Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site - Wrangell, Alaska

Annie W.

WARNING: ⚠️

This area requires agility and stability in walking. The petroglyphs near the town are located at a scenic area that requires some preparation for visitors. The site features a rocky terrain with slippery and uneven surfaces, making it essential for visitors to wear appropriate walking shoes rather than sandals. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, it is recommended that visitors stay on the designated boardwalk to avoid falls.

The petroglyphs are not prominently marked, so careful navigation is necessary. No maps are posted to locate them. Upon entering the beach area, visitors should head to the right of the walkway to find the petroglyphs.

Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings created by carving or pecking into rock surfaces. These intricate designs and symbols provide valuable insights into the cultures and practices of early civilizations. Petroglyphs are found in various locations worldwide, each telling a unique story about the people who created them. They often depict scenes of daily life, spiritual beliefs, and environmental interactions, offering a window into the past that enhances our understanding of historical societies.

To fully appreciate the petroglyphs and their historical context, it is advisable to allocate at least 30 to 45 minutes for exploration. This will allow for a thorough viewing of the carvings and the surrounding scenic environment.

jamine maki

Beautiful place to enjoy the ocean! There's an island right out front with sea lions you can hear barking. Lots of cool sea glass for art projects. You can also look at the historical petroglyphs, which are images carved into the rocks. It's just an all around neat place to visit!

Captain Autismo

Spent some time looking for petroglyphs and found quite a few of them. The park is best visited at low tide so you can see more of the cravings. There is room for about 4 vehicles in the parking lot before it gets over crowded.

Marty Canaday

There is no guidance for where they are. Go right off the info deck about 100 feet and watch larger or flat rock faces. They are spread out over several yards and from sand into water at medium tide. Some get covered sometimes by sand and pebbles from waves. VERY cool feeling to see these. I walked 20 min. from ferry to there. I found them and got these pics in 20 min before heading back. Try to take longer and go at low tide.

Michelle Hayes

Interesting area with extremely old petroglyphs. The tour guides from SeaAlaska were amazing. Lots of great photo ops on the beach! Close to docks.

Jen Cupp

Beach walk accessible via a neighborhood street. We went with tour guides that pointed out the petroglyphs as they can be easy to miss on the beach. Gorgeous views overall!

Tomislav Pajtak

Wow, what a cool place to visit while in Wrangell, Alaska. Absolutely amazing beach as it's full of surprises, kind of hidden petroglyphs seen all over the beach (tip: best seen when raining or bring a bottle of water with you in order to pour over the rocks for better view), recommended to hire a local guide in order to gain first hand knowledge of this incredible art work from the local natives, truly a unique experience.

Wade Bricknell

So fun to explore, not a far walk from the cruise ship dock.

The first petroglyph is at the bottom of the walk way steps on the right.
A bulk of them are to the right of the of the walk way (as you're looking at the beach).
The famous killer whale, is amazing and impressive.
It is on the cut/mowed grass in front of the first house on the right. Behind the long sea grass. Photo attached.

So interesting to actually find and see 'letters' or stories from the past of up to 8,000 years ago.

Go explore.