Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)Prince of Wales Island (Alaska) at a Glance
About Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
Prince of Wales Island is a large, forested island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska, United States. It is part of the state’s southeastern ‘panhandle’ and contains several small towns and settlements.
The island hosts communities such as Craig, Thorne Bay and Hydaburg and supports local industries including fishing, forestry and tourism. Much of the land is covered by temperate rainforest typical of the Tongass National Forest, with extensive coastal shoreline and sheltered inlets.
Historically the island has been home to Alaska Native communities and later supported commercial fishing and logging economies in the 20th century. It remains sparsely populated with a landscape dominated by forest, coastline and mountainous terrain.
Geographically it lies off the southeast coast of Alaska within the Alexander Archipelago and is reached by ferry and air services from larger regional hubs in the Alaska Panhandle.
- Forests: Large areas of the island lie within the Tongass National Forest, with extensive temperate rainforest, old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock.
What to See#
- Craig: A regional service and commercial town on the island that serves as a local hub for fishing, logging and transport connections.
- Thorne Bay: A community established in the mid-20th century that developed around timber and marine industries and provides regional services.
- Hydaburg: A smaller village with Alaska Native heritage and cultural institutions representing local indigenous communities.
Best Time to Visit Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
Best visited in summer (June-August) for the mildest conditions, wildlife viewing and maximum accessibility.
Weather & Climate near Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)'s climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 17°C. Heavy rainfall (3380 mm/year), wettest in October.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -2° - 3° | -4° | 330 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -2° - 4° | -3° | 273 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -1° - 4° | -2° | 257 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 1° - 8° | 1° | 229 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 4° - 12° | 6° | 194 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 7° - 15° | 11° | 160 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 9° - 16° | 13° | 154 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 9° - 17° | 13° | 215 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 7° - 14° | 11° | 329 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 4° - 9° | 4° | 495 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 0° - 5° | -1° | 381 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -2° - 3° | -3° | 363 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
Prince of Wales Island (Alaska) is reached by scheduled ferry or air from Southeast Alaska. Regular Alaska Marine Highway/visitor ferry or commercial floatplane connections operate from Ketchikan to the island (Hollis by ferry; Craig and Klawock by air), after which you use the island’s road network to reach local towns. If coming from elsewhere in Alaska you will typically connect via Ketchikan.
Tips for Visiting Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
- Aim to visit in summer (June-August) when ferries and floatplane services are most frequent and trails/logging roads are accessible year-round.
- Most visitors arrive via the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Hollis or by small aircraft into Craig-check the ferry/flight schedules well in advance because connections are infrequent.
- Allow extra time for logistics (fuel, groceries, transport) and for exploring by boat or local roads; the island's communities (Craig, Klawock) are the usual bases from which to arrange charters, guides and supplies.