Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a scenic town of approximately 14,000 people on the Tongass Narrows, at the foot of Deer Mountain on Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska. It is the southernmost and fourth largest city in Alaska, and serves as the southern gateway to the famed Inside Passage. Over 800,000 visitors arrive each year by cruise ship, though most spend only a few hours ashore, limiting their choices to a handful of activities near the docks. Visitors who arrive by air, the Alaska Marine Highway, or by private vessel can explore a far wider range of experiences.

Ketchikan sits within the vast coastal rainforest of Southeast Alaska and is one of the rainiest cities in North America, averaging over 160 inches (4,100 mm) of annual precipitation. Summer visitors should expect light, sporadic rain with daytime temperatures in the high sixties (F). Winter brings heavy, cold, wind-driven rain with temperatures in the high thirties. Come prepared with waterproof gear, especially for activities on the water or in the forest. The town is stretched along the waterfront for miles north and south of downtown, with the compact historic core a short walk from the cruise berths. Historic Creek Street, once a raucous red-light district and now home to charming shops and galleries on stilts above Ketchikan Creek, is the most photogenic downtown stretch.

Ketchikan is situated at the meeting place of three Alaska Native cultures — Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian — and evidence of their rich artistic traditions is visible throughout the town, most prominently in the totem poles scattered through the historic district and in dedicated totem parks. Summer visitors can watch salmon gathering in the creek below Creek Street's bridges, and harbor seals occasionally patrol the creek mouth.

By Plane

Ketchikan International Airport (IATA: KTN) is located on nearby Gravina Island. Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines operate several daily flights from Anchorage, Seattle, and Juneau. From the airport, visitors must take the Ketchikan Airporter shuttle service ($6/adult, $3/child as of 2021, cash or credit) to a terminal about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of downtown, or arrange a taxi or hotel shuttle in advance. A courtesy phone in the terminal connects only to select hotels and cab services. Local bus service connects the ferry terminal side.

By Train

By Car / Road

Ketchikan's historic downtown is small and easily walkable from the cruise ship docks. To anticipate crowds, check the cruise ship schedule to see how many ships are in port. Beyond downtown, the town stretches along Tongass Highway for miles to the north and south.

Taxis — Sourdough Cab (+1 907 225 5544) and Yellow Taxi (+1 907 225 5555) serve the entire length of Tongass Highway including all of Ketchikan. Hailing a cab on the street is possible but calling ahead is more reliable.

Bus — Ketchikan's bus service operates three lines: Green, Silver, and Gold. The Silver Line North serves Totem Bight State Park (approximately 10 mi / 16 km north); the Silver Line South runs to Fawn Mountain School (approximately 4.5 mi / 7.2 km south). Green and Silver lines run 60 minutes apart; Gold lines run 15 minutes apart. Fares: $2 adult, $1 ages 12–17, free for children 11 and under with a paid adult. Day passes: $5 adult, $2.50 for ages 17 and under. The Gold Line (May–September, downtown area) is free. Schedule information is available on Google Maps.

• Tongass Historical Museum (629 Dock St, +1 907 225-5600) — May–Sep daily 8AM–5PM; Oct–Apr W–F 1–5PM, Sa 10AM–4PM, Su 1–4PM. $2 (May–Sep), free for residents. Historical exhibits on local and regional history.

• Southeast Alaska Discovery Center (50 Main St, +1 907 228-6220) — Rainforest interpretive exhibits operated by the U.S. Forest Service.

• Totem Heritage Center (601 Deermount St, +1 907 225-5900) — May–Sep daily 8AM–5PM; Oct–Apr M–F 1–5PM. $5 (May–Sep). Collection of unrestored 19th-century totem poles from surrounding villages.

• Saxman Totem Park (approximately 2.5 mi / 4.0 km south of downtown) — Extensive collection of carved totem poles and a traditional clan house.

• Totem Bight State Historical Park (9883 N Tongass Hwy, approximately 10 mi / 16 km north of downtown) — $5/person. Restored totem poles and a recreated clan house in a beautiful waterfront setting.

• Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (location varies, +1 907-225-9050) — Exhibition of lumberjack skills. Adults $34 + tax, children 3–12 $17.50 + tax, children 2 and under free.

• Alaska Canopy Adventures (116 Wood Rd at Herring Cove, +1 907 225-5503) — Fly through the trees on the original Alaska Zipline Course. Locally owned and operated. Call for courtesy van.

• Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary — A 40-acre (16-hectare) temperate rainforest sanctuary with hiking trails through hemlock, cedar, and spruce trees, plus salmon spawning streams. Part of the larger Tongass National Forest.

• Tribal Fish Hatchery (approximately 0.75 mi / 1.21 km from the cruise ship docks) — Watch salmon-raising operations and learn about local tribal fisheries.

• Kayaking and boating — Set on a heavily forested, mostly wilderness island, Ketchikan rewards visitors with time for exploring steep rainy forests, deep-water channels, secluded bays, and hundreds of small islands. Fish are bountiful, whales and porpoises are common in the waterways, and bears and eagles are frequently seen on shore.

• Southeast Exposure Outdoor Adventure Center — Outdoor recreation outfitter offering guided activities in the surrounding area.

Ketchikan is a working fishing town and fresh seafood is the star — particularly king crab, halibut, and salmon. Many restaurants cluster in the downtown area near the cruise berths, with options ranging from casual counters to sit-down establishments. Expect tourist-oriented pricing near the docks; stepping a few blocks inland can improve value.

Ketchikan offers a range of accommodation from downtown hotels convenient to the cruise docks to bed-and-breakfasts and lodges outside the center. Summer rates are high and advance booking is strongly recommended, especially during cruise season. Winter visitors find lower rates and more availability.

Many kinds of shops exist in the downtown area, including museums, galleries, souvenir and jewelry stores, and restaurants. Several galleries specialize in native-design art — consider a strikingly executed carving, basket, or print. Ketchikan's art scene also extends to photography, sculpture, and other media inspired by the area's scenery and wildlife.

• Crazy Wolf Studio (633 Mission St) — Fine collection of hand-carved masks and other art by Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian carvers.
• Arctic Spirit Gallery (318 Mission St) — Artifacts from throughout Alaska, less focused on Southeast.
• Alaska Eagle Arts (5 Creek St #3) — Native design prints and sculptures by Marvin Oliver featuring bold colors and unusual materials.
• Parnassus Books (105 Stedman St, upstairs in the historic Star Building at the upper end of Creek St) — Locally owned, well stocked with works of Alaska authors and books on the history, flora, and fauna of Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska.

• Misty Fiords National Monument (accessible by floatplane or boat, approximately 20 miles east of Ketchikan) — Dramatic glacier-carved fjords, waterfalls, and wildlife in one of Alaska's most spectacular wilderness areas.
• Meyers Chuck (accessible by floatplane or the Inter-Island Ferry) — Tiny, remote community in the Inside Passage with hiking and kayaking.
• Prince of Wales Island (via Inter-Island Ferry Authority from Ketchikan) — Large island with world-class fishing, hunting, and small-community Alaskan culture.
• Juneau (approximately 340 miles north by ferry or flight) — State capital with Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, and the Mount Roberts Tramway.
• Metlakatla (via Inter-Island Ferry Authority) — Only federal Indian reservation in Alaska, with a Tsimshian community and cultural sites.