South Prince of Wales Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, United States.
South Prince of Wales Wilderness spans about 91,000 acres of Pacific temperate rainforest dominated by western hemlock and Sitka spruce trees in thick stands. The area is defined by roughly 75 barrier islands of varying sizes, ranging from small rocky outcrops to larger forested landmasses.
The Haida people established the settlement of Klinkwan in the early 1800s on Prince of Wales Island. The community later relocated to Hydaburg in 1911.
Indigenous peoples have long relied on these lands for fishing, hunting, and gathering resources. The connection between communities and their ancestral grounds remains visible in how the forest and waters are still used and valued today.
Reaching this remote wilderness requires a boat or watercraft since the area is surrounded by numerous islands and waterways. Visitors should be prepared for rough weather and dense vegetation that make travel and hiking challenging.
Trees throughout this rainforest bear visible marks of fierce Pacific storm winds, with trunks and limbs shaped by persistent strong gusts over decades. These twisted and bent forms tell the story of how weather shapes the forest itself.
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