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 Location in State
 Seasons: Mid-spring through fall
Difficulty: Moderate
Activity: Hiking, Backpacking, Skiing
Length: 6 miles (one way)
Nearest Town:
Sitka
USGS Quads:
Sitka A-4 SW 25K
How to Get There:
Go approximately 4 miles northwest of Sitka along Halibut Point Road and turn right onto Harbor Mountain Road. The gravel road winds 5 miles
up Harbor Mountain gaining 2,000 feet in elevation. This is a steep climb with sharp switchbacks. Recreation vehicles
and vehicles pulling trailers should not attempt the drive
Managed by:
Sitka Ranger District
National Forest Service
204 Siginaka Way
Sitka, AK 99835
Web Links
Sitka Area Trails, Tongass National Forest
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Trail Description:
The trail begins at the end of Harbor Mountain Road. The trailhead is marked
by a bulletin board and handrailings, and proceeds up the hillside in a
series of switchbacks, gaining 300 feet in elevation. At the ridge, a short
spur trail leads to the left to an overlook. The main trail turns to the
right and follows the ridge toward the summit of a knob where WWII lookout
ruins are located. Before reaching the summit, however, the trail turns
east and runs along the sidehill of an immense north-facing sub-alpine meadow.
The trail then follows along a ridge toward the peaks of Harbor Mountain.
The view from this ridge is spectacular - mountains, deep valleys, alpine
rock fields, high meadows, twisted trees and wildflowers. As the trail,
which is not maintained, continues on toward the rocky peaks of Harbor Mountain,
it forks off to the right and skirts the hillside, circling around to Gavan
Hill, then drops steeply down to town. The other fork of the trail continues
up the steep shoulder slope of the peaks, and ends as it reaches the steep
rocky alpine at about 2,500 feet.
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