There are so many fun and unique things to do in Haines Alaska! One of our biggest takeaways from our time there is that it’s a really underrated Alaska destination. Haines has all of the small, authentic port town vibes with way fewer tourists (and tourist traps!). We loved the week we spent there during our summer RVing Alaska.
Here is a list of our favorite things to do in Haines Alaska.
1. Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Area
This small state park right outside of Haines Alaska has SO much to offer. First, it has a beautifully scenic boat launch where you can kayak around the lake with alpine glacier views. You’re also allowed to fish for salmon there (make sure to have a permit!). But maybe the most fun part of this park is that you can observe bears fishing for salmon from less than 100 feet away. This was the best bear viewing we got all summer because we didn’t shell out multiple thousands of dollars for flightseeing to Katmai National Park.
2. Chilkat State Park
Despite the similar name, this park is on the opposite end of town. We hiked the Battery Point Trail, which was an easy 4 mile family-friendly trail through gorgeous old growth forest that offers multiple scenic beach views along the way. My kids loved all of the unique fungi we spotted, too.
3. The Hammer Museum
I maintain that you cannot make a trip to Haines without visiting the Hammer Museum. It’s one of the quinntessential things to do in Haines Alaska. It’s really a cabin style home converted into a museum that you can visit in under an hour. I expected it to be hokey and a tourist trap, but it was actually pretty fascinating to see how many different industries rely on hammers. Even my kids were really into this stop.
4. The American Bald Eagle Foundation
This is another one of those must dos in Haines. How often do you get to see a bald eagle up close? Haines is absolutely packed with Eagles and you’ll likely see one if you spend any time outdoors, but getting an up close look is pretty special. And you can feel good about supporting these rescued animals while you’re at it.
5. The Haines Sheldon Museum
This tiny museum surprised and delighted me. The upstairs features absolutely gorgeous indigenous artwork and some hands-on opportunities for kids to engage with it. It also gives historical context for Haines and features a special apple tree outside in the courtyard. We were lucky enough to visit on a September day when apples were being harvested and were offered a big bag to bake with!
6. The Haines Borough Public Library
Maybe visiting the library isn’t high on your vacation bucket list, but I’d encourage you to reconsider. This library has a gorgeous facade featuring indigenous art, and it’s the perfect place to rest, recharge, and use some free wifi or read a book underneath the big, beautiful windows. It has a cute children’s section that my kids adored.
7. Try to Catch the Northern Lights
Southeast Alaska isn’t always the first place people head when trying for Aurora Borealis sightings because it can be very overcast. But it is possible to see them there! If you find yourself in Haines from September to May, it’s worth a shot to check the Aurora chances with an app like My Aurora Forecast. We saw them twice in one September week!
8. Window Shopping
Haines only has a few stores, but they are delightful! Our favorite was The Bookstore. It’s absolutely adorable and has an incredible curation of Alaska books. Plus, employees there *volunteer* their time to keep the public library open on weekends. How amazing is that?! That reason alone is enough to land this bookstore on the best things to do in Haines Alaska list in my book 😉
9. Take the Ferry
Haines is an Alaska Marine Highway hub, so it’s a great place to catch a ferry to anywhere else in Southeast Alaska! We met folks who had day tripped to Juneau, and you can also head to Gustavus if you’re wanting to visit Glacier Bay National Park without being on a cruise. We opted to drive to Haines and then take the ferry to Skagway on our way back south. We loved this choice, as the ferry trip alone felt like an excursion.
I hope this post with things to do in Haines Alaska was helpful!
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One response to “Things to do in Haines Alaska: 9 Unique Adventures”
[…] As a New Yorker, I definitely had preconceived notions about what parts of the country were worth a visit. I can say now after three years as a full time travel family and 49 states down, those notions were mostly unfair. I was surprised by how much I loved Tucson and Page, Arizona. I had a ball in Cincinnati and Lexington. And I was delighted by Kansas City. Those places would absolutely never have made it on my travel bucket list, but there was so much to see and learn in all of them. There are adorable local libraries and underappreciated national park sites. There are fantastic tiny restaurants and unique hole-in-the-wall museums (like Haines’ Hammer Museum!). […]