Things to Do in Ketchikan

Just 22 miles (35 kilometers) outside of Ketchikan lies the vast and remote Misty Fjords National Monument—a collection of sea cliffs, deep-cut fjords, glacial valleys, thick rainforests, and roaring waterfalls. Accessible only by boat or floatplane, Misty Fjords is an outdoor playground for hikers, kayakers, and day cruisers.

As the second largest wilderness in the National Forest System, Misty Fjords National Monument is an ideal day trip from the nearby city of Ketchikan. Its remote location leaves visitors with two options for experiencing the national monument: boat, or plane. Flightseeing tours by seaplane are a popular option, especially for those pressed for time, and there’s nothing like seeing the wilderness from above to get a sense of its sheer size. Visitors can cruise over the waters of Behm Canal, Walker Cove, Punchbowl Cove, and Rudyerd Bay— ideal locations for spotting bears, bald eagles, Sitka deer, mountain goats, killer whales, and Dall porpoises. For the full Alaskan experience, combine a flight tour with a feast of sweet Dungeness crab.

Many of points of interest within the national monument can be accessed via Behm Canal, the main waterway through the heart of the wilderness area. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship or fly over the monument in seaplanes from Ketchikan or Juneau, Alaska. 

Most guided tours to Misty Fjords National Monument operate only during the summer months (May through September).

Misty Fjords is one of the most popular shore excursions for cruise ship passengers who arrive at Ketchikan. These tours often include a seaplane flyover and landing at one of the park’s lakes or fjords, and give travelers peace of mind with a guaranteed on-time return to their cruise ship.

Those who truly want to experience the best of the Tongass National Forest can kayak on Amalga Harbor to see the famous Mendenhall, Eagle and Herbert glaciers while also keeping an eye out for whales, birds, seals, porpoises and sea lions. There are also opportunities for hiking and lake canoeing in the forest, which can be done in a Native American-style canoe. Before visiting the Tongass National Forest, you may want to visit the Tongass Historical Museum in Ketchikan to learn about the area’s geography and Native Alaskan heritage.

Featuring bays, beaches, peninsulas, fjords, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, rivers, coastal towns and over 1,000 islands, the passage is a photographer’s heaven, as well as a supremely scenic playground for adventure travelers, culture cravers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are a variety of experiences to be had along the way: visiting Native Alaskan heritage attractions; exploring Gold Rush history; glacier trekking; dog-sledding; spotting wildlife such as bald eagles, whales and bears; rainforest cycling and more. Kayaking through Glacier Bay National Park, home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of glaciers, is an extremely popular activity in the passage, which also resides in the center of the United States’ largest forest – the 17-million-acreTongass National Forest. You’ll be privy to the offerings of this natural attraction as well.

The city of Ketchikan is located along the Inside Passage on its southern tip, which means it often serves as the first stop for people visiting Alaska. Here it’s possible to visit the famous Misty Fjords National Monument, take part in traditional arts and crafts courses at the Saxman Native Village, view historic totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, go salmon fishing and much more.

If you’re sailing north by cruise ship from Seattle or Vancouver, Ketchikan cruise port will likely be your first port of call. The former salmon fishery and the Salmon Capital of the World offers visitors a real taste of Alaska’s frontier personality and cultural heritage and a chance to explore the surrounding temperate rain forest.

Travelers docking in Ketchikan can choose to explore the former fishery and gold mining town on their own or head further afield on a half-day shore excursion to explore the natural surroundings. See the world’s largest collection of totem poles at Saxman Native Village, explore the Inside Passage on a Zodiac cruise, board a fishing boat from Deadliest Catch for a fishing excursion, walk through the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, or take off on a floatplane tour above Misty Fjords National Monument. Many tours offer the chance to spot wildlife, like eagles, bears, and marine mammals.

Cruise ships dock at one of four berths located right near the city center. On the occasional days when the berths are full, ships might be required to anchor offshore and tender passengers into town. 

While the US dollar is the official currency, some shops also accept Canadian dollars. ATMs are located throughout town near the cruise ship dock. 

Welcome to what is most likely heaven on Earth for Nordic fauna fanatics! The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a 40-acre rainforest consisting of immense spruce, hemlock and cedar trees with a forest floor covered with several different kinds of moss, wild flowers and berries. A living postcard of the Alaskan wildlife, the sanctuary is located just a few miles outside the picturesque and tranquil fishing community of Herring Cove.

The sanctuary is not just about breathtaking sights but also memorable and varied experiences led by naturalists, that truly reflect what life is like in this harsh but fascinating and pristine climate. Here, visitors can interact with a herd of Alaskan Reindeer, marvel at Eagle Creek (Alaska’s richest salmon spawning stream), step back in time while visiting a historic Alaska sawmill, learn more about the local fauna at the Alaska Wildlife Foundation Center and even watch a Native master totem-pole carver at work. The Sanctuary is also home to a variety of species that are not quite as friendly as reindeers – such as Sitka black tail deer, mink and marten, bald eagles, black bears, seals and many types of birds – making the excitement all that more palpable. Not to mention the photo opportunities!

The restoration project not only helped to preserve important elements of Native heritage, but provided older Native Alaskans with jobs and allowed younger generations to learn about this art form. Look closely at the totem poles and you’ll notice many depictions of Alaskan wildlife, as each animal has its own meaning. An eagle, for example, stands for peace and friendship, while a killer whale stands for strength. There is also an onsite replica Native village, crafted as authentically as possible. Inside the community house, where several Native families from one lineage would have lived together in one large room, visitors can get warm near a roaring fire.