It is one of the most important cities in Alaska and the salmon capital of the world, but the million tourists who come here every year are not only attracted by the taste of these precious fish. Ketchikan is the first stop for the cruises that go up the coast towards Alaska from the United States and it is above all the starting point for excursions to the suggestive Misty Fjords.
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How to get there
Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, in the extreme south of the Alaskan territories, very close to the border with the Canadian state of British Columbia. Below are the possible ways to reach the city.
- Airplane. The fastest way to get to the city is to land at Ketchikan International Airport, served by Alaska Airways and other companies that connect it with the main towns in the state, but also with Canada and the United States.
- Ship. The main way of reaching the city is undoubtedly by ship. Most tourists come here on a cruise, but there is also the possibility of arriving here independently thanks to the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries.
- Car. The ferries allow you to embark your car so you can bring it with you. You won’t need a car for sightseeing, and it would be an unnecessary extra cost on the ferry ticket. However, if you are on a road trip in Alaska and/or Canada and have found this system convenient, you can get here with your own car.
Weather and temperatures
I have already described the southeast climate in the article on when to go to Alaska, which although it is the mildest region, is also one of the rainiest areas of the state. Ketchikan is no exception: with its almost 157 inches of annual rain (over almost 230 days), it is one of those cities where your chance of having to use an umbrella is rather high. The driest period is summer. June, July and August have about two weeks of rain, while in all other months the probability goes up. The rainiest months are October and November, where there are nearly 25 out of 31 days of rain each year.
In terms of temperatures, Ketchikan does not suffer extreme weather in either summer or winter. In the hottest months, July and August, there is an average of 64-66° F maximum and 50° F minimum. In the coldest months, December and January, temperatures are 37-39° F maximum and 28-32° F minimum. It is therefore a city that can be visited throughout the year without any undue precautions.
Attractions in town
To understand the soul of Ketchikan, it is necessary to start visiting it from the port. Not the docks where the ferries dock, but the Thomas Basin Boat Harbor: the docking for fishing boats, and the hub of city life. The whole city develops along the coast, on that thin line left by the mountains on the shore of the sea.
Not far from the boat moorings, the streets of the center are teeming with artisan workshops where artifacts of the various native tribes are made and sold: Tlingit, Eyak, Haida and Tsimshian. Some local artwork is displayed in the two galleries of the Star Building (located at 5 Creek Street), while others are in the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, which is clearly identifiable on the waterfront (50 Main Street). Here, in addition to the artwork, the reconstruction of a piece of rain forest, with running water and bird sounds, is striking.
The most important natural resource for this town along with fish is wood. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (420 Spruce Mill Way) is a one-of-a-kind spectacle tied to the traditions of lumberjacks. The highlight are the lumberjack competitions: cutting wood with saws and axes, rolling logs and climbing poles.
About the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
The most famous area of the city is the riverfront, where the wooden buildings reach all the way to the water of Ketchikan Creek thanks to their bases built on stilts. Catching a salmon from your doorstep while it is swimming upstream is not something you can do in many other cities around the world.
Creek Street was said to be where both salmon and fishermen came to spawn, because in the first half of the twentieth century it was home to many red light clubs. Today it is a very touristy area full of stores and restaurants.
Along Ketchikan Creek we also find the Tongass Historical Museum (629 Dock Street), which traces the entire history of the city. Not far away, we come to the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center (1158 Salmon Road): a salmon and trout hatchery where in summer you can take part in educational tours about the fish and, next door, the birds of prey at the bird center. Just on the opposite bank is the Totem Heritage Center (601 Deermount Street), where old totem poles abandoned in native villages are salvaged and restored.
Moving away from the center, 2.5 miles south along the South Tongass Highway, is another place dedicated to these ritual monuments: the Saxman Totem Park, one of the largest collections of totem poles in the world. Entrance is free, but you can join a guided tour that also includes a traditional dance show and entrance to a tribal house.
Continuing south for another 5-6 miles along the coastal road you arrive at another point of interest: the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. In about 2 hours you can tour this section of rain forest, which is home to so many animals. It is easy to spot eagles and seals, baribal bears and the ever-present salmon.
