Beautiful Birds at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka – a MUST!

Bald eagles are an integral part of Alaska nature and when you’re in Sitka you MUST visit THE place that is both a rehabilitation center and a sanctuary for them. The Alaska Raptor Center is much more than a bald eagle hospital, but it’s a full rehabilitation center that is going to inspire you to learn more about birds of prey (eagles, owls, hawks…) and grow your love of Alaska’s wildlife. You’ll get to see plenty of bald eagles as you travel through Alaska, but learning about how they live and seeing them up close is an experience you cannot miss.

We’ve got the rundown on what you’ll get to experience at the Alaska Raptor Center and how you can add it to your visit to Sitka. If you have any questions about spending time here or if you need additional recommendations for Sitka and Southeast Alaska, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan an amazing trip to AK!

Highlights of Visiting the Alaska Raptor Center

Show me an animal and I’m thrilled. Introduce me to an injured animal in recovery and my heart goes out to them. Tell me a story about an animal who needs humans to keep living a healthy life and I’m jealous of the people who get to support and watch over them. The Alaska Raptor Center is really cool and fun place to visit where you can fall in love with eagles, owls, hawks and more. Visiting really does give you a soft spot for raptors (birds of prey) and you’ll be glad you came.

Even though exploring Alaska means that you’ll see lots of bald eagles, whether in Sitka or somewhere else, getting to see them so close is just not something that happens in nature. The eagles and other birds at the Alaska Raptor Center that are in exhibits are all unable to be released due to sustained injuries or their inability to feed themselves. The goal is always rehabilitation and release, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. In those cases, the raptors get to make themselves at home here at the Alaska Raptor Center or they’ll be placed in another animal care facility, such as a different sanctuary or a zoo, to live out their days.

I think it’s great that wild animals that would otherwise die due to injury or the inability to feed themselves get a second chance and get to serve as educational animals, inspiring another generation of animal lovers to care about nature and learn about them up close.

Tips for Visiting the Alaska Raptor Center

The Alaska Raptor Center is both bigger than you might expect and also more intimate than you think it will be. When it’s very busy with cruise guests there are staff all about talking about the different programs and processes at the Center, or talking about the many long-term bird residents. If you get to visit on a quiet day, you actually may get a guide all to yourself! That’s what happened for us as we visited on a day where the cruise ship cancelled their port excursions for weather.

Speaking of weather, keep in mind that the Alaska Raptor Center is mostly outdoors, but more on that in a minute. Whether it’s a busy day or if you have the whole place to yourself, be sure to ask all the questions you have. The scientists and staff at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka are very passionate about the birds they take care of and are more than happy to answer any and all questions. Yes, they’ll even answer the most popular question “Can I pet the eagles?” Their answer is no, you cannot pet the birds, but you can observe them from a safe distance and admire them. You can chat it up with the guides and if you’re lucky, some of the bald eagles will actually chat back at you if they’re eavesdropping, as you can get up-close with several of them.

In regards to chatting with the eagles and owls and such, you’ll see that there are signs requesting that you not try to get the birds’ attention or engage in disruptive behaviors around them. While the long-term residents of the Alaska Raptor Center are pretty used to having people around, it’s not what they’ve always known and they want to keep things as regular and non-stressful for all of the birds as possible. It’s nice to be able to observe and photograph the animals up close, so accept that and don’t try to force an interaction.

Being Prepared for the Alaska Raptor Center

When you arrive at the Alaska Raptor Center you’ll get a short orientation about what they do at the Center and watch a video showing what happens with the birds who are brought in. There is an indoor viewing area for the large flight rehabilitation sector, and then the rest of your visit happens outside. The bald eagles, owls, hawks and other raptors all have outdoor spaces and if it’s raining in Sitka, it’s raining on the birds and the visitors alike. Dress for the Alaska Raptor Center like you would for the Sitka National Historical Park trails or being out on a boat that day. It’s totally fine to be ready with rain gear, to bring an umbrella, or even to purchase an umbrella or hat from the gift shop while you’re there.

There’s no food or drink at the Alaska Raptor Center, as this is an animal environment, so be sure that you’ve had your snacks before hand. The Center is about fifteen minutes walking distance from any food, so think about this before you leave for your visit. This is an animal establishment where you can get up close with bald eagles and other birds of prey, so it makes sense that there’s no food allowed.

Photography and videos are WELCOME and encouraged at the Alaska Raptor Center. It’s one of the best ways to get the word out about the important, caring work they do. For the bald eagles and owls that you’ll be able to be fairly close to, a camera phone should do fine for getting your pictures, but if you do want to bring a bigger camera, there are moments that can be useful too. There are golden and bald eagles in larger outdoor enclosures, and that’s the perfect place to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera to capture some beautiful, up-close photos. If you have an umbrella attachment for your camera, bring it just in case. It’s nice to keep your camera dry in the outdoor exhibits and Sitka really is a rainy place.

Getting to the Alaska Raptor Center

To get to the Alaska Raptor Center, you have a few options. Most people visiting Sitka won’t have a car, so you can either get here by walking (about 20 minutes from the main marina area), by taxi, or as part of a tour around Sitka. The Sitka tours are great and usually visit the Alaska Raptor Center, the Fortress of the Bear (love it!) and Sitka National Historical Park. It’s a great way to be able to see the main attractions of town if your time is limited or if you are unable to walk everywhere. If you do happen to have a vehicle, there is plenty of parking at the Alaska Raptor Center. Just be mindful of the many pedestrians and the designated bus and tour van parking areas. I like the walk to get here because you get to enjoy the beautiful, lush forest and riverside, but you do what you need to for transportation.

Things to Do in Sitka

I think Sitka is a really cool city. It’s much less visited than Ketchikan or Juneau and has so much to do and see all within walking distance of the primary marina downtown. It’s full of Tlingit culture and Russian imperial history, and there are some wonderful wildlife education and viewing opportunities. I think Sitka is a really good three day visit, but then if you’re also planning some fishing or hiking days you can easily make it a five day town.

Something that really stands out to me about visiting Sitka is how accessible history all in its central hub. You’ve got several museums, Sitka National Historical Part and more all within walking distance of each other. If you’re into science and wildlife, you’ve got several places to visit that are all about Alaska’s habitats and the science of its keystone species. Sitka is so cool.

Where to Stay in Sitka

There are three ways to enjoy Sitka as a visitor: on a day visit from a cruise ship, staying in a cozy spot downtown, or enjoying one of the remote lodges. Everyone has a different plan for how they want to experience Sitka and Southeast Alaska, and everyone’s budget is different, so book what’s right for you. Here are some recommendation for Sitka:

You can also checkout lodging options in the map below: