10 Nature & Parks in Kodiak Island That You Shouldn't Miss

March 9, 2022 Deane Carmody

Kodiak Island, sitting off the Southern coast of Alaska in the Kodiak Archipelago, is home to the city of Kodiak, Alaska's largest fishing port, famous for catches of king crab and salmon. The island is also home to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which takes up almost two-thirds of the island and protects populations of Kodiak brown bears, all six species of Pacific salmon and 250 species of birds. With a lovely temperate marine climate, Kodiak promises outdoor fun, all year long.
Restaurants in Kodiak Island

1. North End Park

Trident Way, Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK 99615
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

North End Park

Reviewed By The_McSmiths - Hampton, United States

We visited Kodiak during COVID and most museums, fisheries were closed. So, we opted to hike the North End Trail here. It's just across the bridge from main Kodiak Island. We walked there from the Best Western. It was beautiful - such a great surprise! There wasn't a good map, so I would suggest you download a map from online so you can guide yourself. During hike, you go down a steep set of stairs down to an inlet that is awesome - you may want to go at low tide. Unless you have a trail map, you don't realize that the trail continues on the other side and you can hike out to a point on top of a cliff that overlooks the water where you can watch seaplanes taking off and landing. It's beautiful scenery. Rather easy hike.

2. South End Trail

Trident Way, Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK 99615
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

South End Trail

Reviewed By FairSweetSuzi - Atlanta, United States

It has it all- woods, beach, open points, dramatic cliffs on an easy loop. Even has bench to sit and watch the wildlife. Bring binoculars for even better viewing.

3. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

1390 Buskin River Rd, Akhiok, Kodiak Island, AK 99615-6851 +1 907-487-2600 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
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4.5 based on 21 reviews

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

Known world-wide for the Kodiak brown bear, this area also is home to other native land mammals, such as the red fox, river otter, short-tail weasel and tundra vole.

4. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park

1400 Abercrombie Dr Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK 99615-7153 +1 907-269-8700 http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kodiak/fortabercrombieshp.htm
Excellent
70%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 164 reviews

Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this state park preserves and protects historical structures, and provides a variety of recreational opportunities such as camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and paddling.

Reviewed By jbo72046

we took a taxi to the entry of the park and then walked the very easy and pleasant roadway to the ww2 historic museum and area. You can take a few different trails through the bushland instead of walking the roadway and we did this on the way back to the entry point where our taxi returned a few hours later to collect us. The ww2 museum is not just a quick look ...you need to allow at least an hour or more to take in the various displays and information provided. If you aren't interested in ww2 memorabilia , then you can skip the museum (which would really be a shame) and just walk the lovely trails ...easy walking, easy grades and well maintained paths. we didn't see any bears although I was a bit nervous...but the lookouts from the various high points across the water are just fabulous and I soon forgot to worry about bears. Don't take an organised bus tour...they rush you in and out and you will miss out on so much. Take a taxi/cab and allow a couple of hours at least to appreciate the wonderful place. and if you DO go to the museum, there is a man there ( I think he is the manager or chief volunteer, together with his wife) who has knowledge that will hold you spellbound. Not just for that area but for Alaska's pivotal role in ww2. Very interesting and such a clear explanation. Hope you go and hope you allow plenty of time.

5. Women's Bay

Kodiak Island, AK
Excellent
38%
Good
63%
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4.5 based on 8 reviews

Women's Bay

6. Kodiak Laboratory Aquarium & Touch Tank

301 Research Ct, Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK 99615-7400 +1 907-481-1711 http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/kodiak/facilities/aquarium.htm
Excellent
59%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
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4.5 based on 97 reviews

Kodiak Laboratory Aquarium & Touch Tank

7. Fossil Beach

Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK 99615
Excellent
47%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
5%
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4.5 based on 19 reviews

Fossil Beach

Reviewed By TheMTAKHarrisFamily

I was expecting more and had my hopes up on the longer drive down there. The fossils here are as the photos show. More of a cemented fossil than ammonites and cephalopods typically seen in the lower 48. Keep your expectations in check on the fossil part and you will love the amazing whale and seal spotting from the beach. We were lucky? enough to be there on a 75 degree, full sun, low wind day. So it was amazing to relax on the beach with a lunch picnic and watch the occasional surfer and the 100's of whale spouts in the distance (grab good binoculars). The road is sketchy. But we did it in a midsize SUV without issue by going slow and driving around the road craters. There are no facilities at this beach. You need to go back to the Pasagshack area to use the facilities.

8. Pillar Mountain Trail

Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK
Excellent
50%
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50%
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4.5 based on 4 reviews

Pillar Mountain Trail

9. Sargent Creek

Sargent Creek Rd, Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK
Excellent
43%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
29%
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3.5 based on 7 reviews

Sargent Creek

10. Shuyak Island State Park

Kodiak Island, AK http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kodiak/shuyakissp.htm

Part of the Kodiak Archipelago.

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