Kodiak, Alaska
Wild coastlines. Mountain lakes. Endless places to explore.
Kodiak is a place that rewards curiosity. Follow a trail through the forest, cast a line into salmon-rich waters, watch for wildlife along the coast, or simply find a quiet stretch of shoreline and stay awhile.
We've gathered some of our favorite ways to experience the island so you can spend less time figuring out what to do and more time out there doing it.
Surfing
Backcountry
Trails
Fishing
Sightseeing
Paddle out in Kodiak.
Cold water, rugged coastline, mountain views, and waves far from the tropical surf breaks most people imagine. It's one of the many things that makes Kodiak unlike anywhere else.
For experienced surfers and curious adventurers alike, Kodiak offers a distinctly wild take on life in the lineup.
Surfing
Surfer's Beach
Where the road meets the surf.
A remote stretch of coastline known for its long sandy beach and cold-water waves. Surfer's Beach is one of Kodiak's best-known accessible surf destinations and can also be reached by an easy beach access trail.
Fossil Beach
Surf, fossils, and the edge of the island.
At the end of Pasagshak Road, Fossil Beach feels like a true expedition. It's known for surfing, beachcombing, and fossil-filled cliffs, with dramatic coastal scenery all around.
Pasagshak Bay
A wild corner of Kodiak.
The beaches and waterways around Pasagshak offer opportunities for surfing, kayaking, fishing, beachcombing, and wildlife watching. It's also one of the most scenic drives on the island.
Mill Bay Beach
Your closest taste of the Pacific.
Just minutes from town, Mill Bay is an easy-access waterfront destination for beach walks, paddling, wildlife watching, and, when conditions line up, surfing.
Chiniak
Keep going where the road gets wild.
For adventurous surfers, the coastline beyond the main road system opens up even more possibilities. Chiniak and the surrounding coast are home to additional surf spots for those willing to explore.
Backcountry
Kodiak's winter landscape is less about lifts and groomed runs and more about snow-covered mountains, remote terrain, and human-powered exploration.
Pyramid Mountain
Winter changes the landscape.
The island's alpine terrain takes on a completely different character in winter, creating opportunities for experienced backcountry travelers and mountaineers.
Pillar Mountain
A winter view worth the climb.
Close to town and accessible by road and trail, Pillar Mountain offers an easy way to experience Kodiak's winter landscape from above.
Explore Pillar Mountain →
Near Island
A quieter side of winter.
Near Island's accessible trail system provides an easy way to get outside close to town, even when the landscape is covered in snow.
Explore Near Island →
Fort Abercrombie
Winter on the coast.
Snow-covered spruce forests, rocky coastline, and WWII remnants make Fort Abercrombie an especially atmospheric winter destination.
Explore Fort Abercrombie →
Kodiak Backcountry
For those who go farther.
Beyond the road system, Kodiak's mountains offer serious backcountry terrain for experienced winter adventurers. This is a guide-worthy experience where conditions, avalanche awareness, and local knowledge matter.
Explore Winter Adventures →
Experience Kodiak's wild landscape.
From moss-covered coastal forests and beach trails to mountain viewpoints and rugged terrain, there's a lot of island to discover. Lace up or grab your bike, check the weather, and see where the trail takes you.
Trails
Fort Abercrombie
Where forest meets the sea.
Moss-covered spruce forests, wildflower meadows, rocky cliffs, beaches, and WWII-era bunkers make Fort Abercrombie one of Kodiak's most rewarding places to explore.
Pillar Mountain
Get above it all.
One of Kodiak's most recognizable peaks, Pillar Mountain offers a relatively accessible climb with sweeping views over the city, harbor, coastline, and surrounding mountains.
Near Island
A little wilderness, close to town.
Cross the bridge from downtown and you'll find a network of easy trails, quiet beaches, wildflowers, and sweeping views across Chiniak Bay.
Termination Point
Follow the coast into the wild.
A rugged coastal trail with big ocean views and a distinctly remote feeling, despite being accessible from Kodiak's road system.
Pyramid Mountain
Climb into the alpine.
One of Kodiak's signature mountain hikes, Pyramid Mountain rewards the climb with expansive views across the island's mountains, valleys, and coastline.
Fishing
Come for the scenery. Stay for the fishing.
Kodiak is famous for its waters and the abundance of life within them. Whether you're planning a dedicated fishing trip or simply want to try your hand at casting a line, the island offers plenty of ways to get on the water.
Buskin River
Salmon, spruce, and a little wild water.
One of the most accessible salmon fishing destinations near town, the Buskin River offers anglers the chance to fish in a beautiful forest-and-coast setting.
Pasagshak River
Follow the salmon inland.
Pasagshak River is considered one of Kodiak's outstanding sport-fishing streams, with seasonal runs of sockeye, pink, chum, and silver salmon, as well as Dolly Varden.
Russian River
Watch the river come alive.
Along the Chiniak Highway, the Russian River is a popular place to watch salmon moving upstream in late summer, with the possibility of seeing Kodiak brown bears feeding nearby.
Kodiak's Saltwater
Go where the big fish are.
Kodiak's surrounding Pacific waters are renowned for halibut, salmon, rockfish, and other saltwater species. Local charters offer a way to get offshore and experience the island's legendary fishing firsthand.
Saltery River
Deep into Kodiak country.
For a more remote fishing experience, guided trips around the Saltery River combine river fishing with the chance to experience Kodiak's expansive wilderness and wildlife.
Sightseeing
Kodiak's story runs deep.
Explore the island's Indigenous heritage, Russian history, military past, and enduring connection to the sea. From cultural landmarks to WWII-era sites, every layer adds another piece to the place you're visiting.
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Into the wild.
Covering roughly two-thirds of Kodiak Island, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge protects an enormous landscape of mountains, alpine meadows, forests, wetlands, and wildlife. It's particularly famous for its Kodiak brown bears.
Kodiak History Museum
Step into Kodiak's past.
Housed in the historic Russian American Magazin, the museum explores Kodiak's Alutiiq/Sugpiaq heritage, Russian colonial history, WWII history, and its evolution into one of Alaska's major fishing communities.
Alutiiq Museum
Discover the island's deeper history.
Explore the heritage and culture of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people, whose connection to Kodiak stretches back more than 7,000 years.
Holy Resurrection Cathedral
A landmark in the heart of Kodiak.
The blue onion domes of Holy Resurrection Cathedral are one of Kodiak's most recognizable landmarks and a reminder of the island's Russian history.
St. Paul Harbor
See the working waterfront.
Kodiak's harbor is the heart of its commercial fishing culture. Wander the docks, watch the boats come and go, and get a glimpse into the industry that has shaped life on the island for generations.
