30 miles northwest of Juneau at the northern entrance to Favorite Channel
Strong currents, coupled with fog, rain, and a rocky shoreline, can make the Inside Passage a navigator’s nightmare—in 1898, the third year of the Klondike Gold Rush, some 300 ships wrecked here. A wooden lighthouse began operating on Sentinel Island in 1902. A concrete Art Deco box, with snazzy pilasters rising above the roofline, replaced the original tower in 1935. The island is accessible by boat or helicopter. With advance arrangements, visitors can overnight here and use the rustic lighthouse as a home base from which to watch bald eagles, humpback whales, and Steller sea lions. Starting at $75; 907-586-5338.