Kake, AK

Located on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island, Kake is a small coastal village surrounded by the calm waters of Keku Strait and Frederick Sound. Indigenous Tlingit culture is the heartbeat of the town, shaping everyday life, local values, and community traditions. One of the most striking sights in town is a 132-foot totem pole standing on a bluff above the water, carved in the late 1960s and still watching over the harbor below.

ATTRJoseph from Cabin On The Road, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0

Living in Kake means embracing a quiet island pace where neighbors genuinely know and help one another. Daily life centers around the harbor, subsistence fishing, and local gatherings, from school basketball games to the annual Kake Day celebration every January. The local school weaves traditional culture and heritage directly into the classroom, giving kids a strong foundation. Since there are no roads connecting the island to the mainland, residents travel by boat, ferry, or small bush plane, creating a tight-knit community surrounded by pristine wilderness.