Yakutat, Alaska Attractions

Equal to the size of six Yellowstone Parks, Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest U.S. national park. But being the largest isn't the only thing that sets this place apart. Marvel at the collection of peaks extending beyond 16,000 feet, the ever-shifting glaciers, and the gorgeous wilderness.

In Yakutat and Disenchantment Bays lies the mammoth Hubbard Glacier, the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska. Defying global warming, Hubbard Glacier continues to advance, causing geologists to predict that it will ultimately dam the Russell Fiord from Disenchantment Bay waters.

It's not Southern California, but relatively warm water makes surfing possible off the coast of Yakutat. There's no guarantee surfers will experience big waves, but the magnitude of the surrounding landscape makes the potential worth the effort.

The First Annual Yakutat Tern Festival was held in June 2011, with great success. The festival planning committee is currently planning for an even better festival in 2013. One of the largest and southernmost known breeding colonies of Aleutian Terns exists in Yakutat. The Aleutian Tern has a limited range throughout Alaska and eastern Siberia and Russia, and very little is known about this species, including its migration patterns. The Yakutat area is currently at the forefront of Aleutian Tern research, including studies on population trends, nesting ecology, and migration patterns. Participants of the festival will enjoy birding activities, natural history field trips, art exhibits, educational events for kids and adults, Native cultural presentations and speakers with professional stature representing a wealth of information about the Yakutat area.