North Sister Mountain

North Sister Mountain is one of three peaks that make up an iconic ridgeline in Kodiak collectively known as The Three Sisters. North Sister is the stepping stone to the other two sisters, but it makes a great hike in and of itself. The trailhead starts at a popular shooting range/ATV rallying location, so be cautious of broken glass, nails, and spent bullets. You can park just within the gravel pit where this frivolity takes place or in the gravel pull-off across the road.

If you hike through the gravel pit up and to the left you will see the gravel path turn into the trail that leads up the front of North Sister. This trail is narrow and can be overgrown with salmonberry bushes and pushki during the summer months, so long pants are recommended even on hot days. There is no plaque to describe this hike, but the inlcline is steep, and you'll gain 1,800 feet over a little less than a mile, so this would be classified as a difficult hike. Footing can be percarious, especially on the way down, and hiking poles can help you feel more confident. The effort this hike requires is well worth it; you'll have beautiful views of Monashka Bay the entire way to the top, and then when you crest the peak you'll have a view of the Monashka reservoir and surrounding mountains. On a good day, you can see the mountains in Katmai National Park across the Shelikof Strait from this vantage point. North Sister also affords a chance to see some spectacular wildlife including eagles, deer, bears, and goats.