Yakutat is a world-class birding destination
Located on the scenic Gulf Coast of Alaska, Yakutat is the farthest northwestern stop on the SE Alaska Birding Trail. Despite its remote location, Yakutat is well worth the journey. Surrounded by beautiful beaches, mountains, and glaciers, the town boasts an amazing variety of birding species and scenery.
The local economy depends largely on fishing and fish processing. The Situk River provides world-class saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities. The area is also popular for subsistence hunting. The climate is mild with frequent rains. The population is about 800 people, 60% of whom are native.
During the summer, Yakutat is home to over 200 species of birds. Its numerous rivers, lakes, and lagoons make for an excellent birding experience. In addition, the region is home to over 300,000 shorebirds each year. Visitors can travel to Yakutat by boat via the marine highway system, which offers bi-monthly trips between June and September. This route offers a cheap alternative to air travel.
Visiting Yakutat is an excellent way to observe a variety of bird species. A knowledgeable guide can provide information about the area’s wildlife. You can also take part in a field trip to observe various species. A local biologist is happy to help you identify the birds in the area.
It has a hardware store
If you’re looking for the necessities for a home improvement project, Yakutat has a hardware store. It’s located near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the US Park Service. The company is well-stocked, but the inventory doesn’t reflect the wide variety of items found in hardware stores in the lower 48 states.
The store’s inventory varies with the time of year and demand. It sells a variety of building supplies and also rents tools to residents. It also sells hunting and fishing licenses. Spenard Builders Supply is a company that has been providing building supplies to the area for 50 years. The company has a dedicated rural sales department.
Hardware stores are a must for anyone living in Yakutat. Yakutat is a remote Alaskan village with a diverse landscape. The hardware store carries a variety of tools to build anything from a tent to a full-blown construction. The town has an airport and is accessible by ferry for part of the year.
It has a surf shop
If you’re looking to learn how to surf, Yakutat has plenty to offer. The town’s surf camp is celebrating its fourth year this summer. Its founder, Ryan Cortes, first conceived the idea a few years ago when he was visiting. Knowing that the town didn’t have a ton of competition, he decided to open a small surf camp for local kids. Cortes says that even kids who have never surfed before spend a lot of time in the water.
Located in Yakutat, Icy Waves Surf Shop caters to the local surfing community. The community is surrounded by a temperate rainforest, making it an ideal place for surfing. The town is 200 miles from the nearest town. The Endicotts founded the shop in 1999, after a trip to Oahu. Now, the couple has seven children and are still working hard to keep the surf shop going.
In addition to the surf shop, there are plenty of other ways to spend your time in Yakutat. The town’s pristine bay and islands are home to some of the best waves in the world, and there are miles of pristine beach to explore. The town also offers many trails and lakes. One of the most spectacular lakes in the area is Harlequin Lake, which is fed by glaciers and surrounded by hundreds of icebergs.
While Hana and Mary did not get much surf during their stay in Yakutat, they scored some great conditions. They only managed one solid day of surfing, but on the way back, they gave it one last try. The conditions were perfect, and the campsite was just right. The location of Yakutat is perfect for those looking for a remote surfing town.
It has a glacier
The Yakutat Glacier has been receding for the past 26 years and has now shrunk to a mere 3 miles. Researchers at the University of Alaska have studied the causes and mechanisms of the rapid retreat. If a glacier continues to recede at this rapid rate, it will eventually disappear completely.
The Yakutat glacier calves into two lakes, one of which is about 69 square kilometers in size. The glacier is rapidly retreating, and its calving front is breaking apart. Radio-echo sounding has revealed that the glacier bed is below the current lake level. The glacier is likely to continue to retreat and become three separate glaciers within a year.
The glacier is situated in the Brabazon Range of southeastern Alaska. It is one of the fastest-retreating glaciers in the world. It drains into Harlequin Lake and ultimately into the Gulf of Alaska. The glacier has an annual retreat rate of over one-hundred feet (40 meters).
Yakutat has a glacier and is home to a variety of animals, including rare glacier bears. Several other animals, including moose, mountain goats, Sitka blacktail deer, wolves, wolverines, and marine animals, are also found in the area. The area is a great place for watching wildlife, but visitors are encouraged to keep quiet.
It has a trail system
If you love to hike, Yakutat has several trails that are perfect for you. You can choose from easy walking trails, bike trails, or a combination of the two. These trails cover a total distance of 0 miles and include detailed trail descriptions, maps, and photos.
The trail system allows you to enjoy nature in a serene environment. You can hike through dense forest to see birds and animals, or hike through a picturesque meadow. You can also visit the Situk River, which is home to several species of birds, mammals, and fish.
A trailhead is located just outside of Yakutat. The Harlequin Lake trail is a scenic drive from the town. It leads to a glassy lake that is populated with icebergs. It is fed by the Yakutat Glacier. The trail offers easy access for beginner hikers and is teeming with wildlife.
Aside from its scenic beauty, the town of Yakutat is also home to the largest tidewater glacier in North America. The glacier is only 30 miles from the town, and it was active in the past. In the past, it had two major surges and a flood that turned the fjord into a lake, threatening the coastal town.
The city also has a trail system for bikers. Trails are multi-use and require respect for other trail users. It is important to remain on the right side of the trail and keep pets under control. Moreover, it is important to respect the area by not littering or blocking trails.
It has a park
Yakutat is a census-designated place (CDP) in the state of Alaska. It is located in the northern reaches of the Inside Passage. The community is mostly rural and has an airport in the town’s west-central section. The area’s original settlers were Eyak-speaking people from the Copper River area. They were assimilated by the Tlingit people who arrived in the area. Several abandoned Tlingit-Eyak villages have been located in the area.
The city is surrounded by two national parks, the Wrangell St. Elias National Park to the northwest and the Tongass National Forest to the northeast. The parks and forests provide a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, swimming, climbing, or glacier-viewing. You can even surf in a remote beach break.
For those who enjoy hiking, Yakutat has an excellent trail system. Many trails are well-maintained and provide beautiful views of the town’s landscape. A short drive from the town, the Harlequin Lake trail takes hikers to an ice-blue lake surrounded by majestic mountains. The trail is suitable for beginners and is full of wildlife.
There is also an 18-mile-wide saltwater fishing bay. Anglers can target silver and king salmon during the spawning runs. The area is also home to rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.
