Destinations » Yakutat »
Fish Train Trail
Yakutat:
The small size of the community and slow traffic speeds makes Yakutat a bicycle friendly community, despite not having bicycle
lanes or paved shoulders.
Yakutat does not have any dedicated bicycle facilities however limited and basic cycling related products can be found at Yakutat
Hardware. They are found at 109 Mallott Avenue; (907) 784-3203. Yakutat has one gas station that can provide a basic level of
service for cyclists, St. Elias Auto, 708 Oil Dock Road; (907) 784-3434. There are no cycling services on the Fish Train Trail
route. Interpretive information can be found at the USDA Forest Service’s Yakutat Ranger District Office, 712 Ocean Cape Road;
(907)784-3359, and the National Park Service’s Yakutat Ranger Station and Visitor Center for Glacier Bay and Wrangell-St. Elias
National Parks, 602 Mallott Avenue; (907) 784-3295.
Summary:
Located less than a 1/4-mile from the Yakutat terminal of the Alaska Marine Highway, this is a rails-to-trails project that converted a segment of the Yakutat Southern Railroad to a recreation trail. The trail is usable year round. The historic Yakutat Southern Railroad was also known as the Fish Train and carried fish from a cannery on the Situk River to the shipping dock in Yakutat. Access to the trail is from either the town end near the school or at the opposite end near the airport. The original locomotive for the Fish Train is located at the town end of the trail along with interpretive information. The route can be used by road or mountain bikes.
Activity:
Road and mountain biking with hiking and winter use
Intrinsic Quality:
Historic
Length:
2.5 miles one-way
Elevation:
Less than 100 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: Easy
This is a hard packed rails-to-trails route that is also open to ATVs and snow machines. Bears frequent this trail and trapping
is allowed between the months of November through April.
Starting Point:
The trailhead at the town end of the trail is at the Yakutat School at the intersection of Yakutat Road and Forest Highway #10 (Dangerous River Road). The trail is located across Forest Highway #10. The other end of the trail is accessed from Colorado Road off Airport Road near the airport. The trail is within walking distance from the Yakutat terminal of the Alaska Marine Highway.
Trail Photo:
Photo of trail near the trailhead.
Historic Train:
Actual train used during the first half of the 20th century.
Interpretive Sign:
An interpretive sign describing the fish train’s history.
Google Earth File:
Click HERE to download a Google Earth file of the bicycle route. To view profile in Google Earth, right-click on the route in the ‘Places’ window and choose ‘Show Elevation Profile.’ Note: Trail route is approximate. Also, the imagery that Google uses is slightly shifted.
Weather:
HERE is the official National Weather Service forecast for the trail location. To view the current FAA webcam image from Yakutat, click HERE.