approach Pack Creek by motorboat, sailboat, kayak, or canoe for a permitted bear-viewing visit. Choose transport appropriate to current weather and personal experience; no specific navigation course or paddling itinerary is established here.
Sample itineraries
- Pack Creek bear-viewing day by floatplane · 1 day
Arrange floatplane access and purchase a Pack Creek permit before arrival. Receive an orientation from on-site staff, then watch coastal brown bears in their natural habitat. Plan the visit within the permitted 9 a.m.–9 p.m. hours and bring supplies for a site without facilities.
- Pack Creek bear-viewing day by boat · 1 day
Arrange motorboat or sailboat access to Pack Creek with a permit secured beforehand. Focus on bear viewing and the coastal ecosystem, where bears eat sedges and clams and fish for salmon. Confirm transport arrangements and allow flexibility for weather.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Spring; Pack Creek permit period begins April 1
Prepare for wet conditions in this Southeast Alaska temperate rainforest. Carry waterproof layers and insulation, and check weather before boat or floatplane travel. The permit calendar does not guarantee suitable travel conditions.
Summer
Summer
Rain protection remains important in the temperate rainforest. Pack Creek has no facilities, so bring the supplies needed for the entire visit. Check marine or flight conditions rather than assuming summer means reliable access.
Fall
Fall; Pack Creek permit period ends September 30
Plan conservatively for wet weather and cold exposure during coastal travel and stationary wildlife viewing. Confirm access arrangements with the managing agency for visits outside the stated Pack Creek permit period.
Winter
Winter
Prioritize cold-weather protection and weather-dependent transport planning. Winter falls outside the stated April–September Pack Creek permit period; confirm access guidance rather than treating the summer visitor arrangements as year-round.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Spring; Pack Creek permit period begins April 1 | Prepare for wet conditions in this Southeast Alaska temperate rainforest. Carry waterproof layers and insulation, and check weather before boat or floatplane travel. The permit calendar does not guarantee suitable travel conditions. |
| Summer | Summer | Rain protection remains important in the temperate rainforest. Pack Creek has no facilities, so bring the supplies needed for the entire visit. Check marine or flight conditions rather than assuming summer means reliable access. |
| Fall | Fall; Pack Creek permit period ends September 30 | Plan conservatively for wet weather and cold exposure during coastal travel and stationary wildlife viewing. Confirm access arrangements with the managing agency for visits outside the stated Pack Creek permit period. |
| Winter | Winter | Prioritize cold-weather protection and weather-dependent transport planning. Winter falls outside the stated April–September Pack Creek permit period; confirm access guidance rather than treating the summer visitor arrangements as year-round. |
Permits, fees & closures
Pack Creek permits allow visits from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., April 1–September 30. Purchase online before arrival. These rules concern Pack Creek; confirm monument-wide admission requirements and other access guidance with the Forest Service at 907-586-8800.
Reservations: Reserve Pack Creek permits through Recreation.gov. The daily limit is 24 visitors: 12 permits for public purchase and 12 reserved for commercial guided tours.
Official source: Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area permits now available | Forest Service · Verified October 19, 2026
Hazards & regulations
- Coastal brown bears live and feed at Pack Creek. Follow staff orientation, keep a safe distance, and avoid interfering with feeding animals.
- Pack Creek has no road access. Boat and floatplane travel require weather-aware planning and dependable return arrangements.
- Pack Creek has no on-site facilities. Bring essential supplies and do not rely on visitor infrastructure.
- Wet rainforest conditions and coastal exposure can make prolonged wildlife viewing cold and uncomfortable. Keep insulating layers dry.
What to pack for Admiralty Island National Monument
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulating layers
- Waterproof footwear
- Dry bags for spare clothing
- Drinking water
- Food secured against wildlife access
- Personal medications and first-aid kit
- Waste bags
- Pack Creek permit confirmation
- Binoculars
- Camera with a zoom lens
- Transport contact details
- Appropriate flotation equipment for boat travel
Admiralty Island National Monument FAQ
- What does the national monument protect?
- Designated December 1, 1978, Admiralty Island National Monument occupies most of Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest. Managed by the Forest Service, it protects the densest known brown bear population on Earth and important old-growth rainforest habitat.
- What is the island's Tlingit significance?
- Tlingit people call the island Kootznoowoo, meaning “fortress of the bears.” The monument is sacred to the Angoon Community Association. Tlingit people fought for island protection through ANILCA legislation and continue stewardship and daily subsistence use.
- How can visitors reach Pack Creek?
- There is no road to Pack Creek. Documented access options are floatplane, motorboat, sailboat, kayak, and canoe. Secure the required permit and arrange suitable transport before traveling.
- What restrictions and facilities should visitors expect?
- Pack Creek is within federally designated wilderness, has no facilities, and limits daily visitor numbers through permits. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish & Game staff provide orientations. Most of the monument is Kootznoowoo Wilderness, which restricts future development.
- How does the island's geography shape the visit?
- Admiralty Island lies in the Alexander Archipelago. Seymour Canal nearly divides it, with the long Glass Peninsula to the east. Angoon, a traditional Tlingit community on the western coast, is the island's only settlement. These geographic features are not substitutes for confirmed visitor access arrangements.