Haines, Alaska is 24 miles from the Canadian Border. The population of 2,200 people includes all of the surrounding areas. There are several ways to get to Haines which is at sea level on the Lynn Canal.
1. Drive from Haines Junction, Yukon on the Haines Highway, total 155 miles.
2. Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, or Fast Ferries, (neither one runs every day).
3. Fly to Haines on a commuter airline (small planes) from Juneau, Alaska.
Right now there is 18 hours of daylight in Haines. In June and July that bumps to 20 hours! Summer temperatures range from mid 50's to low 70's. This last week it has been 55-65 degrees. The locals will tell you that they had 5 days of summer/sunshine last year. They are enjoying this weather, as it is not usual for Haines.
Haines has a rich history. It is the home of Fort William H. Seward which was the first permanent U.S. Army post in Alaska. They have a native population and the area was the original home of the Tlingit Indians. There is a visitors center and several museums in town.
The area around Haines is the home of the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Between October and February approximately 3,500 eagles congregate here.
Haines is the home of the S.E. Alaska State Fairgrounds. (Yes, it is small). On the fairgrounds you can visit Dalton City, the movie set for Wild Fang which was filmed near Haines.
Haines gets very few cruise ships and only the smaller ones. Ships that dock in Skagway provide excursions to Haines where tourists can visit the harbor or museums, take a kayak, raft, or jet boat trip, hike, fish, bike, rock climb, visit a gold mine, tour Fort Seward, take ATV's to the top of the mountain, or just hang out in town.
Haines does not have a traffic light. There is one 4-way stop sign in town. Haines is small and that is just the way they like it!
Fort William H. Seward
Chilkat River - Home of the Bald Eagle Preserve
Dalton City @ SE Alaska State Fairgrounds
Haines Harbor
Downtown Haines - 4-Way stop sign
