The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States at 17 million acres. Roughly the size of West Virginia, the Tongass is Earth’s largest remaining temperate rainforest. There are 5.7 million acres of old-growth in the forest and this area houses some of the oldest trees in the nation. This ancient forest is a powerful and gorgeous part of Alaska. Whenever you have the opportunity, explore the storybook beauty of the Tongass National Forest. You will be enchanted by Alaska and the ancient forest where people have lived since time immemorial.
Tongass National Forest, Alaska Panhandle
The forest covers most of the Southeast Alaska, known as the Panhandle. This area has a temperate, coastal climate and is kept nourished by constant precipitation, creating an absolutely enchanting ancient rainforest.
The Tongass National Forest is nearly 500 miles long, including most of Alaska's Inside Passage, and as a result it contains over 11,000 miles of coastline for amazing views.
The vast and verdant forest spans many communities from Ketchikan to Yakutat, including Alaska's capital, Juneau. Over 75,000 people live in the communities housed in the forest and depend on the habitat for their livelihoods.
The Tongass creates habitat for a diverse collection of species including all five species of Pacific salmon, grizzly bears, wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer, Northern Goshawks, and Marbled Murrelets.
The forest is primarily made up of western red cedar, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock. Sitka spruce are one of the few types of trees documented to reach heights of over 200 feet, and are the world's third tallest species.
The old growth forest is only 4% of what it once was, but the remainder of this ancient forest is still accessible for visitors to marvel at the old-growth giants.
Some of the oldest Sitka Spruce are found to be 800 years old, over 12 feet in diameter, and 200 feet tall! These towering giants are a treasure of this ancient forest.
