Although Sitka’s busiest season for visitors is summer, our community boasts a temperate climate and endless events and activities year-round, making it the perfect destination no matter the time of year.

Winter Travel

Sitka’s winter season is very mild; although temperatures can drop and we’ll get a few inches of snow, most of the season is like Seattle’s, but with more rain. While winter is technically the “slow” time of year, there are numerous community happenings that are sure to keep you busy.

The Greater Sitka Arts Council puts on shows like the Monthly Grind, Sitka Wearable Arts, and Broadway Night where you can see first-hand the amazing talent that lives in our small town. If you’re into sports, basketball is a popular pastime in the winter. Catch a game at one of the local high schools or during the Mount Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament every January. If it happens to be snowing during your visit, take a beautiful walk through the Sitka National Historical Park or on the Cross Trail and witness Sitka’s beautiful surroundings covered in snow.

Snowy trails

Spring Travel

Spring in Sitka is synonymous with the Herring Season. The days get longer and brighter, and the ocean is teeming with activity as the herring return to their spawning grounds, causing all sorts of marine mammals to be excited for this annual food source.

Hop on Sitka WhaleFest’s Food Web Cruise to see the whales and herring in action. Enjoy breakfast foods while a seasoned captain takes you to local feeding grounds where humpback whales are actively bubble-net feeding on tiny herring. You can also take a private tour with one of Sitka’s many water taxi companies and experience marine wildlife and beautiful landscapes on your own timeline. If you happen to be in town over Memorial Day weekend, sign up for the Sitka Salmon Derby to try your hand at catching a prize-winning fish!

Aerial view of herring spawn, the mark of Spring in Sitka

Summer Travel

This is the busiest time of year in Sitka, and for good reason. The weather is generally warmer and you have more time to play outside with our long days and shorter nights. Wildlife viewing, bird watching, sport fishing, kayaking, and more are popular in the summer, and many local businesses offer excursions (think ATVing on nearby Kruzof Island) that are only available during the summer months.

Hit the links at Sitka’s Sea Mountain Golf Course and soak in the beautiful views from this mountain-carved course. You can also listen to world-renowned musicians perform live during Sitka Music Festival. If you have kids, sign them up for Sitka Fine Arts Camp while you fly fish or rent a bike to explore our 14-miles of road while getting some exercise in. And speaking of exercise, sign up for the Alpine Adventure Run in July, Change Your Latitude – 57° North Open Water Challenge in August, or Mudball Classic Softball Tournament over Labor Day weekend to see the competitive side of Sitka.

Summer Music Festival performance at Harrigan Centennial Hall

Fall Travel

If you’re a history buff, then the Alaska Day Festival is for you. Every October, Sitkans come together to commemorate when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia (the actual transfer ceremony occurred on October 18, 1867 on Castle Hill in Sitka). Annual events include a reenactment ceremony, a period costume ball, dances, dinners, contests, a parade, and much more. You can also witness a Tlingít mourning ceremony, a part of Reconciliation Day, that marks this transfer of Indigenous ancestral lands without consent.

When the first weekend in November rolls around, be sure to check out Sitka WhaleFest, an annual marine science symposium with cruises, a banquet, shopping bazaar, music, and a 5K Fun Run. Continue your learning journey by watching a wildlife documentary at Alaska’s only dome theater, the Alaska Odyssey Dome. You can even catch some fall colors by driving up the Harbor Mountain Road while it’s still open; the reds and golds of the alpine make the views even more beautiful than you could imagine.

Misty fall views from Harbor Mountain Road

Sitka’s busy year-round schedule means that you’ll have plenty to do during your stay, no matter which season you decide to visit.