“This untamed landscape is a paradise for nature lovers.”
36
90
HOUR CRUISE BY SEA
MINUTE FLIGHT FROM SEATTLE
Launch an Alaska Adventure from Ketchikan
Tucked away on the southern tip of the glacier-carved archipelago known as the Inside Passage, Ketchikan sits between two of the world’s greatest wildernesses: the Tongass National Forest, which at 17 million acres is the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest, and the Pacific Ocean, home to humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and king salmon.
Ketchikan feels worlds away from Seattle, even though it’s an easy 90-minute flight north, making it as accessible as Portland or Mt. Rainier. Alaska’s efforts to curb the pandemic have also made travel easier this summer: the state got an early jump on vaccinations, and is now offering free vaccines to visitors 12 and older at sites with availability.
And if you’ve been dreaming of what it’s like to feel the tug of a mighty king salmon on the line—after all, you’re in the salmon capital of the world—try a half-day tour with Sportfishing Adventures. Those who want to commit to a few days of fishing—and also get off the grid a bit further—can book a couple of days out of town at the Silverking Lodge and perfect your casting technique with pros while soaking in the raw beauty of the landscape.
For an adventure that gets your heart pumping even harder, try sea cycling, a relatively new water activity that’s part boat and part kayak, using pontoon-style vessels with pedals attached. Alaska Kayak Company takes visitors on a half day ocean tour along the coastal woods of the Tongass forest so that they can get a more intimate look at the marine life in the tidal zone, while also keeping an eye out for eagles and bears that might appear along the shoreline. Or book a ziplining tour with Kawanti Adventures to observe what life is like from the top of the canopy—and go as high up as a palm-sweating 750 feet.
02
01
03
04
05
06
01
02
02
03
04
05
06
01
02
03
04
05
06
01
04
02
03
05
06
01
05
02
03
04
06
01
06
02
03
04
05
Those arriving by cruise ship often spend a single day exploring the colorful stilted homes and shops of downtown Ketchikan. But in-the-know travelers looking to commune more deeply with nature stay put for a few days in order to explore the untouched wilderness that surrounds the town on all sides.
Base yourself out of the Cape Fox Lodge or Inn at Creek Street, which are both located near the town’s center and have clean, bright rooms facing the water. Or, if a B&B is more your speed, check into the Black Bear Inn, which sits along the waterfront four miles to the north of downtown (for extra seclusion, book the private cabin).
Stretch your legs with a walk around town: Ketchikan has the world’s largest collection of totem poles, and it’s worth stopping to see some of the finest examples at the Totem Heritage Center, a showcase of the carved wooden monuments that the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples in nearby villages hand carved out of indigenous western red cedars.
“When you have a better understanding of this ancient art form, it’s time to venture into the landscapes that inspired them.”
The Tongass
Back in Ketchikan, it’s possible to get even closer to the resident wildlife with Baranof Fishing Excursions. Like many folks this summer, they are operating at limited capacity, but if the timing works, they can help you find the animals you’re most interested in their natural setting, be it a grizzly bear, a pacific white-sided dolphin, or a humpback whale.
Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines offer daily non-stop flights to Ketchikan from Sea-Tac airport. For the most up to date information on the city and the surrounding area, be sure to check out the Visit Ketchikan site.
When you’re sufficiently primed for a bigger adventure, consider going deeper into the Tongass. Lying about 40 miles to the east of Ketchikan, Misty Fjords National Monument is a 2.3 million acre swath of protected land that’s distinguished by its postcard-worthy waterfalls, snowcapped mountains, and pristine blue lakes. It’s a 30-minute flight by floatplane, and Island Wings Air Service or Carlin Air can both fly you and guide you. An expert-led tour will take visitors to a bear viewing observatory to see the hulking mammals catch and eat salmon, and can also host a fishing trip for those who want to catch salmon themselves.
The largest national forest in the United States and twice the size of Maryland; it’s home to a large and diverse population of wildlife, including bears, wolves, mountain goats, and spawning salmon, all sheltered by the green canopy of Sitka spruces, western red cedars, and western hemlocks, some of them centuries old. A three-hour rainforest and totem walk near Ketchikan led by Wild Wolf Tours offers a primer on how to interpret the flora and fauna of the region, while educating visitors on how First Nations inhabitants have sustainably lived off the land for needs ranging from food to medicine.
GETTING THERE
If a small ship ‘cruise’ out of Ketchikan is more your speed, try Lighthouse Excursions which takes small groups on three-hour scenic tours from Ward Cove on a comfortable 40-person boat with large decks and plenty of hot chocolate for everyone. Explore secluded bays, view multiple active eagle’s nests, and sail by Totem Bight State Park, home to an Alaskan Native clan house and 14 towering Tlingit and Haida hand-carved cedar totem poles. You may even see some seals, sea lions, and – in season – orca whales.