Chilkat State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilkat State Park |
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| Type | Forest, Coastal |
| Location | Chilkat Peninsula, Haines Borough, Alaska, USA |
| Area | 9,837 acres (3,981 ha) |
| Elevation | 719 feet (219 m) |
| Operated by | Department of Natural Resources, Alaska State Parks |
Chilkat State Park is a huge park in Alaska. It covers about 9,837 acres (3,980 hectares). The park is located on a piece of land called a peninsula. This peninsula is south of the town of Haines, Alaska. It sits between two water bodies, the Chilkat Inlet and the Chilkoot Inlet.
The park is a bit far out, and the road to get there is steep and made of gravel. It's known for its 14% grade, which means it goes uphill quite a lot! Chilkat State Park offers places to camp. These campsites have basic things you need. You can go fishing, hiking, boating, or sea kayaking here. It's also a great spot for seeing amazing views. The campground closes from October to mid-May because of winter weather.
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Park History
In 1970, two politicians from Alaska, Clem Tillion and Bob Palmer, wanted to create a new state park. They were part of the Republican Party. They suggested setting aside a large area of land in Kachemak Bay. This land would become a state park and a wilderness area.
On May 9, 1970, the Alaska Legislature agreed to create the park at Kachemak Bay. They also gave the governor permission to set aside more land for state parks. In just five months, the park system grew a lot. It went from a small area to 913,000 acres!
A park near Haines was planned to be called Chilkat State Park. Later that year, the northern part of this park opened. It was first named 'Battery Point State Recreation Area'. The full Chilkat State Park was officially created in 1975. On June 22, 1976, the governor officially renamed both the northern and southern parts 'Chilkat State Park'. The park started at 6,056.3 acres. Over the years, it has grown bigger thanks to gifts of land and new laws.
Fishing and Boating Fun
This park is a fantastic place for people who love to fish. The Chilkat River is a very important place for salmon. It's especially good for coho salmon to lay their eggs and grow up. You can also find wild sockeye, Chinook, and chum salmon here.
In June, people with boats can go into the inlets to catch king salmon. The park has a special place to launch your boat. South of the park, across the water, are two other parks: Chilkat Islands State Marine Park and Sullivan Island State Marine Park. These offer even more places for boaters to explore and see cool things.
Sea kayaking is another fun way to explore the waters around the park. Many of the islands in the channels have shallow water around them. This means kayakers can go to places where bigger boats cannot. It's a great way to get close and spot the many different animals that live in the area.
Hiking and Amazing Views
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Chilkat State Park is located about seven miles south of Haines. You can find it on Mud Bay Road, on the Chilkat Peninsula. The park has three hiking trails. They are different in how hard they are to walk.
For an easy walk, you can take the Seduction Point Trail. This trail stays close to the water. It goes through forests and along beaches for about seven miles. Another easy trail is the Battery Point Trail. It's two miles long and starts in the forest, ending on the beach. If you like a challenge, try the Mount Riley Trail. This trail goes steeply uphill. But it gives you amazing views of the whole park and the water below.
Wildlife Viewing
Since Chilkat State Park is in a remote area, you have many chances to see wild animals. Black bears, brown bears, mountain goats, and moose are often seen in the park. The park has spotting scopes at its information center. These let you see animals far out in the water.
You might spot humpback whales and orca (killer whales). You can also see harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and sea lions. Many different kinds of birds live around the park too. The bald eagle is a favorite for visitors to spot. Other birds include trumpeter swans, boreal owls, common loons, and kingfishers.
Mountain and Glacier Viewing
Chilkat State Park is in a special place. It's where the land of North America meets the waters of the Inside Passage. Because of this, the small peninsula is surrounded by deep water channels and tall mountains. The Chilkat Range, Takinsha Mountains, Takshanuk Mountains, and Coast Mountains all meet here. This means you get amazing views of mountain peaks right next to the open water.
The park offers views of two big glaciers nearby. One is Rainbow Glacier. It is about 1.5 miles long and sits high up at 5,164 feet (1,574 meters). It's a "hanging glacier" with a waterfall that drops from its front. The other glacier is Davidson Glacier. It is bigger, about 4.6 miles long, and sits at 3,875 feet (1,181 meters) high. This glacier was named after George Davidson. He was a geographer whose report helped the United States buy Alaska from Russia in 1867.
Images for kids
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Looking out Chilkat Inlet from the Takshanuk Mountains. The tip of the Chilkat Peninsula can be seen in the background.
