Table of Contents:
THE TOWN.
NEAR TOWN
SKAGWAY & THE YUKON
Haines sits between the Chilkat and Chilkoot valleys. Haines is on the map for two reasons, gold, and location. The gold is the reason for the great Klondike gold rush of 1896. The location part comes in because Haines is at the beginning of the Dalton Trail, a path to the Yukon.
Unfortunately, there is very little to see in Haines from the gold rush days. However, many downtown buildings date from soon after the rush.
And the Klondike? An old dredge here and a refurbished paddle-wheeler there.
The great news is that gold is not the main reason you come to Haines.
Like the rest of Alaska, you come for the natural beauty. And also the potential of seeing wildlife in its natural environment.
Here, Haines has an overabundance of scenery, marine, and wildlife.
These alone are good reasons to see Haines.
See Haines Town Town
Haines Sheldon Museum. 11 Main Street.
This interesting museum preserves and displays the diverse cultures that make up the Chilkat Valley’s history. There are more than 4,000 artifacts dating from the Chilkat first settlers until today. Additional photos, books, documents, ship logs, maps, and research papers paint a vivid picture. In the summer, this Haines museum is open every day but Sunday. For winter visits, click the orange link for more information.
Hammer Museum 108 Main Street.
This non-profit organization is the first museum in the world dedicated to hammers. Since its founding in 2000, it has been exhibiting hammers and related tools. here you can see items ranging in age from ancient times to the industrial era. Today, this Haines museum has six rooms displaying over 2500 tools. On Main Street, the museum is only open on certain days, May through September.
Haines Brewing Company 327 Main Street.
Since 1999, they have been brewing local beer. For the traveler who likes sampling local beers, here is the spot.
Main Street’s Older Buildings.
The Harbor Bar 1 Main Street.
The original structure, which you can still see parts of, dates from 1907. Starting as the Gateway Bar, it would serve drinks until Prohibition begins in 1934. It would be home to several businesses over the next 20 years until becoming the Harbor Bar circa 1954. The building and the bar have had many renovations since then.
Three Northman 102 Main Street.
Serving cider, mead, and hard sodas today, the building dates back to 1904 and was originally the Nettles and Ford Building. It began as a hardware store and has had many lives since then.
The Rusty Compass Coffeehouse 116 Main Street
Dating from 1923, this Haines building has been home to a drugstore, bakery, and hardware store.
Fogcutter Bar 122 Main Street.
This Haines building began as Oslund Hardware in 1923.
The J.H. Chisel Building. Corner of Main St and 2nd Avenue.
Dating from 1916, Chisel mixed the cement on site and built the four-story building. It has been a store, shoe store, hotel, hotel with a gambling saloon, grocery, and furniture store throughout its history. Today it houses apartments.
2nd Avenue.
Pioneer Bar 11 2nd Avenue.
In 1907, this building was a first-class rooming house, the Hotel de France. However, the building may date back to the late 1800s. It would not serve liquor until 1933 when Lou LaMoore renamed it “The White House.” The Pioneer Bar downstairs was a dance hall, and upstairs, ladies entertained the miners and soldiers from the fort. Unfortunately, like everywhere else in Haines, these old buildings go through so many renovations very little of the original is left.
Haines Visitor Center 122 Second Avenue
This information center is approximately 500 feet south of Main Street on 2nd Avenue. Besides more information on activities and lodging, they have a great downtown Haines walking tour map.
You can also ask them about some of the hiking paths near town, including the Ayiklutu Trail, Battery Point Trail, Mount Riley Trail, and Mount Ripinsky Trail. They also have information on kayaking, rafting, & fishing.
Fort Seward Area.
Besides the remains of the fort, there are several other things to see in the Fort Seward Area. The fort area is now part of Haines town.
American Bald Eagle Foundation.
This Haines foundation is about halfway between the Visitor Center on 2nd Avenue and the fort. Here, through education, they are helping the protection of bald eagles and their habitat. In addition to other birds of prey, you can see a small natural history museum.
Alaska Indian Arts.
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and continuing the traditional culture and crafts of the Northwest Coast Native Tribes. They are set up in what used to be the hospital building of the fort. Here you can see Native art such as silver jewelry, silkscreen prints, and more. Totem carving demonstrations and classes for the young ones wishing to learn their traditions also take place.
Port Chilkoot Distillery
A block east (downhill) of the fort’s parade (Ft Seward Dr) is this local distillery in the fort’s restored bakery.
Here they distill several spirits with locally inspired names. Tours are available. Reservations are suggested. Click the orange link for more information.
See Haines’s Surroundings.
The wilderness begins right outside Haines’s back door.
Chilkat State Park.
Nine miles south of town is this state park with more than 9000 acres of pristine forest and coastline. The park has three different hiking trails.
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
This area, 18 miles northwest of Haines, is along the Chilkat River. Besides a boardwalk and viewing platform, there is a two-mile path for hiking to spot wildlife, predominantly eagles.
Klukwan Traditional Knowledge Camp.
The camp is a learning center where tribal members (and visitors) learn the subsistence skills of the Klukwan, a sub-tribe of the Chilkats. Lessons include building, fish and moose processing, and other traditional skills.
Located in the village of Klukwan, just past the Bald Eagle Preserve, Klukwan is also home to the Whale House and Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center. Contact them for activities and schedules.
Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines.
Even further up the Chilkat Valley is this home to movie stars of the four-legged variety. Part conservation, part education, the animals under Steve Kroschel’s care have been seen in numerous documentaries and even big-screen adventures. You can visit to see Alaska wildlife close up and learn more about them. Reservations are required.
Even further from Haines are the Big Nugget and Porcupine Mines, featured in Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush” show. They have camping spots at Big Nugget and offer tours occasionally.
Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site.
Heading the other way out of town, along Lutak Inlet, you can reach this recreation area approximately nine miles from Haines. Besides the beauty of the area, you can hike, canoe, and fish. There are several salmon runs each year in the Chilkoot. With salmon, you get those who feed off of them, bears, and eagles.
Haines is a great place to see wildlife in its own habitat. Fishing, river floats, and hiking are also popular in the warmer months.
See Skagway and The Yukon.
Skagway is less than an hour from Haines by ferry or 350 miles by road.
In Skagway, you have two ways to reach the Yukon. You can take the restored White Pass and Yukon Railroad. Just make sure you go as far as the Yukon. Unfortunately, too many people take the train only as far as the White Pass and miss the Yukon altogether.
Or you can drive the South Klondike Highway that runs 98 miles from Skagway to the Alaska Highway near Whitehorse.
The Emerald Lake.
This Yukon lake gets its name from its multiple shades of green. The color is from sunlight reflecting off deposits of white clay and calcium carbonate.
The Carcross Desert.
This is actually a series of dunes popular for recreational sports, including sandboarding. It creates an ecosystem unique to the Yukon.
Bennett Lake.
Just over the Canadian border from Alaska is this beautiful lake. With mountains on either side, it is picture-perfect. At the north end is the town of Carcross.
See Haines Summary.
There is so much area to cover that one day is not enough to see everything.
You can easily see Haines town in half a day. And the sites near town will take up the rest of that day.
Then there is Skagway, Lynn Canal, and the Yukon to explore.
If you do plan to overnight in Haines, plan ahead. Accommodations go quickly as the hospitality (tourist) season is short.
Mother Nature really had a field day in the Haines area. Majestic mountains, verdant valleys, raging rivers, and the wildlife that live in these settings.
What are you waiting for? See Haines.