South Baranof Wilderness
Alexander Baranof, the first governor of Russian America, built his headquarters in nearby Sitka and left his name on this large island (1,600 square miles). Most of the southern extremity of the island (319,568 acres) has been designated the South Baranof Wilderness. Bounded on the west by the Gulf of Alaska, the scenery is stunningly picturesque with granite glacier-scored mountains, long saltwater fjords and hanging lake valleys (Nowacki, 2001). On the east side of the Wilderness by Chatham Strait, the saltwater coastline is not as rugged and there is a higher snow accumulation over the whole area. Mount Ada at 4,528 feet, is on this side of the island and is the highest peak in the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 315,820 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 56.72° N, 134.92° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
3 federal campgrounds sit inside the boundary and 5 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 3 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 3 cabins. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 1 miAvoss Lake Cabin ↗Cabin
- 8 miDavidof Lake Cabin ↗Cabin
- 9 mi
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 2 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Davidof | 1.2 | |
| Port Banks | 1.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.9 miSheldon Jackson School ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.1 miAmerican Flag Raising Site ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.2 miRussian Bishop's House ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.2 miRussian-American Building No. 29 ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.2 miSt. Michael's Cathedral ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.3 miJaponski Island Boathouse ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.3 miAlaska Native Brotherhood Hall ↗National Historic Landmark
- 12.9 miMills, W. P., House ↗Sitka, AK
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Alaska
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is South Baranof Wilderness?
315,820 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Baranof Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Baranof Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Baranof Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at South Baranof Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to South Baranof Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 56.720° N, 134.923° W. Sitka National Historical Park is 13 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near South Baranof Wilderness?
Sitka National Historical Park (13 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near South Baranof Wilderness?
The National Register has 20 listings within 15 miles, including Sheldon Jackson School and American Flag Raising Site.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.