Alaska
2024's 7 Most Scenic Alaska Towns
While Alaska is well-known for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecosystems, there’s another side to “The Last Frontier” state that’s equally compelling: its scenic small towns. For those wanting to explore the state’s towering mountain ranges, unspoiled waterways, and untamed wilderness, the best of these communities will allow you to immerse yourself in one of the United States’ most exciting travel destinations.
And while the year’s fast drawing to a close, there’s still time to immerse yourself in some of the very best Alaska experiences. From stunningly beautiful scenery to exciting wildlife encounters, travelers seeking a closer connection to the natural world in Alaska won’t be disappointed. Find out more about these seven most scenic towns in Alaska in 2024.
Seward
Located between the dramatic peaks of the Kenai Mountains and beautiful Resurrection Bay, Seward is a town that’s defined by its natural beauty. A destination that’s popular for its proximity to Kenai Fjords National Park’s rugged coastal landscapes, calving glaciers, as well as its abundant marine wildlife, hiking opportunities are plentiful here with trails such as the Harding Icefield Trail providing sweeping views of the icefield and surrounding mountains. The bay itself is popular for kayaking and wildlife spotting, including chances to spot whales, sea otters, and seals in their natural habitat.
Seward’s proximity to Chugach National Forest also adds to its allure, opening up vast expanses of wilderness for hiking and camping adventures. The town’s scenic harbor is another focal point, a dramatic setting with mountains rising steeply from the shoreline, creating a true sense of Alaska’s untamed spirit.
Homer
Located on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is known for its spectacular views of Kachemak Bay and the surrounding mountains and glaciers. The town’s natural beauty is its primary attraction, with miles of unspoiled shoreline and crystal clear waters just waiting to be explored. Homer Spit, a narrow strip of land jutting into the bay, is one of the prettiest spots and boasts superb views of the Kenai Mountain Range. A prime destination for beachcombing and wildlife viewing, kayakers and boaters are also drawn here for the area’s calm waters.
Enjoy hiking? Head to nearby Kachemak Bay State Park, home to beautiful waterfalls, a spectacular rocky coastline, and an abundance of Alaskan wildlife, including black bears, moose, mountain goats, and even wolves. Homer’s natural landscape is also a prime location for birdwatching, with numerous species of migratory birds frequenting the area, including gyrfalcons, eagles, and puffins.
Valdez
Surrounded by towering mountain peaks and bordered by Prince William Sound, Valdez is a town defined by the dramatic convergence of land and sea. A popular cruise destination, Valdez is famous for its proximity to the Columbia Glacier, one of the largest tidewater glaciers in Alaska and one where you can witness massive icebergs calving into the sea. The town is also a gateway to the Chugach Mountains, a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.
Keystone Canyon, just outside of town, is home to several lovely waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls. The waters of Prince William Sound are equally captivating, providing opportunities for kayaking and boating. Wildlife spotting her includes orcas, humpback whales, and sea lions, all common sightings in the sound.
Sitka
Situated on Baranof Island, Sitka features a scenic combination of coastal and mountainous scenery that’s some of the best in the state. Tongass National Forest, at 17 million acres, the largest national forest in the United States, is a must-visit and provides a lush backdrop to the town. Sitka Sound, with its many islands and deep blue waters, is a popular place for kayaking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Nearby, Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano, dominates the skyline here and adds a distinctive feature to the town’s scenic landscape.
Fun things to do in Sitka include hiking through the surrounding temperate rainforests, exploring tidepools rich in marine life, and enjoying the island’s secluded beaches. It’s also not uncommon to see sea otters, seals, and whales in the surrounding waters, so have your camera ready.
Wrangell
Located in Southeast Alaska close to the international border with Canada, Wrangell is entirely surrounded by wilderness, with the Stikine River and the Tongass National Forest defining its landscape. The town is a popular jumping-off point for exploring the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area with its glaciers, remote fjords, and untouched forests. Hiking along the Stikine River offers excellent views of the surrounding mountains as well as the chance to observe a range of native Alaskan wildlife including bears, eagles, and moose.
The LeConte Glacier, located just outside of town, is one of the most accessible tidewater glaciers in Alaska and presents a great opportunity for an up-close experience with Alaska’s icy wonders. The town itself is pleasant, its location on Wrangell Island providing superb views of the surrounding waters and distant mountain ranges.
Haines
Haines is situated between the Chilkat Mountains and Lynn Canal, one of the longest fjords in North America. The town’s striking natural landscape includes lovely views of the Chilkat River, a major attraction for wildlife, particularly bald eagles. In fact, the area hosts the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world, drawing birdwatchers from across the globe, and the town’s proximity to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve ensures you’ll get to see plenty of these majestic birds in their natural habitat.
Haines also serves as a gateway to Glacier Bay National Park with its massive tidewater glaciers, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife. The fjord’s deep blue waters and towering mountains also provide a picture-perfect setting for outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna, located at the confluence of three rivers (the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna Rivers), is best known for its stunning views of Denali, North America’s tallest peak. On clear days, the town offers a jaw-droppingly beautiful panorama of the Alaska Range in all its splendor, with Denali’s towering summit dominating it all. The nearby rivers, especially the Susitna, are also worth exploring and are perfect for activities including rafting, fishing, and peaceful riverfront walks.
