Page 139 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

SOUTHEAST ALASK A  137

P Petroglyph Beach State
Historic Site
Half a mile (1 km) N of Wrangell at
Grave St. Open 24 hrs. 7 limited.
Archeologists believe that an
ancient culture already occu­
pied the Wrangell area before
the modern­day Tlingit arrived.
Evidence suggests that these
early groups were here around
10,000 years ago, at the end
of the last Ice Age, and that
they established sub sequent Kayaking in the blue waters of the Stikine River
settlements 5,000 and 3,000
years ago. It is thought that opportunities to see harbor of one of Alaska’s greatest
these early people made some seals, black bears, spawning pink salmon runs. The fish are
of the 40 petroglyphs that salmon, and the world’s largest slowed by a waterfall half a mile
adorn the rocks of the beach. summer concentration of bald (1 km) inland, which attracts
However, the artwork reveals eagles. A popular destination large numbers of hungry brown
little information about their is Chief Shakes Hot Springs, and black bears. Adjacent to
culture, except that the simplest where open­air hot tubs offer the falls, a wildlife observatory,
spiral and sun designs match soak ing in a wild setting. which is actually a large viewing
petrogylphs found as far platform, allows visitors close­
away as South America. The Y Muskeg Meadows Golf up views of the feeding bears.
petroglyphs of wolves, bears, Course During the salmon run, sea
and orcas found on the same Mile 0.5, Ishiyama Dr. Tel 874­4653. otters, harbor seals, and bald
beach were probably carved or phone for pickup from town. eagles can also be spotted
by the Tlingit. Most of the Open Apr–Nov: 9am–6pm. & - along the shore near the
petroglyphs, carved on boul­ = ∑ wrangellalaskagolf.com mouth of Anan Creek.
ders scattered along several The non­profit Wrangell Golf While wildlife is usually
hundred feet of beach, Club was established visible all summer, permits are
have been eroded in 1993 to carve a needed to visit the obser vatory
over time by the sea. nine­hole, par in July and August. Only 60
A visitors’ platform 36 course from permits are issued for each day.
provides access to the muskeg bog Four permits are also available
the beach, where for which it was for those stay ing at the nearby
the state has named. From 1995 Anan Bay public use cabin – the
reproduced the Petroglyph of a fish on a boulder to 1998, vol unteers only accommodation available
most interesting cleared trees, in the area. However, local tour
petroglyphs to allow visitors to laid wood pulp to create the operators pre­book permits and
make rubbings of the carvings fairways, planted grass, and make them available to visitors
with out damaging the originals. installed the greens, resulting on their tours.
in a beautiful course set amid
} Stikine River spruce and cedar rainforest. This
g tour boats. 8   is the world’s only golf course
The glacier­fed Stikine River with a ‘Raven Rule’, which states
is the biggest draw for visitors that if a raven steals a golf ball, it
to Wrangell. Originating in the can be replaced without penalty,
mountains of British Columbia, pro vided the golfer has a witness.
the 360­mile (576­km) river
flows through 30 miles (48 km)
of the Stikine­LeConte 7 Anan Creek
Wilderness on the Alaskan Wildlife
mainland to its mouth across
the narrows near Wrangell. Observatory
Several companies organize 31 miles (50 km) S of Wrangell.
jetboat tours, which head Transport map F5. Tel 874­2323. ~
upstream through spectacular by floatplane. g tour boat. Open
mountain scenery and past year­round. &  book in advance.
waterfalls and the iceberg Permits: required Jul 5–Aug 25, book
choked face of Shakes Glacier. at ∑ fs.usda.gov/tongass
There is a delightful lunch
spot here, overlooking the Located on the Cleveland Black bear feeding with cub at the rapidly
glacier. There are also good Peninsula, Anan Creek is the site flowing Anan Creek
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp243–4 and pp253–4

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