Small town on Douglas Island, slower pace than Downtown Juneau
Across the bridge from busy Downtown Juneau, Douglas is where the locals go. “It’s less frequented by tourists,” says Gwen Place, a Juneau resident since the 1980s and an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker since 2005. “They might go to the island for the mining history, but it’s quieter and slower over here. Downtown has turned into more of a city, but Douglas still has that small, local feel.” This little community, once home to the biggest gold mine in Alaska, is on the southeastern coast of Douglas Island. To the north, the Gastineau Channel is known for whale-watching and cruise ships, and the town’s harbor feeds right into it; the snowy peaks of the Alaskan Boundary Ranges tower above the water. To the south, the Tongass National Forest covers the hills, and the center of the island has even more peaks. Bears and eagles are among the many different species in this area, and they might even wander into town. A part of the larger City and Borough of Juneau, this area is only accessible by plane or boat, and it can get over 300 inches of snow.
Douglas is a small town on Douglas Island that has a much slower pace than downtown.
A life-sized whale sculpture emerging from an infinity pool is situated near Douglas.
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Sandy Beach, Treadwell Historic Trail and Alaskan wilderness
Savikko Park is on the east side of Douglas, and it’s the former home of the Alaska Mill & Mining Company. It’s also the home of Sandy Beach, one of the only beaches in Juneau. “The miners brought in sand in the 1930s because it’s not something we have in southeast Alaska,” says Place. “They also built a natatorium, an outdoor tile pool. You can still find pieces of it on the beach.” Right on the Gastineau Channel, the old pump house peaks out of the water, and the beach connects to the Treadwell Historic Trail. Hikers can see the main office building and other mining ruins, in addition to the Glory Hole. This basin was once the entrance into the mine shafts, and after a flood in 1917, now it has a waterfall. For a more strenuous route, the trailhead to Mount Jumbo is nearby, and it leads 6 miles up to views of the town below. Treadwell Ice Arena is also in the park, and it’s an indoor facility with classes for hockey and figure skating. On the park’s west side, Douglas Harbor is a popular place to keep boats, and fishing is common in the island’s many waterways. This area can get over 300 inches of snow in winter, so skiing is another typical hobby. Eaglecrest Ski Area is in the middle of Douglas Island, and it’s a 13-mile car ride. These mountains have over 600 acres of slopes, and the Winter Fireworks Spectacular is held here in February. Plus, the Tongass National Forest protects most of the island and Juneau overall; it has over 17 million acres and hundreds of campgrounds.
Hikers can view the historic mining ruins along the Treadwell Historic Trail in Douglas.
Skiing is a common hobby, and Eagle Crest Ski Area is popular among the residents of Douglas.
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Events in Downtown Juneau and Douglas
About 1.3 million tourists visit the shops and restaurants in Downtown Juneau every year, and it’s especially crowded in the summer. These crowds share the space with Douglas locals, who venture into town for work or community events. Centennial Hall hosts the Juneau Public Market on Thanksgiving weekend, and its vendors sell crafts, food and other Alaskan-made products. Compared to Douglas’ few bars, there are more nightlife options here, and they often host open mics; the Alaskan Hotel & Bar and the Crystal Saloon are just some examples. These restaurants come together for Capital City Brewfest, a beer sampling event in September. The Juneau Marathon runs through downtown in July, and Douglas Island hosts a half-marathon on the same weekend.
With more locals in attendance, Douglas hosts its own parties at Savikko Park. Juneau Gold Rush Days is a mining and logging celebration with vendors and fair food. Competitions include log rolling, axe throwing, speed climbing and spike driving, and they cater to both kids and adults. The Douglas Fourth of July Committee puts together a parade every year, too, and it’s separate from the one in downtown Juneau. After the parade ends, the park has a sand castle building contest and a firehose race. Firefighters compete to see who can deploy their hose lines fastest, and the losers risk getting sprayed down. Santa Claus hitches a ride on their firetrucks in December when another parade goes from Downtown Juneau to Douglas.
Shop for a fun souvenir at the popular Alaska Shirt Company, located near Douglas.
Savikko Park is a family-friendly place in Douglas, featuring a fun new playground.
