Into the Tongass: A 1,800‑Foot ATV Ascent Above Hoonah on the 2026 Polaris Sportsman 450

On Chichagof Island just outside Icy Strait Point near Hoonah, Alaska, the Icy Strait Point ATV Wilderness Adventure • 2026 Polaris Sportsman 450 compresses big-country scenery into a sharp, two-and-a-half-hour outing. Riders launch from a trailhead reached by complimentary shuttle and climb historic logging roads through the Tongass National Forest to nearly 1,800 feet, where panoramic overlooks open onto Port Frederick and the Pacific fjord system below. The trail winds among old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock, moss-draped trunks, and thick understory ferns; fractured metamorphic bedrock and glacial scouring shape the steep ridgelines you skirt.

Element Alaska Rentals LLC runs the tour on state-of-the-art 2026 Polaris Sportsman 450 EPS ATVs—automatic transmission with electronic power steering—so first-time riders and seasoned trail-goers alike can focus on the view instead of shifting gears. Guides share local knowledge about Hoonah’s Tlingit heritage, the island’s logging era, and rainforest ecology while stopping at curated photo pullouts designed to frame mountain-to-ocean vistas.

Wildlife is integral to the experience: keep an eye out for bald eagles wheeling over bays, Sitka black-tailed deer slipping through the understory, and the signs of coastal brown bear activity on lower slopes. The route emphasizes a relaxed pace with safety briefings, DOT helmets, gloves, and rain suits supplied at check-in; drivers must present a valid physical driver’s license and be at least 18 years old.

What makes this trip exceptional for Southeast Alaska is the combination of mechanized access and environmental intimacy—old logging roads give mechanical access to high, exposed viewpoints where you can study temperate rainforest structure and read the land’s glacial past. The launch from Icy Strait Point means easy cruise-ship logistics without long transfers, and the modern fleet minimizes mechanical fuss so the story of the landscape stays center stage.

Practical notes: arrive 30 minutes early for check-in outside the main vehicle entrance at Icy Strait Point, wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and expect uneven, sometimes muddy surfaces. The operator enforces a strict sobriety policy and prohibits off-trail driving; participants with back, neck, or severe medical issues should sit this one out. Cancellation is allowed up to 48 hours before departure with a small administrative fee.

For travelers who want a compact yet capacious taste of Alaskan wilderness—big views, tactile forest, and a little machine-powered edge—this guided Polaris ride offers a memorable way to see Chichagof Island and the lowland fjords that frame Hoonah. Guides keep groups small with one rider per Polaris to maximize comfort and photo time; expect knowledgeable narration about flora, tide-influenced shorelines, and what to watch for when bears are nearby. This is an efficient, sensory ride that packs ecological insight into a short window of Alaskan wilderness. Booking fills quickly in summer. Often.