There’s also an artisan workshop and a historic sawmill, but the highlight are the 7 zip-lines that allow you to harness yourself in and visit part of the sanctuary from high up in the trees.
Following the coastal road north for 10 miles from the town, we find Totem Bight State Historical Park: here there are only 14 totem poles, flanked by a reproduction of a clan house, but it’s worth it for the beautiful setting in the forest by the sea.
- City and Totem Bight State Park Tours
- Ketchikan Electric Bike and Rain Forest Hike
- Rainforest Zip, Skybridge & Rappel Adventure
Salmon fishing
All of Alaska is famous for salmon, but there’s a reason Ketchikan is called the salmon capital of the world. This area was already a favorite fishing ground for natives, but it was in 1880 that the abundance of salmon gave rise to the idea of establishing a settlement on this island. The town grew thanks to the fishing and processing of the prized fish.
Today, the main income comes from tourism, but salmon fishing remains the second most important source of income for the local economy. You don’t have to be hired by a local company to catch some of the world’s most sought-after salmon: sport fishing is a popular activity that any visitor can take part in. Halibut, trout, snapper and cod flank salmon are prey for anglers in the rivers, along the coasts or off the coast of the city.
The Misty Fiords
One of the main reasons why many tourists stop in Ketchikan are the Misty Fjords. As I mentioned, this area is really very rainy and if we combine a humid climate with the conformation of the territory, characterized by high rocks overlooking the sea, we easily understand why these fjords have been called ‘Misty’.
It’s difficult to visit them when the sun is shining, but fear not: what makes them unique is the stratified fog that makes the bare rock appear almost ghostly. There are plenty of alternatives for visiting the Misty Fjords, not least because we’re talking about an area of almost a million hectares, where the rain forest is still largely in the wild. If you can afford it, one of the most suggestive ways is undoubtedly to get on a small seaplane and fly over this scenic tangle of rivers, mountains and forests, with only the eagles moving beside you.
A decidedly more low-key mode is kayaking. Kayaks can be rented in Ketchikan and it is possible to join guided tours on these single-seater canoes, which allow you to follow the coast and explore even the smallest crevices. Obviously, a kayak only allows you to move around the town, without reaching the beautiful fjords that are located several miles away, but it is an excellent solution for those who want to see sea lions, seals and maybe some whales up close.
The most popular alternative is by boat. Departing from Ketchikan, water tours head for the Behm Canal: a large natural channel 100 miles long and 2-4 miles wide, with eagles nesting on its banks. A number of islands are dotted along the canal, including Rudyerd Island, famous for being home to a fur-bearing fox farm in the 1920s.
One of the most photographed spots is New Eddyston Rock: a 236 feet tapered rock rising out of the water, the remnant of a 6 million-year-old volcanic vent. The various fjords branch off the channel: one of the most famous is that of Rudyerd Bay, with its cliffs from where numerous waterfalls plunge into the sea.
The most famous cliff is that of Punchbowl Cove: a vertical wall of 3000 feet that only the most skilled climbers can climb. In summer, the mouth of Nooya Creek, at the end of the fjord, is the ideal place to see bears, seals and other animals that come to have a taste of salmon.
Places to stay in Ketchikan
Although it is a small town, the tourist vocation of Ketchikan has led to the creation of a large number of hotels and you will not have difficulty in finding a suitable accommodation. I recommend some of the more unusual places.
- Cape Fox Lodge. It is the most elegant hotel in the city and is easily recognizable by its facade decorated with six totems. Native artifacts are also found in the lobby, making it a small museum.
- Inn At Creek Street. It is the ideal solution for those who want to stay in a comfortable environment, but also have a bit of autonomy. Many rooms in fact are equipped with a kitchenette, so you can prepare your own meals, without having to rely on restaurants.
- Landing Hotel . Located right across the street from the ferry docks, this is one of the best hotels in town. Currently operated by the Best Western chain, it is famous for its welcoming staff and comfortable common areas.