Talkeetna’s connection to Denali National Park and Preserve makes it a popular base for adventurers looking to explore the area’s hiking trails and wilderness areas. Enjoy wildlife spotting? Bring your binoculars and keep an eye out for larger critters like moose and bears, as well as an abundance of birdlife, including eagles.
The Final Word
America’s most northerly and third-least populated state, Alaska, offers plenty of reasons for visitors to include it in their 2024 travel plans. In addition to offering plenty of fresh, clean air, “The Last Frontier” is where you’ll find many small towns boasting spectacular scenery. Each town on this list, from the coastal beauty of Seward and Homer to the stunning mountain views of Talkeetna, perfectly illustrates Alaska’s magnificent landscapes and endless opportunities for outdoor exploration. Together, 2024’s seven most scenic Alaska towns invite travelers to connect with nature and experience the unspoiled wilderness that defines the Alaskan experience.
Alaska
Alaska sues Biden administration over oil and gas leases in Arctic refuge
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 26, 2024.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
The U.S. state of Alaska has sued the Biden administration for what it calls violations of a Congressional directive to allow oil and gas development in a portion of the federal Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Monday’s lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Alaska challenges the federal government’s December 2024 decision to offer oil and gas drilling leases in an area known as the coastal plain with restrictions.
The lawsuit said curbs on surface use and occupancy make it “impossible or impracticable to develop” 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of land the U.S. Interior Department plans to auction this month to oil and gas drillers.
The limits would severely limit future oil exploration and drilling in the refuge, it added.
“Interior’s continued and irrational opposition under the Biden administration to responsible energy development in the Arctic continues America on a path of energy dependence instead of utilizing the vast resources we have available,” Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy said in a statement.
Alaska wants the court to set aside the December decision and prohibit the department from issuing leases at the auction.
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management declined to comment.
When combined with the department’s cancellation of leases granted during the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency, Alaska says it will receive just a fraction of the $1.1 billion the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would get in direct lease-related revenues from energy development in the area.
The lawsuit is Alaska’s latest legal response to the Biden administration’s efforts to protect the 19.6-million-acre (8-million-hectare) ANWR for species such as polar bears and caribou.
An October 2023 lawsuit by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority contested the administration’s decision to cancel the seven leases it held. Another state lawsuit in July 2024 sought to recover revenue lost as a result.
Drilling in the ANWR, the largest national wildlife refuge, was off-limits for decades and the subject of fierce political fights between environmentalists and Alaska’s political leaders, who have long supported development in the coastal plain.
In 2017, Alaska lawmakers secured that opportunity through a provision in a Trump-backed tax cut bill passed by Congress. In the final days of Trump’s administration, it issued nine 10-year leases for drilling in ANWR.
Under Biden, two lease winners withdrew from their holdings in 2022. In September, the interior department canceled the seven issued to the state industrial development body.
Alaska
Why Alaska is trying to stop the feds from issuing drilling leases in the Arctic Refuge
Attorneys for the state of Alaska filed a lawsuit Monday to try to invalidate a federal lease sale for oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The lawsuit says the Biden administration is offering so little land for lease and has put so many restrictions on it that the lease sale doesn’t comply with the law.
So the state, a stalwart supporter of drilling in the refuge, is asking a judge not to let the federal government issue leases to oil companies. The role reversal is the latest wrinkle in a long saga over what to do with the coastal plain of the refuge, in the northeast corner of Alaska.
After decades of hot debate in Congress, Sen. Lisa Murkowski championed a provision in a 2017 tax law mandating two lease sales, of at least 400,000 acres each, on the coastal plain of the refuge.
The first was held in 2021, in the final days of the Trump administration. As a measure of industry interest, it was a dud. None of the big oil companies offered a bid. Two private firms won leases but then relinquished them. The main bidder was the state-owned Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.
In 2023, the Biden administration cancelled the leases, saying the process was flawed.
The state, citing an earlier congressional estimate, said it was in line to get more than $1 billion in lease revenues, plus royalty payments and the indirect economic benefits that come with more industrial activity.
Bids for the second sale were due Monday, and they’re scheduled to be unsealed Friday. The state lawsuit notes that this time, the government made only a third of the coastal plain available for bidding.
“Worse,” the legal complaint says, “it makes the lands available for lease impossible or impracticable to develop by significantly restricting surface use and occupancy. In essence, the [lease sale conditions] are designed to inhibit and deter, rather than promote, development of the Coastal Plain’s mineral resources.”
The Biden administration says its restrictions are the best way to balance all of the laws it has to follow. Before the 2017 law ordering lease sales, Congress set other goals for the Arctic Refuge, including conserving birds and wildlife, and protecting subsistence hunting and fishing opportunities.
If the lawsuit succeeds the Trump administration could get a do-over to offer more land for lease and under terms that would facilitate drilling.
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