Woody Island State Recreation Site sits just a short boat ride across the channel from the city of Kodiak, offering a surprisingly remote-feeling escape within sight of town. This small island in the Kodiak archipelago blends rich human history with dense old-growth Sitka spruce forest — a combination that makes it unlike any other recreation site in Alaska’s state park system.

The island once served as home to an early Russian-era settlement and later a Baptist mission, and traces of that layered past remain visible among the towering spruce. Walking the forested trails, visitors encounter a quiet that feels earned — the kind of stillness that only comes from being surrounded by water on all sides.

Hiking and wildlife watching are the primary draws here. The coastal fringe supports bald eagles, sea otters, and a rotating cast of seabirds, while the forest interior shelters Kodiak’s signature lush undergrowth. Beachcombing along the rocky shoreline rounds out a full day on the island.

There is no ferry service to Woody Island, so visitors need to arrange a water taxi from Kodiak — a brief trip that adds to the adventure. Facilities are minimal, so pack everything you need including water and food.

The best window to visit runs from late May through September, when Kodiak’s weather is most cooperative and daylight stretches well into the evening. Even on a day trip, Woody Island delivers a genuine taste of island solitude that most travelers to Kodiak never discover.

Explore Nearby

• Tongass National Forest — National Forest in Alaska
• Chugach National Forest — National Forest in Alaska
• Seward Highway — Scenic Byway in Alaska
• Haines Highway-Valley of the Eagles — Scenic Byway in Alaska
• Sentinel Island Light — Lighthouse in Alaska