6 Most Overlooked Alaska Towns For 2025
Alaska’s massive wilderness hides more than glaciers and grizzlies—it is also home to small, often overlooked towns that quietly showcase the state’s raw beauty, rich history, and strong community ties. These under-the-radar spots are not crowded with tourists, yet they still reward curious travelers with epic landscapes, rich cultural traditions, and peaceful surroundings. From the Mt. Eyak Ski Area of Cordova to the Russian-inspired heritage of Sitka and the wild trails of McCarthy, these lesser-known places provide a different kind of Alaska—unfiltered, authentic, and ready to surprise. Here are six towns worth discovering in 2025.
Wrangell
This quiet coastal town in Alaska often slips under the radar, yet Wrangell holds layers of cultural and natural significance that few places can match. One of its standout landmarks is the Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site, where dozens of intricate stone carvings etched by Native Alaskans centuries ago still mark the shoreline. Nearby, the Wrangell Museum gives a well-rounded view of the town’s past with artifacts and exhibits just steps from downtown.
The Anan Wildlife Observatory, accessible only by boat or floatplane, attracts nature lovers with its rare opportunity to observe black and brown bears fishing for salmon in their natural habitat. Rounding out Wrangell’s cultural presence is the Chief Shakes Longhouse, a faithful 1940 reconstruction of a traditional Tlingit clan house, complete with carved totem poles and artistic displays that honor the area’s Indigenous roots.
Haines
Few visitors include Haines on their Alaska itinerary, but those who do find a quiet coastal town rich in history, nature, and unexpected charm. Outdoor enthusiasts gravitate toward the Battery Point Trailhead, a peaceful 1.2-mile route winding through temperate rainforest before arriving at a rocky shoreline with sweeping water views. For a more challenging outing, Mt. Ripinski offers a rewarding day hike with panoramic vistas of the Lynn Canal and surrounding peaks.
Haines also surprises with its distinctive Hammer Museum—an entire museum devoted to hammers. With over 2,500 tools on display, it chronicles how something so simple shaped human history. History buffs can round out their visit at Fort William H. Seward, a striking military post from the gold rush era that once stood as Alaska’s only military installation.
Sitka
Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and forested peaks, Sitka quietly holds some of Alaska’s richest stories and natural wonders. Those who venture to this coastal gem find themselves immersed in heritage, wildlife, and scenic beauty few places can match. Every October, Sitka hosts the Alaska Day Festival—a week-long celebration of the Alaska Purchase featuring reenactments, dance performances, historic walking tours, and museum events that bring the past to life.
The 122-acre Sitka National Historical Park invites guests to stroll coastal trails lined with totem poles and towering spruce trees. Wildlife lovers can visit the Alaska Raptor Center, where rescued birds of prey like eagles and owls receive expert care and participate in educational flight demos. Nearby, the Fortress of the Bear provides a haven for orphaned brown bears. For a quiet moment, St. Michael’s Cathedral, with its ornate icons and distinctive green dome, gives a glimpse into Sitka’s Russian roots.
Cordova
Cordova surprises visitors with its rich mix of outdoor adventure and small-town celebration, creating a year-round rhythm of discovery and delight. Each May, birders from across the country descend on this coastal town for the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, as millions of western sandpipers, dunlins, and other species pause during their migration. In February, the quirky Iceworm Festival enlivens winter with everything from a survival suit race to a talent show. Come summer, the Salmon Jam brings music and joy to Mt. Eyak’s green slopes.
Beyond its festive spirit, Cordova’s landscapes encourage exploration. Mt. Eyak Ski Area delivers snowy fun with North America's oldest functioning single chairlift, while the Heney Ridge Trail winds through coastal forest to breathtaking views. Eyak Lake’s shallow waters are ideal for paddling, and the Prince William Sound Science Center provides an eye-opening look at environmental change in one of the planet’s richest marine ecosystems.
Nenana
Quiet and often bypassed, Nenana is one of Alaska’s most overlooked towns for 2025. This peaceful Yukon-Koyukuk Borough outpost carries the weight of railroad history and small-town resilience. It is best known for the Mears Memorial Bridge, a 700-foot steel truss structure that spans the Tanana River—an engineering marvel since 1923 and still one of the largest of its kind in the world.
The Golden Spike Memorial further cements Nenana’s importance in Alaskan rail history. Once presented to Colonel Frederick Mears and later used by President Harding to commemorate the railroad’s completion, the solid gold spike is making its long-awaited return to the region. Nearby, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church anchors the community with simple beauty and spiritual heritage.
McCarthy
McCarthy might feel like a forgotten outpost deep in the Alaskan wilderness, but this remote community in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park rewards the few who make the effort to visit. Surrounded by staggering mountains and glacial terrain, it is a launching pad for unforgettable exploration. Hikers can tackle the Root Glacier Trail, a moderately challenging route that winds past historic mining relics and ends at a jaw-dropping ice field.
Those seeking elevation and solitude will find it on the Bonanza Mine Trail, a strenuous climb that stretches over eight miles and ascends nearly 4,000 feet to the weathered ruins of an old copper mine. For aerial views showcasing the raw scale of the surrounding peaks and valleys, Wrangell Mountain Air operates scenic flights out of McCarthy. Nearby, the hauntingly beautiful Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark invites wanderers to explore decaying red buildings clinging to steep hillsides—a vivid reminder of the region’s mining boom.
Alaska is often celebrated for its grandeur, but these six towns reveal quieter stories just waiting to be discovered. From Wrangell’s carved petroglyphs and bear-viewing platforms to Cordova’s festive spirit and scientific wonders, each destination uniquely connects to the state’s history, wilderness, and charm. Whether it is hiking glacier trails in McCarthy, birdwatching in Cordova, or exploring Sitka’s cultural roots, these overlooked communities prove that the heart of Alaska beats strongest where few tourists tread. 2025 might be the year to finally explore them.
