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Chitina Attractions
Visitors from around the world come to sight see, fish our local lakes and streams, camp, hunt moose, bear, bison, and sheep. Many come to recreate in the nearby Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, to explore the Wrangell and Chugach Mountain Ranges, or float the Chitina River, Copper River and other local rivers. Bicyclists favor the 60 mile Chitina-McCarthy Road, which is situated on the old CR& NW rail bed. An additional 20 miles or so of the rail bed, paralleling the scenic Copper River and Wood Canyon, are accessible by bicycle south of Chitina. "Can't visit Chitina without a purchase
at Spirit Mountain Artworks!" Chitina and her historic neighbors McCarthy and Kennicott, which also date back to the early 20th century Kennecott Copper mining era, still provide a window to this important part of Alaska's history. Chitina, is a popular destination for Alaskans who participate in its subsistence and personal use salmon fisheries. Others come to watch the local fish wheels and dip net fishers pull world famous Copper River salmon from the silty, frigid waters. Selling the locally caught salmon is not legal.
Most services are available in Chitina, including fuel, groceries, lodging, cafe, bar, gift shops, camping, auto and tire repair, hunting and fishing permits, a clinic, emergency medical and fire services, showers, laundromat, visitors wayside and public restrooms, water, and phones, a TV repeater station, its own local electric grid, a post office, National Park Ranger cabin, church services, air charters, river boat charters, a state high way maintenance station and air strip, and of course Spirit Mountain Artworks.
Most of the 120 or so year-round residents participate in local subsistence hunting and fishing, as well as berry picking and other "wildcrafting" and gardening. Besides subsistence activities and crafts, local employment includes owning or working in local businesses and services, tourism, US Post Office, Chitina Native Village Corporation and electric company, Chitina Native Village Council, clinic and village housing, Alaska Departments of Fish and Game, and Forestry (wildland fire fighting). There is no local government. Local services are provided through the local Native Village Council, Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, and a local nonprofit organization Community Improvement Association of Chitina. About half of the local residents are Alaska Natives. Much of the surrounding land belongs to Chitina Native Village Corporation and Ahtna Regional Native Corporation through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.
An ancient shift of the Copper River left the small north-south valley that Chitina itself is located in, along with a string of small lakes, which are stocked with trout and grayling. White spruce is the predominate vegetation, along with cottonwood, willow, alder and some birch. The surrounding mountains create a "rain shadow" that leaves Chitina with about 14" of annual rainfall.
Summers in Chitina are mild, highs are in the 60s and 70's F, lows in the 50s F. It seldom frosts between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The long days are great for gardening as well as recreating. There are about 20 hours of daylight at summer solstice, though it doesn't really get dark for most of June and July. It is frequently windy in Chitina in the summer, due to the prevailing southerly winds off the Copper River. The river itself can be quit gusty. Consequently, there are few mosquitoes to be encountered in Chitina. Winters are more interior than coastal in nature, with lows usually -10 to -20F, sometimes dipping to -40F or lower, without the winds that are common in summer. There are about 4 hours of daylight in mid-December. Snowfall does not accumulate more than 2-3 feet.
Fishing, Biking, Flying, & Wilderness Activities
Slide Shows of Chitina and Environs
Outfitters and Rafting
Historic
Chitina Photos, Models, and Legacy of the Chief Novel
Spirit Mountain Artworks | PO Box 22 Chitina, AK
99566 | info@spiritmountainalaska.com Photos © Art Koeninger unless otherwise attributed.
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