Porcupine

Porcupine is a ghost town in Haines Borough, Alaska, born from a gold rush along Porcupine Creek in 1898. The discovery drew prospectors to the area, and a seasonal community gradually took shape, though the transient nature of its population meant permanent structures were slow to appear over the years.

By 1976, when the Porcupine District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, roughly 25 structures remained on site. The town sits about a mile southwest of Mile 35 of the Haines Highway, across the Klehini River, giving it a remote feel despite its proximity to a paved road.

Visitors today come primarily for the historical character of the site and the surrounding landscape. Access requires crossing the Klehini River, so conditions matter — the area is most reliably approachable in summer and early fall. Winter months bring serious hazards, and the site is best treated as a shoulder- to summer-season destination for those interested in Alaska's mining heritage.