From sea level and a forest of spruce and hemlock, the South Etolin Island Wilderness rises above treeline to a height of over 3,700 feet on Mount Etolin. In the northern portion you'll find steep terrain with rocky peaks and high mountain lakes, and in the southern portion gentle forested land which receives an average of 90 inches of rain per year. The Wilderness includes several smaller islands near the eastern, western and southern shorelines. Twenty-eight streams have been identified as habitat for trout and salmon. Black bear, Sitka black-tailed deer and moose are relatively numerous.
Brown bears are relatively rare.
An unusual introduction of 50 elk in 1987, unusual because these large deer are not indigenous, is apparently doing well, but exact records on the elk herd do not exist. Waterfowl and shorebirds are plentiful in spring and fall, and harbor seals haulout on the beaches. Bald eagles nest along many inlets. The main shoreline and around the smaller islands provide excellent opportunities for sea kayak paddlers, but many submerged rocks make it dangerous for motorized boats. No trails exists.