Table of Contents:
THE TOWN.
OUTSIDE OF TOWN
LOCAL NATIVES.
People ask me to sum up a place in a few words. With Ketchikan, I might use First Nation, bears, fjords, rain forest, salmon, or more. I would definitely include should-see.
Alaska towns on their own are not worth traveling hours or days to see. However, just about every one of them is a gateway to see what brought us to Alaska in the first place.
With the incredible landscapes, mother nature at its best, and potential wildlife in its natural setting, Ketchikan has it all.
See Ketchikan, but make sure to save time for everything else nearby.
See Ketchikan Town.
Mission Street Sign.
The “Welcome to Ketchikan” sign is near where Mission Street meets Front Street. The sign is half a block up Mission from the cruise dock.
St John’s Church.
At the time of its construction in the early 1900s, it was on the waterfront. The church is still in the same place. The city has been expanding.
Chief Johnson Totem Pole.
A block from the museum is one of the town’s most famous totems. This 55’ pole marks the entrance to historic Creek Street.
Creek Street.
Now on the National Register of Historic Places, it began as the town’s red-light district circa 1903. Prostitution remains legal until 1954, when the city finally outlaws it.
Today the buildings are tourist shops and a small museum in Dollys House, once a brothel by the same name.
Although the town is more shops than points of interest, set aside some time to stroll its charming old streets.
See Ketchikan’s Nature.
Like most Alaska towns, Ketchikan is a gateway to scenic and wildlife wonders.
Tongass National Forest.
The United State’s largest national forest covers most of Southeast Alaska. As a result, people cruising along the Inside Passage spend much of their cruise in the Tongas.
And why not? This is the reason you are visiting Alaska. The scenery of Wild Alaska and the potential wildlife sightings.
Bear Viewing.
Ketchikan offers access to some of the best bear viewing areas in the Tongas. Black and Brown Bears are out between May and September. Salmon spawning in July-August really brings them out.
In addition, the Tongas is home to Anan Wildlife Observatory, Traitors Cove/Margaret Creek, Prince of Wales Island, and Neets Bay.
Trips depart by floatplane from Ketchikan during the season.
Herring Cove is near Ketchikan, and you can drive there. That’s good and bad news. More civilization means fewer bears. I have seen a (one) bear only two times out of eight visits.
Misty Fjords National Monument.
This dramatic landscape is also part of the Tongass National Forest. Sometime, about 50 to 70 million years ago, glaciers gouged out the granite valleys in this area. They left walls that are near-vertical and may rise 2,000 to 3,000 feet out of the water.
Boats and floatplanes depart from Ketchikan to tour this incredible scenery. Weather permitting, some planes land on mountain lakes where it is so quiet, it almost hurts your ears.
There is often mist, giving the whole area a fantastic feeling. This is a highlight of Southeast Alaska.
There are tour boats that depart Ketchikan for a full day tour to the Mistys, but see it by floatplane.
See Ketchikans’s Local Natives.
With over 80 Native American Totem Poles in Ketchikan, it seems you can’t go a few blocks without seeing one! Totem Poles are just one attraction not to miss!
Saxman Native Village.
This village has the most extensive collection of standing Totem Poles in Ketchikan. The 25 totems here are replicas of original poles, many with too much damage to save them. There is also a Clan House, Native Carving Shed, and gift shop.
Totem Bight State Historical Park.
This is a recreation of a native village. In an attempt to save totems and artifacts left behind, they bring them to the site and make duplicates. Today, there is a Clan House and 14 Totems.
The Totem Heritage Center.
This is a museum of original Native American Totem Poles. The poles come from abandoned villages and are in various levels of deterioration. The collection also has artifacts, masks, and tools for making the poles.
See Ketchikan Summary.
When it comes to natural beauty, Ketchikan is a little spoiled. From the lakes and inlets of the Inside Passage to mountains and glens, it is a cornucopia. And in all of these habitats, look for wildlife and marine life.
You need to see Ketchikan.