A small Alaskan island with plenty of room for adventure
Despite having more land area than any city in the United States, Sitka is about the furthest thing from a big city. “I think one of the major reasons people move here is to get away from the major cities. The population is always about 8,000 to 9,000, so it has a small-town feel,” says Danielle Cassedy, an associate broker with Sitka Realty who was raised in the area. “We’re on an island, so there’s no access except by boat or plane. We’re surrounded by national forest, so that helps keep the small-town feel.” Most of Sitka is rugged terrain, mountains and rainforest, with the city’s population centered on the west side of Baranof Island. With easy access to the nearby mountains and the Sitka Sound, outdoor recreation is abundant in this island community. The water is full of salmon, halibut and crab, providing plenty of jobs in the commercial fishing industry. The city is also working on expanding its maritime industry by building a new haul out facility and boatyard at Gary Paxton Industrial Park. Tourism is another significant part of the economy, with over half a million cruise ships visiting annually.
O’Connell Bridge stretches over Sitka Sound with glowing sunset clouds reflecting below.
A sweeping view of Sitka’s colorful homes and rugged coastline from high above the harbor.
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Exploring Sitka's mountains and waterways
Sitka offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors on land and at sea. “Fishing and boating is the biggest recreational activity,” says Cassedy. “People travel from all over the world to go on charters and go fishing. We’re surrounded by islands, so there are all kinds of fishing lodges around. And a lot of people own their own boats.” Hiking trails range from easy lakefront walks to strenuous mountain treks. Many of the trails can be used for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. While Sitka has traditional city parks with open fields and playgrounds, its state and national parks steal the show. Stika National Historical Park commemorates the site of a battle between Russian traders and the native Tlingit people. The park has walking trails, totem poles and the historic Russian Bishop’s House. About 7 miles north of downtown, Old Sitka State Historic Park has a boat launch and three trails that total about 3 miles.
A local walks a playful dog along Sitka’s rocky shoreline near lush coastal forests.
A towering totem pole rises proudly at Sitka National Historical Park under blue skies.
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Rising home costs in Southeast Alaska
Homes in Sitka include cabins, Craftsmans and ranch-style houses. There are also plenty of custom homes throughout the city. Many properties feature views of the water, mountains, or both. Most of the residential parts of the city are suburban, while homes south of downtown have a more rural feel, with dense trees surrounding them and offering privacy. Buyers can also find some properties for sale on the small islands near the city, providing an extra layer of seclusion. The median price is around $860,000, more than double the national median. That number has risen by about 27% over the past year, and homes are selling in 31 days, quicker than the national average of 45 days.
Craftsman-style and Colonial Revival homes sit peacefully on a wide lawn in Sitka, Alaska.
Craftsman and modern waterfront homes in Sitka offer private boat access and coastal views.
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Downtown Sitka shops, restaurants and events
Downtown is the hub of Sitka’s shopping and dining. Several locally owned restaurants line Lincoln Street, with stores offering clothing, outdoors equipment and gifts. Restaurants include upscale seafood spots, casual Mexican restaurants and bars. Grocery stores include SeaMart Quality Foods, north of downtown, and Alaska Commercial Company, close to the city center. Downtown also hosts several of Sitka’s annual events, like the Summer Music Festival. This month-long event is held each June and celebrates classical music with concerts around the city. PorchFest takes place on Lincoln Street each May and features live music and art workshops.
Historic Lincoln Street showcases St. Michael's Cathedral and classic false-front buildings.
People sit and enjoy themselves at Beak, one of Sitka's many inclusive restaurants.
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Preparing Sitka students for college and careers
The Sitka School District gets a B from Niche and serves approximately 1,100 students across two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and an alternative high school. The district offers a STEAM makerspace that allows students to explore coding, electronics and robotics. It also offers several career and technical education courses that prepare students for careers after high school. The University of Alaska Southeast has a campus in Sitka with about 300 students.
The University of Alaska Southeast campus stands near the waterfront in Sitka, Alaska.
Sitka High School, home of the Wolves, sits at the base of lush forested hills.
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Flying or sailing into Southeast Alaska
Because of Sitka’s location on an island, the city is only accessible by boat or plane. Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport is just west of downtown and has daily jet service to Seattle, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan through Alaska Airlines. Delta offers seasonal service at the airport during the summer. The airport is also used by small private planes and seaplanes. The Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry traveling throughout Southeast Alaska, connecting Sitka to nearby cities. The city has a bus system with three routes, covering the ferry terminal in the north to Sawmill Cove in the south. While downtown is walkable, residents living further from the city center will likely drive along Halibut Point Road to reach their destination. Multiple projects are underway to improve transportation in the city, including expanding and renovating the airport terminal and adding onto the north end of Halibut Point Road.
Plenty of rain and seismic activity in Sikta
Sitka has a mild, temperate climate with no dry season. Because of its location in the Tongass National Forest, the city receives approximately 100 inches of annual rainfall. Temperatures can vary between 26 and 62 degrees, but Cassedy says it never gets too cold or hot. The city is located near the Fairweather-Queen Charlotte Fault, which can cause earthquakes and tsunamis in the region. Sitka’s city website has several resources on earthquake preparedness.
Sitka sits approximately 15 miles from Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano that has been dormant for about 4,000 years. However, in 1974 an April Fools’ stunt caused some panic. Local prankster Porky Bickar airlifted about 70 tires into the mountain’s crater, doused them in oil and gas and lit them on fire, causing black smoke to rise into the sky. Bickar had notified the FAA and the Sikta Police of his plan but failed to alert the Coast Guard. The local Commander sent a helicopter to investigate, and they discovered the tires, as well as 50-foot letters spray-painted into the snow reading “APRIL FOOL.”
Fishing boats at Sitka Harbor with majestic Mount Edgecumbe glowing in the morning light.
Clouds drift across snow-dusted peaks near Sitka, highlighting Alaska’s wild beauty.
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Sitka crime trends
According to FBI data, Sitka has seen a significant increase in crime recently, with violent crime rising by 27% and property crime rising by 94%. Despite those high increases, both rates are lower than the national average. The number of property crimes is still among the city's lowest in the past decade.
Downtown Charmer with Rental Option! Located on the edge of beautiful downtown Sitka, this charming property includes a two-bedroom home with a finished attic and a detached garage with an upper-level studio apartment. Generate rental income from the bright and open studio or reserve the space for guests and visiting family. Quality construction and attention to detail shine throughout. Enjoy
One-of-a-kind Luxury Residence atop Hillside Subdivision! This property can only be described as privacy-abundant, with over an acre of land and 180-degree unobstructed views of Sitka’s volcano, town, mountain, and marine landscape. Easily access all three stories with the internal elevator system. Bask in morning sunlight from the fully enclosed tiled sunroom or relax in the sunset glow from the
This single-level ranch is in great condition and move-in ready. The home was completely renovated in 2006, and the owners have made further improvements over the past five years. The lot is mostly flat and offers ample parking space. Additionally, there's a shed that offers great storage space, and it even includes a workbench. One of the highlights of this property is the covered deck, which
Source: Public RecordsDisclaimer: 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.
