A local guide to Ketchikan Alaska
The Basics:
Ketchikan, Alaska is described as Alaska’s first city because it is the southern most town in Alaska. It is part of southeastern Alaska and is located on Revilla G… island. The island is home to about 12,000 people year round. Much of the island is part of the Tongass National Forest. The 165 inches of precipation a year it gets make it a very lush green color.
No matter what time of year you visit, my favorite time is late spring and early summer (May & June), which often have some of the most sunny days and the most hours of daylight. Visit around the summer solstice and you can really experience the land of the middnight sun.
How to get there:
Ketchikan gets multiple direct flights a day from Seattle as well as flights coming from the north. Alaska Airlines offers the most regular coverage, but at certain times of the year Delta Airlines also flies into Ketchikan from Seattle. However, the most common way to visit Ketchikan is probably by cruise ship. It is a regular stop on the Alaska Cruise by most of the major cruise lines. While this is a great way to get a little taste of many places in Southeast Alaska, keep in mind there will likely be many ships in port in Ketchikan all at the same time so it can get quite crowded. If you want a less rushed and crowded experience, plan on spending a few nights.
Where to stay:
There are a variety of hotel and vacation rental options in Ketchikan. A few of my favorites are the Cape Fox Lodge, The Gilmore Hotel, and the New York Hotel because they are located downtown with walking access to many sights, shops, and restaurants. There are also many fishing lodges located nearby. The Salmon Falls Resort is just a drive out the road from Ketchikan, making it one of the easier ones to access. It is located next to an incredible waterfall and right on the water. You walk out your door to go fishing.
If you are looking for a very adventurous experience bring your car up from Bellingham on the ferry or rent one in town and spend time at one of the islands multiple campgrounds. There are none located right in town so you will need a car to access them, but there are many options for staying in nature. There is also a drive up cabin rental at the settlers cove camp ground and many other forest service cabins located nearby that can be accessed by boat or plane.
Where to eat & drink:
During cruise ship season there are also tons of restaurants open around town. My two go to favorites for their locally sourced seafood and just incredible flavors are the Fish House and the New York Cafe. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menus. If you get tired of seafood, the burgers at… downtown are also delicious.
If you are looking for something to drink there is a local brewery Bawden Street Brewing and distillery downtown. If you are looking for a more classic old school Alaska bar, there are lots of options in Ketchikan, but the two that have maintained their old school feel the best are the Potlach and Sourdough Bars. If looking for a bar with a great view, head out south of town to Hole in the Wall.
10 of the very best things to do in Ketchikan from a local
Catch a fish
Ketchikan calls itself the salmon capital of the world, so what could be better than catching a salmon there? You can book a fishing charter with a guide that will take you out on the water to catch salmon, halibut and rockfish. There are also boat rentals, so you can do a self guided fishing adventure, but if you want to guarantee getting a fish I highly recommend using a guide. They also know the best spots and the best geara. If you don’t want to spend all day out on a boat, don’t worry there are still many opportunities to catch a fish. Grab a fishing pole and you can cast for salmon right off the bridge or end of the breakwater in town. The hatchery at the south end of town in Herring Cove, also provides great opportunities for casting off the beach for salmon.
2. Visit the Misty Fjords
This place is a national monument for a reason, no matter how many times I have been the beauty still amazes me. You can reach the Misty Fjords National Monument by boat or float plane tour. It is home to absolutely spectacular fjords that rival the oh so famous fjords of Norway. Many float plane tours will actually land on small lakes up in the fjords, so you can get out and really enjoy the scenery for a few minutes. The boat tours take guests into an area called the punch bowl, for its incredible rounded rock walls. The boat tour is all day experience, but there is great scenery along the whole trip, lots of chances for wildlife viewing, and you will get to pass by Eddystone rock.
3. Stroll Creek Street
Creek street is the city’s old red light district. The old wooden boardwalk over water and older buildings truly feel like you are stepping back in time. Visit Dolly’s house for a look into what Creek Street felt like in the 1920’s. There are also great local shops to pick up art, canned fish, and other fun trinkets to bring home. I recommend the Soho Coho and Chinook and Company for authentic local items.
4. Hike Deer Mountain
It is an all day afair to make it to the top of Deer Mountain that towers above downtown Ketchikan even if you are in shape, but at 3,500 ft you will have some incredible views. Much of the lower part of the hike is in the trees, but there are several breaks in the trees called the “first and second lookout” where you are rewarded by beautiful views of town, the nearby islands, and the ridge behind you. If you can’t make it all the way to the top the first or second lookouts are still worth the climb. Catch a ride to the trail head to save yourself time and part of the climb. Alltrails and Gaia apps both have the trail on their maps, making it easy to follow.
5. See Totem Poles & Clan Houses
A couple miles south of downtown Ketchikan lies Saxman Village, a Tlingit village with a beautiful clan house, totem pole park, and carving shed. Further north of town is Totem Bight Park, which also features a clan house and series of poles right along the waterfront. Both are beautiful and worth the trip if you have the time. If you can’t make it to either, you can still find many totem poles right downtown at Whale Park or at the Cape Fox Lodge. A short walk from downtown is the Totem Heritage Center, which has raised totem poles outside and native art collection including many older poles on display inside.
6. Watch commercial fishing boats come and go from the harbor
Commercial fishing remains one of Alaska’s biggest industries and a huge part of the lifestyle in much of the state. Ketchikan is no different. Walk out to the end of the breakwater at Thomas Basin and you can frequently see seiners, gillnetters and trollers come in and out of the harbor. From the breakwater looking south you can also see a couple of Ketchikan’s canneries, where from a distance you can watch their busy docks and see large tender vessles unloading fish. You can stroll the floats in the harbors as well to get an up close look at some of the different types of fishing boats.
7. Have a beer at an old Dive Bar
Ketchikan used to be considered one of the wildest places in Alaska, although many of the bars from that time have shut down (and probably for good reason), but a few of the old classics are around. Grab a beer at the Potlach Bar by Thomas Basin or the Sourdough Bar located right on the downtown docks. They truly feel like a step back in time. The walls of the Sourdough are covered in various shipwreck photos.
8. Eat locally caught seafood
Alaska has the best tasting and freshest seafood in the world. My favorite spots to grab some of delicious fish are the Alaskan Fish House and the New York cafe. Both use locally sourced seafood and have overall great food and environments. They are not just popular with tourists, but hang outs for locals as well. The halibut sandwhich at the fish house has been one of my absolute favorites since the restaurants first opened many years ago.
9. Watch salmon swim upstream
When a salmon reaches the end of its life cycle it returns to the stream it was born in to spawn and then die to return nutrients to the stream for the next generation of fish. In late summer when this happens many streams around the island become just loaded with pink salmon and you can watch whole schools of them push against the current to get as far up river as they can. There is a fish ladder at one of the streams right in town you can easily see this in August and September. Earlier in the summer it is still possible to see some fish headed up stream, but this phenomenon is most pronounced when the pink salmon return which is later in the summer because they are generally the most plentiful of the salmon species.
10. Take a walk through the lush rain forest
Ketchikan is the rainiest place in the United States and gets over 165 inches of precipation a year, making it legitimately a rainforest. The old growth forests on the island are incredibly green from all the rain. There are many great short walks and longer hikes around the island where you are able to spend time in the trees. Check out my best walks and hikes guide for more details.
Other honorable mentions
Visit the local museum, drink a locally brewed beer, cider, or gin, go bear viewing, watch for eagles, tour a salmon hatchery, watch the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and much much more.
