Every summer, the town of Hoonah, Alaska, steps into the spotlight with the Native Forest Festival, a celebration that draws outdoor enthusiasts eager to explore the ancient Tongass National Forest’s raw, unyielding beauty. This event is more than a festival—it's an invitation to engage with a wild place that demands both respect and preparation. Towering Sitka spruce and western hemlocks form dense canopies, their boughs brushing the moist air as moss drapes over limbs like a slow-moving invitation to press deeper. Each trail winds through soils thick with decades of fallen leaves and whispered history, challenging hikers to match pace with a forest fiercely itself.

The festival is anchored by guided hikes, workshops, and cultural exchanges, offering practical trail routes from easy loops to more strenuous climbs. One popular hike covers around 5 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of nearly 1,000 feet, providing a solid workout through mixed terrain: from soft, root-laced trails to wet boardwalk sections guarding fragile wetlands. The forest doesn’t just surround you; it interacts, with streams daring hikers to cross and winds pushing forward through the branches like impatient guides.

To tackle these trails successfully, timing and preparation are key. Morning departures catch the forest at its most serene, when dew hangs heavy and the scent of cedar rises sharply. Hiking shoes with solid tread, layered rain gear, and plenty of water are essentials—not just suggestions. The weather can shift without warning, and while the trail maintains clear markings, the lush greenery easily swallows careless wanderers who stray.

At festival workshops, learn about the forest’s deep cultural roots and sustainable practices that keep this wilderness thriving amid visitor influx. Experienced guides reveal hidden viewpoints, where beyond the green walls, the snow-capped Chilkat Mountains frame stunning panoramas that make the climb worthwhile. Wildlife sightings—bald eagles scanning the canopy, black bears ambushing huckleberries, and the occasional salmon in roaring streams—add life and urgency to every step trekking through this fiercely vibrant ecosystem.

For casual hikers, the gentle paths near town offer a quick introduction to Hoonah’s natural offerings. Seasoned adventurers can push the limits with longer treks or kayak trips originating from the same festival programs, turning the forest experience into a multidimensional adventure. The Native Forest Festival blends the pulse of community with the pulse of the wild, giving visitors both the thrill and the tools to understand a forest that doesn't just stand still—it moves, breathes, and challenges.

This festival is a call to get outdoors, to respect nature’s agency, and to walk with intention through Alaska’s old-growth guardians. Whether you come for the culture, the hiking, or the quiet power of the forest’s presence, Hoonah Native Forest Festival rewards those ready to listen, learn, and move with it.