Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Park & Preserves
Ft. Abercrombie
In 1985, the park was declared a National Historic Landmark. It provides a unique experience to learn about WWII, tour the bunkers, and learn the history of Kodiaks' role during this time. There are designated spots for tent campers, trails around a lake through the beautiful meadows and Sitka spruce forests, or look at a panoramic view of Spruce Island while standing on top of surf pounding cliffs. Ft. Abercrombie is located on the Kodiak road system.
Buskin River
Located near the state airport, the Buskin river is a prime location to fish for coho and sockeye salmon. Visitors can hike or bike along hidden trails of the nearby forest to see some WWII structures on the north side of the park. Campsites are suitable for R.V.’s . Kodiak brown bears, eagles, harlequin ducks, and a variety of other birds and wildlife are often seen here.
Pasagshak
An hour drive from Kodiak, the Pasagshak river is another sweet spot for anglers catching dolly varden, sockeye, pink, chum, and silver salmon. Campgrounds are undeveloped but camping is allowed on a first come first serve basis. Pasagshak offers breathtaking views of a surf pounding beach, or watching the stars at night, a great place for surfing, photography, and picnicing. Brown bears, whales, waterfowl, seals, eagles, sea bird colonies and other coastal and marine life are abundant here.
Woody Island
Located in Chiniak Bay, 2.6 miles east of Kodiak. It has 112 acres of state park and the rest is privately owned. In the 1800’s a small town was located there with a Baptist orphanage. During WWII it was a staging ground for military communications. Today it serves as a Christian summer camp for kids, run by the American Baptist church.
Shuyak Island
There are 47,000 acres of state park, with Sitka Spruce forests, rugged coastlines, four cabins, and the most sheltered interior coastlines of the archipelago. It is a world class kayakers’ dream! Discovering intimate views of wildlife such as; sea otters, whales, harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions, bird rookeries for tufted puffins, gulls, terns, and kittiwakes, small coves, and protected channels.
Afognak Island
In 1892, it became one of the nations first conservative areas. Afognak Island State Park is 75,000 acres, located on the east and north sides of the island. Visitors enjoy the pristine dense forests, rugged topography, the Kodiak brown bears, Roosevelt elk, Sitka black-tailed deer, and watch salmon glide in its streams. There are two developed cabins operated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Visitors can hunt, fish, hike, berry pick, kayak, and enjoy the luxuries of the great outdoors. There are no developed trails in the area. Lands near the park are controlled by Native Corporations and require land use permits to be on them.
Resources: Alaska State Parks website, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge website, and Alaska's Konyag Country.Picture of Abercrombie Sunset and sunset in Pasagshak Are Taken By Chris Badessa; Woody Island, and Kayaks are Taken By Gloria Selby, Buskin River By Kari Sherod, Hole in Rock in Afognak Taken By Andy Christofferson.