Welcome to Hyder, Alaska – the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska!

It’s about a twenty hour drive between Seattle, Washington and Hyder, Alaska. So… why do people do it? I’m pretty sure most people who make the journey are doing so to say that they did. Hyder is a beautiful town and, if you want to go to Alaska, it’s the easiest to get to. It’s accessible by road and, while long, an easy drive through British Columbia to get to.

But, what do you do once you get to Hyder? Here are some ways to spend your time, before turning your car around and heading back.

What to do in Hyder, Alaska:

1. Take Your Photo Under the Welcome Sign!

Why drive 20 hours to Hyder, Alaska and 20 hours back to Seattle? The best answer I can give: to say that you did! And you cannot go all the way to Hyder and NOT take photos!!! (I mean, you have to prove you were there!) Hanging above the border is a “Welcome to Hyder, Alaska!” sign which makes the perfect road trip photo op!

Road trippers in front of the Welcome to Hyder, Alaska sign.
Entering Alaska sign at the border between Canada and Hyder, Alaska.
Welcome to Hyder, Alaska sign.
Val in front of the Welcome to Hyder, Alaska sign.

2. Check out the Other Landmarks

While you have to visit customs while leaving Hyder, you can just roll right in to town! Near the entrance is a pole to the side announceing the “Hyder Townsite Limits,” that you are “Entering Alaska,” and that the speed limit is now 20 miles per hour…a sharp contrast to the kilometers we’d been driving all through British Columbia! You can also check out a land marker that shows you which side is Canada and which is Alaska, historic Storehouse No. 4 (Eagle Point Storehouse), and some local businesses, like Captain Terry’s Exotic Junk. All within about 10 feet of the border!

Saving a National Treasure - Storehouse No. 4 - Eagle Point Storehouse - in Hyder, Alaska.
Storehouse No. 4 - Eagle Point Storehouse - in Hyder, Alaska.
Land marker between Canada and the United States in Hyder, Alaska.
Land marker between Canada and the United States in Hyder, Alaska.
Captain Terry's Exotic Junk in Hyder, Alaska

3. Get Hyderized

Getting Hyderized at Glacier Inn is a tradition for travelers to Hyder. You go to the bar, take a very strong shot, and get a certificate to prove you did it. Learn more about getting Hyderized here.

Have you been Hyderized at the Glacier Inn in Hyder, Alaska?

4. Go to the Post Office (and Check Out the Carved Wooden Bear)

As any town should, Hyder, Alaska has a post office. Mail is picked up at 8am daily, and dispatched Monday and Thursday only… by floatplane! It’s a fun place to check out and a great place to mail some postcards from. Be sure to check out all the listings on the message boards, there are always some interesting ones.

Outside of the post office, check out the carved wooden statue of a bear. Another great photo op! And the only bear in Hyder you should get close to!

Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Hyder, Alaska Post Office collection times.
Mail is dispatched by floatplane sign at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Bear at a picnic table sign at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Welcome to Hyder map at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Message Board signs at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Mailing postcards at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Wooden carved bear and cub at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Wooden carved bear and cub at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.
Val kisses the wooden carved bear and cub at the Hyder, Alaska Post Office.

5. Look for real bears at Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site

Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site is about three miles north of Hyder on the Salmon River Road. There you can stand on the wooden observation deck and look for bears and other wildlife. Read more about Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site here.

Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site at the Tongass National Forest in Hyder, Alaska.

6. Head to the Pier

After driving into Alaska, you can turn right to go to the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site, but you can also turn left to walk the small pier and check out some glorious views of the mountains!

Views from the pier in Hyder, Alaska.
Bridge on the pier in Hyder, Alaska.
Views from the pier in Hyder, Alaska.
Boats near the pier in Hyder, Alaska.
Bridge on the pier in Hyder, Alaska.
Canoes near the pier in Hyder, Alaska.

7. Admire the Beauty of the Town

Because Alaska is a beautiful state…no matter if you’re north or south, east or west… And Hyder is both the southernmost and easternmost part of Alaska!

Hanging bottle wind chimes on the porch of a fudge shop in Hyder, Alaska.
Views of Hyder, Alaska.
Views of Hyder, Alaska.
Views of Hyder, Alaska.
American flags in Hyder, Alaska.
Views of Hyder, Alaska.

8. Say Goodbye to the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska!

On the back of Hyder’s welcome sign, as you are heading out, there is another sign proclaiming that you are “Leaving Hyder — the friendliest ghost town in Alaska!” Be sure to say goodbye when you’re ready to leave and make your long journey back home!

Leaving Hyder, the friendliest ghost town in Alaska! A sign in Hyder, Alaska.
Leaving Hyder, the friendliest ghost town in Alaska! A sign in Hyder, Alaska.

Want to see more? Here’s a video montage of my road trip to Hyder, Alaska!

>>Watch this video on YouTube.

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What to do in Hyder, Alaska. From photo ops to stopping at the bar to bear watching make the most of your time in the friendliest ghost town in Alaska! This Alaska road trip is a must do travel bucket list idea. Take a summer road trip through British Columbia to get there and check out all these things to do in Hyder, Alaska!
#AlaskaRoadTrip #AlaskaRoadTripMap #RoadTripMap #AlaskaRoadTripItinerary #AlaskaItinerary #RoadTrip #AlaskaRoadsideAttraction #AlaskaRoadTripStops
What to do in Hyder, Alaska - the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska!
What to do in Hyder, Alaska. From photo ops to stopping at the bar to bear watching make the most of your time in the friendliest ghost town in Alaska! This Alaska road trip is a must do travel bucket list idea. Take a summer road trip through British Columbia to get there and check out all these things to do in Hyder, Alaska!
Wooden Carved Bear and Cub in Hyder, Alaska - the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska!
Wooden Carved Bear and Cub in Hyder, Alaska – the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska!

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: December 26, 2019
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.