The smallest city in Alaska sits about a mile from one of the country’s top commercial fishing ports. It’s Kupreanof, a city on the eastern shore of Kupreanof Island. Downtown Petersburg, Alaska, is right across the Wrangell Narrows.
Island Point Lodge shares that island, about 12 miles south of Petersburg along the Narrows. Book directly and you’ll spend a week fishing the same waters that surround the smallest city in the state.
Why Is Kupreanof the Smallest City in Alaska?
Kupreanof is Alaska’s smallest incorporated city, with 21 residents in the 2020 census. That’s down from 27 in 2010, according to state census data.
It used to be busier. Homesteaders called the area West Petersburg, and the Knudsen brothers opened a sawmill there in 1911. More than 100 people lived there in the 1920s, running mink ranches, a small store and a gaff hook factory.
Residents incorporated as a city in 1975, in part to head off annexation by Petersburg. When the City of Petersburg dissolved into the Petersburg Borough in 2013, Kupreanof stayed independent, according to the borough’s quick facts.
Kupreanof at a Glance
- Population: 21 (2020 census)
- Incorporated: 1975
- Former name: West Petersburg
- Getting there: by boat across the Wrangell Narrows
What Can You Do in Kupreanof?
It’s an amazing place for hiking and wildlife watching. It’s easy to do as well because two trails start at the Kupreanof State Dock. The Forest Service trailhead has no restroom or drinking water. Pack water and rain gear.
- Petersburg Mountain Trail: This 3-mile climb runs from the dock to the summit and is rated difficult. The first stretch follows an old roadbed before the steady climb begins.
- Petersburg Lake Trail: This route heads the other direction from the dock, along Petersburg Creek and into the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness. It leads to a Forest Service cabin at Petersburg Lake.
- City Trails Guide: The city posts a free interpretive brochure and maps on its official trails page. Download them to your phone before you cross.
Is Kupreanof Island the Best Place To Vacation in Alaska?
For anglers who want to run their own boat, it’s hard to beat. The lodge runs on diesel generators and sits a boat ride from town, so fishing is the main event.
Island Point Lodge offers self-guided trips. We supply the boat, rods, reels and bait, plus maps and local know-how on where to fish. You’ll fish for salmon, halibut, trout and Dungeness crab, and you can troll for some salmon species right in front of the lodge.
That’s Petersburg, Alaska fishing at its most hands-on, and it’s why we count this island among the best vacation spots in Alaska. Check the fish run dates to match your week to the species you want.
Big Fish, Small City
Alaska’s smallest city has plenty of neighbors with fins. Come meet them. Book directly with Island Point Lodge for a fishing trip package that includes lodging, meals, a boat and bait. Review our trip rates, then call 800-352-4522 to reserve your week.