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Totem Trail

Photo courtesy of Mike Denega

Activity:

Hiking

Intrinsic Quality:

Cultural

Summary:

This gravel trail was built over an old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) trail originally built in 1938 and provided access to the boat harbor in Shipyard Cove. The new trail starts and ends on Boat Harbor Road while circumnavigating a saltwater lagoon and travelling through a spruce forest ecosystem. The trail has a Tlingit memorial totem pole located on the edge of the lagoon and is the first totem raised in the community in over 100 years. The totem has a cultural interpretive panel and bench. Additional education facilities along the trail discuss Yakutat’s fisheries. The trail adjacent to the lagoon provides angling opportunities.

Length:

0.7 miles one-way

Elevation:

Less than 50 foot elevation gain. This trail is not designated as an ADA trail; however, it can be used by a wide array of users.

Difficulty:

Level. This trail is in bear habitat.

Starting Point:

The trailhead at the town end of the trail is at the Sunrise Apartments on Boat Harbor Road. The other end is accessed on the spur road off Boat Harbor Road just before heading down to the boat harbor in Shipyard Cove. The trail is within walking distance from the Yakutat terminal of the Alaska Marine Highway.