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Island homes with expansive views
With nature on all sides, homes typically have views of the mountains or the channel. These panoramas are supplemented by large porches and windows in many cases. They were mostly built in the 1980s and 1990s, and they usually have two stories. Southernmost properties are likely on a hillside; lots back up to a pine forest and might overlook the water. Northernmost properties are closest to shore, and cruise ships pass by often. Views and square footage can increase prices, but these numbers aren’t disclosed in Alaska. Listings are between $650,000 and $950,000 as of July 2024. Condos are scattered around town, too. They’re not often on the channel, but they probably have views of the surrounding mountains. They’re around $200,000 as of July 2024. With this high-demand area, though, properties don’t go up for sale often.
Homes in Douglas often feature large porches and windows that provide stunning views.
With nature on all sides, homes in Douglas typically have views of the Gastineau Channel.
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Local hangouts and entertainment in Douglas
While most commercial options are across the bridge into Downtown Juneau, Douglas has a few local hangouts. The Island Pub is a bar and grill that overlooks the channel, and it specializes in pizza, salads and wraps. Louie’s Douglas Inn is a couple of blocks away, and it was completely remodeled in 2014. In addition to an outdoor patio, they now have free billiards every Monday and a Sunday brunch. Perseverance Theatre is across 3rd Street; since this nonprofit’s founding in 1979, it’s become the largest professional theater in Alaska and has served over 17,000 people. Performances change every year, and they’re produced by Alaskan locals. Also along 3rd Street, the Douglas Community Building houses the fire station and library, and a post office is nearby. A gas station and convenience store are also accessible, so trips into Downtown Juneau can be rare.
The Island Pub is a popular bar in Douglas that overlooks the channel and specializes in pizza.
Play free billiards with friends every Monday at Louie’s Douglas Inn, located in Douglas.
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Walkable elementary, buses to middle and high
The island’s only school, Sayéik: Gastineau Community School is on the west side of Douglas. It serves kindergarten through sixth grade and gets a B-minus from Niche. About 10 miles up the coast, Thunder Mountain Middle serves grades seven and eight. It was an A-rated high school before the 2024-2025 school year; funding changes have merged all of Juneau’s middle schools to this location. Bus service is available. Buses are also used for the 3-mile trip to Juneau-Douglas High, across the island’s bridge to downtown Juneau. This school gets an A-minus from Niche and ranks as No. 16 for Alaska, ahead of 117 others. Juneau Community Charter School is in downtown Juneau, too, and gives an alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade. It also gets an A-minus; its student-teacher ratio is 14 to 1, better than the state average of 17 to 1.
Gastineau Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through 6th grade in Douglas,
Students from Douglas attend nearby Juneau-Douglas High until graduation.
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Walkability and Capital Transit buses
Douglas is only four blocks at its widest point, so people walk or bike around town. Residents can drive to access Downtown Juneau, though, and 3rd Street is the only route there. Moving west past Lawson Creek, this thoroughfare becomes the Douglas Highway and wraps around the coast of the island. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge is along this route, and it’s about 2 miles from Douglas; Downtown Juneau is a half-mile across the bridge on the other side of the Gastineau Channel. Capital Transit buses go through downtown and up the Glacier Highway, which runs north along the coast. Tourists might crowd these buses in the summer months, but early morning service isn’t as busy. Taxis and Ubers provide alternatives. The Mendenhall Valley is about 10 miles north along this highway, and it hosts Juneau International Airport. About 15 miles north of downtown, Auke Bay is Juneau’s only access point for the ferry system. This system — also called the Alaska Marine Highway — connects over 30 communities in Alaska and spans over 3,500 miles.
Hop on the Capital Transit bus from Douglas to visit the other neighborhoods in Juneau.
Douglas is only four blocks at its widest point, so people walk or bike around town.
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Soak in incredible views of Gastineau Channel and Mt Roberts from this bright, inviting home with vaulted ceilings and picturesque windows. The spacious primary bedroom features a cozy sitting area, private en-suite and a oversized soaking tub—perfect for unwinding after a long day. With warm, welcoming spaces throughout, this home is filled with comfort and character. This home was built
Have you seen this VIEW?! Build the home you've been dreaming of on this expansive water view lot in South Douglas. Sitting at the top of E Street on the corner of the platted 6th street. This lot features 2 filled gravel pads, could be a building pad for your home and a parking pad for your vehicles. Large Rocks Added to the site for soil stability. This extremely desirable improved building lot
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has Equal Renters and Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,907
Median Age
41
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$81,847
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$100,853
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.6%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
47.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
16.7%
% Population in Labor Force
70.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
67''
Average Winter Low Temperature
24°F
Average Summer High Temperature
64°F
Annual Snowfall
84''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
8/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
