Douglas IslandAbout Douglas Island
Douglas Island is an island in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, lying across the Gastineau Channel from downtown Juneau. It contains the community historically known as Douglas and historic mining sites tied to the region’s gold-rush era.
The island offers shoreline trails, beaches and views across the Gastineau Channel to Juneau and Mount Roberts. Historic mine ruins and interpretive signs around the old Treadwell workings attract visitors interested in the area’s mining past.
Douglas Island was settled and developed during the Alaska gold rush era; the Treadwell mining complex on the island was a major operation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The separate municipality of Douglas was later administratively merged with the City and Borough of Juneau; the island retains its own community identity and historic sites.
The island lies immediately west of central Juneau across the Gastineau Channel and is connected to the mainland by the Douglas Bridge. It sits within the coastal fjord landscape of southeastern Alaska and is accessed from Juneau by road.
- Access: Connected to mainland Juneau by the Douglas Bridge carrying the Glacier Highway, providing road access to Juneau and state routes.
What to See#
- Treadwell mines: Remains of the Treadwell mining complex including collapsed workings and related industrial features from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Douglas community: The former townsite of Douglas where residences, community buildings and shoreline paths concentrate the island’s population and services.
Best Time to Visit Douglas Island
Best visited late spring through early autumn for access and milder weather; winters are harsh and many trails are snowbound.
Weather & Climate near Douglas Island
Douglas Island's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 16°C. Abundant rainfall (1860 mm/year), wettest in October.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -8° - -2° | -10° | 173 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -6° - 0° | -8° | 136 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -5° - 1° | -6° | 121 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | -2° - 6° | -1° | 93 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 2° - 11° | 4° | 102 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 6° - 15° | 10° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 8° - 17° | 12° | 118 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 8° - 16° | 12° | 160 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 5° - 12° | 7° | 228 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 2° - 7° | 1° | 270 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -3° - 1° | -6° | 186 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -6° - -1° | -9° | 175 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Douglas Island
Douglas Island is reached from downtown Juneau via the Juneau-Douglas Bridge (Egan Drive/AK-7). The bridge is a 5-15 minute drive or a 20-30 minute walk from Juneau’s city center; some local buses serve Douglas from downtown. Ferries are used seasonally for access to other coastal points, but Juneau’s airport (JNU) is on the Gastineau Channel near downtown, making Douglas an easy short transit from the city.
Tips for Visiting Douglas Island
- Take the Juneau-Douglas shuttle or walk across the Juneau-Douglas Bridge in the early morning to avoid vehicle traffic on the bridge.
- Visit the historic Treadwell mine ruins on the island's north shore; photography is easiest at low tide for some exposed features.
- Bring windproof layers-weather on Douglas Island can change quickly and fog often rolls in from Stephens Passage.