Planning to visit Alaska’s first city? Consider adding these things to do in Ketchikan to your itinerary. Read more to reveal the adventure!
Ketchikan, located at the southern tip of Alaska, is a true frontier town nestled between forested mountains and the Tongass Narrows, part of the Inside Passage. Surrounding the town is the vast Tongass National Forest, covering about 17 million acres with cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce trees, offering a pristine wilderness.
Ketchikan offers plenty of activities for visitors. Whether you're seeking wildlife, where you might spot bears, sea otters, whales, sea lions, and numerous bird species, or you're drawn to fishing, Ketchikan is renowned as the Salmon Capital of the World, with a long history of commercial salmon fishing. The town is also rich in culture, home to the world's biggest collection of totem poles, including some of the oldest, preserved at the Totem Heritage Center.
Ready to discover more? Here are the top things to do in Ketchikan.
For those who love hiking, the Deer Mountain Trail is a great option. It is a five-mile round trip to the top of Deer Mountain, which stands behind the town. The trail is well-maintained but steep, with a series of switchbacks. You'll cross rushing streams on wooden bridges and enjoy amazing views of the town, Tongass Narrows, and nearby mountains.
If you prefer an easier hike, the Rainbird Trail is a good choice. The trail starts just 20 minutes from downtown, and you can complete it in a couple of hours. You'll be rewarded with amazing views and a feeling of being in untouched nature.
You really haven't seen Ketchikan until you've walked along Creek Street. This historic boardwalk, built on tall, thin supports above the waters of Ketchikan Creek, was once the center of the salmon canning industry in the 1920s and the town's notorious red-light district.
Creek Street is lively in a new way, with its bright wooden buildings now home to unique local shops and art galleries. Make sure to visit Dolly's House Museum to learn about the area's early days and the stories from before the red-light district closed in 1953. As you wander the boardwalk, don't forget to look into the creek below, where you might see otters and sometimes even seals.
Ketchikan is one of the best places to go zip lining. Here, you can fly through the rainforest, gliding over the tops of trees and the gorgeous Eagle Creek Falls from 135 feet up. The adventure includes eight zip lines varying from 100 to 800 feet long and three suspension bridges for an exciting experience. You might even see eagles up in the trees and bears on the forest floor. The tour ends with a thrilling rappel back to the ground.
Also read: What is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska?
Take an easy-going trolley tour around Ketchikan to see its main attractions. You'll stop at the Saxman Native Totem Village, where you can take pictures of the impressive totem poles and shop for Alaskan keepsakes. The tour also takes you past the famous Married Man's Trail, a path where local men once sneaked away from police raids on illegal brothels. The tour finishes at beautiful Creek Street, where you can explore the vibrant shops and galleries.
Enjoy nature on a mountain bike tour through Tongass National Forest. An expert guide from Alaska will help you pick out a bike, rain gear, and helmet. You’ll ride along a smooth, three-mile trail under huge spruce and hemlock trees. After biking, warm up with clam chowder and smoked salmon by a campfire, then take a guided walk through the forest.
Head out on the calm waters of Lake Harriet Hunt, nestled in the Tongass National Forest, where towering spruce and hemlock trees line the rocky shores. Enjoy a few hours of paddling in a 37-foot canoe designed like those used by Native Americans, with a guide who will show you the local wildlife and share stories about the region's history.
If you love walking, you'll enjoy a three-mile trail in the lush Tongass National Forest, the biggest national forest in the U.S. It's like walking through a magical forest with sunlight streaming through tall evergreen trees, big ferns along the path, and birds chirping around you.
There's lots of wildlife to see, and your guide will share interesting facts regarding the local black and brown bears, wolves, mountain goats, and moose. You'll have plenty of chances to take photos, watch the wildlife, and soak in the peaceful atmosphere of this beautiful place.
One of the best ways to learn about the history of the Haida and Tlingit people in Ketchikan is to walk around the 14 colorful totem poles located near a reconstructed Tlingit clan house at Totem Bight State Historical Park.
This clan house, along with the totem poles, would have been hand-carved using a stone tool called an adze and could accommodate up to 50 people. The totem poles you see today are replicas, made to look like the original ones left behind when the native people moved out of their villages in the early 1900s to find jobs. Each pole tells its own story.
Try local Alaskan dishes in Ketchikan's restaurants, where salmon is a favorite and comes in various styles like smoked, grilled, in chowder, or baked in cornbread. You can even ship some home. Halibut and fresh crab are also popular. Check out places like the Alaska Fish House or Annabelle's Famous Keg and Chowder House, both well-known spots.
If you're up for a big adventure, you can wear a high-tech seven-millimeter wetsuit with a hood, boots, and gloves to stay warm and go underwater exploring in Ketchikan. The top spot for snorkeling is at Mountain Point, a place with tide pools and steep drops. Here, you can float above the kelp forests and watch bright sea stars, salmon, crabs, sea urchins, and harmless jellyfish.
Visitors who want to catch a big salmon can go fishing in Ketchikan, located near Tongass National Forest. This forest has many freshwater lakes and streams and offers saltwater fishing, too. You can also fish for salmon from the bridge by Creek Street, a famous spot just outside the town center.
For those seeking a memorable and secluded fishing experience, consider booking a trip to one of Ketchikan's lesser-known fishing spots. Local guides know the best places to fish in the area's streams and lakes. They can also help provide you bring your catch home, letting you enjoy the taste of your Alaskan summer trip all year long.
Visitors to Ketchikan can enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, a key attraction that showcases thrilling competitions based on Southeast Alaska's logging traditions. Watch world champion lumberjacks demonstrate their prowess using 7-pound axes and 6-foot saws, among other tools. The hour-long show is full of action and holds the audience glued to their seats as lumberjacks climb tall trees, navigate floating logs, and display their chopping and sawing skills.
Join in the fun with friends by participating in the axe-throwing contest. After the show, the lumberjacks offer tips and engage in a friendly throwing competition with guests. Remember to wear your flannel to fit right in with the energetic crowd.
John Muir, a famous nature expert, once described this place as the Yosemite of the North, and it's easy to see why people from around the world visit Alaska's Misty Fjords National Monument. Cruising through this area, you'll see huge granite cliffs, as tall as 3,000 feet, that were shaped by glaciers and drop straight down into calm waters.
A local guide will share stories and facts about the area’s history, rocks, and animals while also looking out for humpback whales or orcas swimming through these narrow channels.
Flying over the vast Tongass National Forest or gliding just above the calm waters of Misty Fjords in a floatplane is an unforgettable experience. Watch for whales surfacing in the ocean and observe the scattered homes and blue waters weaving through the rocky islands of the Inside Passage.
The Tongass Historical Museum is dedicated to educating visitors about both the history and present of the Alaskan wilderness and Ketchikan. One of the most interesting parts of the museum is its collection of thousands of photographs of ordinary people from Ketchikan over the years.
The Tsimshian, Haida, and Tlingit peoples lived on these lands for centuries before European colonists arrived. Since then, Ketchikan has developed a vibrant history. Despite its small population of fewer than 10,000 people, the city has many fascinating stories, many of which are showcased in this small but carefully curated museum in Alaska.
Ketchikan offers various activities and experiences, from exploring its rich Native heritage and vibrant arts scene to enjoying the natural beauty of the Alaskan nature. Whether you're visiting for a day or staying longer, there is always something new and exciting to discover.
An Alaskan cruise is the perfect way to experience all that Ketchikan has to offer. Visit the itineraries and start planning your wilderness adventure today.
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