Connections

Craig was founded in the late 1800s and incorporated in 1922. The population varies winter to summer, and in winter approximately numbers 1,100 people. A fish saltery was built on Fish Egg Island in 1907 by Craig Millar, who the town adopted their name from.

Located on the West Coast of Prince of Wales Island, Craig is 32 miles from Hollis, the port for the IFA ferry. Following the salmon industry was timber in the 1950s, with a sawmill built in nearby Klawock in the early 1970s. The mill still operates as Viking Lumber and provides year round employment. Craig continues to grow and offers many stores, recreation and services. There is a community swimming pool, library, harbors, boat launches and RV parks. Contact the Craig Ranger District at 907-828-3271 for more information on the 4 mile round-trip Sunnahae Trail. To learn more about Craig, Alaska go to www.craigak.com

Klawock is 25 miles from the Hollis terminal and has a population of about 850. Klawock’s name comes from Kloo-wah, a Tlingit Native from Moira Sound. Kloo-wah’s clan used Klawock for a summer fish camp and later moved there permanently.

Klawock was home to the first cannery in Alaska, built by a San Francisco company in 1878. A hatchery for red salmon was constructed at Klawock Lake in 1897 and the Prince of Wales Hatchery still operates on the river today. Near the Viking Lumber sawmill, Native corporations built a sort yard for exporting timber.

The Klawock Totem Park has over 20 restored totem poles and seven new poles, and you can find locals carving most days at the Heritage Center and longhouse. Klawock has the island’s only airstrip, along with a small boat harbor, a boat launch, stores, gas stations and a school. Learn more  at www.cityofklawock.com.

Hydaburg is 32 miles from the Hollis terminal and has a population of approximately 400. Populated in the 1700s by the Haida people, Hydaburg’s community relies on their culture and still continues a close relationship to the land and sea.

With the largest Haida population in the country, Hydaburg has a grocery store, airplane float, boat harbor, church, US Post Office and a school. A totem park was built during the 1930s and the community has been restoring and replacing totems continually ever since. Totem raising is a very festive occasion and is a wonderful event to witness or take part in. Hydaburg has many traditional Haida artists, carvers and weavers. For more information, visit the city Facebook Page or call the  Hydaburg Cooperative Association at 907-285–3666.

Hollis is 34 miles by sea from Ketchikan and the home port for the Inter-Island Ferry Authority vessel with a convenient terminal for travelers. With a population of approximately 150, Hollis has a school, library, boat dock, float plane dock, fire hall, emergency medical services unit, emergency medevac heliport and a community recreation area on the Harris River with a half-mile boardwalk and foot trail through the forest. Eleven miles from the Hollis Terminal is the Harris River Campground which has 14 campsites. For more information contact the US Forest Service at 877-444-6777.

In the early 1900s, Hollis was a bustling mining town with a population of more than 1,000. Gold and silver were mined until about 1915, but speculators are now considering reactivating one gold mine near Hollis. A great place for boating, kayaking, fishing, shrimping, crabbing, clamming hunting for deer and bear, and gold prospecting, Hollis has many recreational pastimes. Visit the Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce or the Hollis Community websites for more information.

Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island and is considered Alaska’s First City, since it is the first one you arrive at when traveling north from the lower 48 states. Also known as the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikan is located in the Tongass National Forest, close to Misty Fjords National Monument, and gets 162 inches of rain every year.

Originally created for fishing, Ketchikan became known for mining in the Gold Rush years, followed by the Ketchikan Pulp Company bringing forestry to the city for 50 years until closing in 1997. Tourism is now a major player in the economy alongside fishing. Ketchikan is the Tlingit name for the region around Wrangell and the island has the world’s largest collection of totem poles, located in the City of Saxman, 3 miles south of Ketchikan, and Totem Bight and the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan. Ketchikan is 90 miles north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and 235 miles south of Juneau. For more information, visit the website for the Ketchikan Visitors Center.

Thorne Bay is located 59 miles from the Hollis Terminal. Once the world’s largest logging camp, Thorne Bay now has a population of 434. A paved highway gives you a beautiful scenic tour toward fishing and tourist charters. You will find a ball field, boat harbor and launch, general store, grocery store, hardware store, library, liquor store, lodging, medical, post office, restaurant, RV Park with dump station, school and fuel and tire repair. The entire island visits the nearby Sandy Beach and picnic area when the sun shines. There are 9 US Forest Service campsites at Eagle’s Nest that stretch out along Balls Lake. Learn more about Thorne Bay at the City of Thorne Bay website.

Coffman Cove is 78 miles from the Hollis Terminal traveling on a newly paved highway. With a population of approximately 200, Coffman Cove hosts a state-owned seaplane float, boat harbor and launch, RV Park, cabin rentals, guided fishing tours, famous oyster sales, B&Bs, a general store with gifts, gas station, liquor store, welding and construction services, library and wireless internet. Luck Lake is known for its beauty and offers camping, kayaking, canoeing and swimming. Other beautiful lakes nearby are Sweetwater Lake and Barnes Lake. Coffman Cove’s economy is mostly based on tourism and fishing. For more information visit the website for the City of Coffman Cove.