Snettisham

Snettisham is a ghost town on the mainland coast of Stephens Passage in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, sitting roughly 31 miles southeast of Juneau itself. The bay it occupies was named by British explorer George Vancouver in 1794, who borrowed the name from a village in Norfolk, England.

The settlement came to life around 1895 as a gold- and silver-mining camp, its fortunes tied closely to activity in the broader Juneau mining district. Like many camps of that era, it did not survive long as a populated place and is today considered a ghost town.

Reaching Snettisham requires real planning — its remote coastal position along Stephens Passage means there is no road access, and visitors typically arrive by boat or small aircraft. Those who do make the trip find a rugged Alaska coastal setting rather than a developed destination, and should come fully self-sufficient. Summer months offer the most practical window for a visit.