Visitor Information
How to Get to Prince of Wales Island
By Air
The most common way to get to Prince of Wales Island is via Ketchikan. In the summer months, air service is on Alaska Airlines. (Only Alaska Air serves the area in winter.) Both flights originate in Seattle. If you've never been to Ketchikan, the airport is a little...different. The runway lies between a mountain and Tongass Narrows-the waterway directly to the east. If you plan on leaving the Ketchikan airport without immediately catching another flight, you'll have to take the airport ferry over to the town side ($6 ferry fare).
To fly on a commercial airline to Ketchikan, use either:
Alaska Airlines www.alaskaair.com
Once you are in Ketchikan, you again have several options. You can get to POW (as it is called locally) by a small plane or a ferry.
One other option is to fly on Alaska Seaplanes out of Juneau. This carrier is providing services to Prince of Wales from
By Sea
Getting to Prince of Wales via waterways is a slower, less costly, and very scenic way to arrive. The Alaska Marine Highway runs an extensive ferry system all along the coast of Alaska. The routes begin in Bellingham, WA, just north of Seattle. The trip takes about 36 hours and you can get a stateroom on the ferry or just sleep in the lounge or in a tent on the stern. A road trip through Canada would put you at the ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, which is just a short 6 hour ferry ride to Ketchikan. From the north, the ferries arrive in Ketchikan usually from Wrangell (and from further up the line-Haines, Skagway, Juneau, and Petersburg.) However, the Alaska Marine Highway does not serve Prince of Wales. At the Alaska Marine Highway terminal in Ketchikan, there is also the Inter-Island Ferry Authority terminal, which serves Prince of Wales Island.
Alaska Marine Highway System http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/
Inter-Island Ferry Authority www.interislandferry.com
Whether you arrive on a commercial jet or the Alaska Marine Highway, you can catch the Inter-Island Ferry to POW. It is a very reliable and safe mode of transportation to POW and there is one run each day. The ferry departs Ketchikan at 3:30 pm every afternoon and arrives in Hollis at 6:30 pm. The ferry departs Hollis at 8:00 am each day and arrives in Ketchikan around 11:00am. If you are traveling to POW without a vehicle you can have a rental staged for you in Hollis by several local car rental companies.
Rainforest Auto Rentalswww.craigakcarrentals.com/Hollis Adventure Rentalswww.harentals.com
More Information
skiff rental, 4-wheeler rentals, kayak & canoe rentals, and camping equipment rentals.
The chamber website has lots of links to a wide variety of services and information about Prince of Wales Island.
This is the official site to reserve the various cabins found on the island. The Craig Ranger District and Thorne Bay Ranger District are excellent resources for more information about cabins and other Forest Service facilities.
An independent source for information about visiting Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
Conveniently located just minutes from the harbor, this is a great place to stay in the heart of Craig. Walking distance to restaurants, groceries, shopping and the harbor.
Strictly Local is a quaint little gallery of locally produced art and specialty gifts. They also offer yoga classes and drop-in paint nights. Located in Craig.
Located near shopping, dining, and the harbors, these apartments with kitchenettes are perfect for comfortable and convenient lodging in the heart of Craig.
The chamber website has lots of links to a wide variety of services and information about Prince of Wales Island.