Woody Island State Recreation Site
🏆🏆🏆 Kodiak Island Marine — Island recreation site in Chiniak Bay with views of the Kodiak coastline
Woody Island State Recreation Site occupies a small island in Chiniak Bay near the city of Kodiak. The island was historically a significant site for Alaska’s early Russian colonial period — the Russian-American Company operated from Kodiak, and Woody Island hosted some of the earliest European structures in Alaska. Today the island provides beach camping, hiking through spruce forest, and spectacular views across Chiniak Bay to the rugged Kodiak Island coastline.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Chiniak Bay, Kodiak, AK |
| Access | Boat from Kodiak (short crossing) |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| History | Russian colonial era site |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there Kodiak bears on the island?
Bears can swim to islands but are uncommon on Woody Island due to its small size and proximity to Kodiak. Still, practice bear-aware camping — Kodiak brown bears are the world’s largest land predators.
About Woody Island
Woody Island State Recreation Site near Kodiak provides access to a forested island in Chiniak Bay — once the site of a Russian-era settlement and later a WWII-era Naval facility. The island offers camping and hiking with views of the Kodiak archipelago. Kodiak was the capital of Russian America before it moved to Sitka.
Things to Do
Camping on the historic island, hiking through the forest, visiting Russian-era and WWII ruins, fishing, kayaking around the island, and wildlife viewing for Kodiak brown bears on nearby shores. Access by boat from Kodiak.
Insider Tips
Kodiak history: Woody Island across from Kodiak harbor was the site of the first Russian-American school and one of the earliest European settlements in Alaska (1790s). Pro tip: The island is accessible by water taxi from Kodiak — a quick 10-minute ride. Baptists & monks: The island’s Russian Orthodox chapel and cemetery tell the story of Russian Alaska.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Best weather for the water taxi crossing. August: Salmon runs in Kodiak-area streams. Fall: Berries and mushrooms in the spruce forest. Winter: Limited access but atmospheric.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Russian heritage of Kodiak?
Kodiak was the capital of Russian America from 1792 to 1808. The Russian-American Company ran fur trading operations across Alaska, the Aleutians, and down the Pacific Coast to Fort Ross, California. The Holy Resurrection Cathedral (1794) is the oldest Russian Orthodox parish in North America.
🏝️ Visit Woody Island SRS
Kodiak’s island retreat — Russian history and bay camping near Alaska’s bear capital.
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