Ketchikan is a Southeast Alaska port town of about 8,000 people on Revillagigedo Island, often the first (or last) stop for cruise ships traveling the Inside Passage. It’s also the main gateway to Misty Fiords National Monument.
Getting There
No road connects Ketchikan to the rest of Alaska or the Lower 48. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship as part of a Southeast Alaska itinerary, by air through Ketchikan International Airport (itself on a separate island, reached from downtown by a short ferry across the Tongass Narrows), or by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system. Cruise passengers typically have anywhere from a few hours to a full day in port.
A Brief History
Ketchikan grew up around salmon canneries and timber in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and its position as often the first Alaska port of call for northbound ships earned it the nickname “Alaska’s First City.” As the timber industry declined through the late 20th century, the local economy shifted toward tourism and commercial fishing, both of which remain central to the town today.
What to See and Do
Downtown centers on Creek Street, a former red-light district built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek that’s now lined with shops and galleries; salmon still run up the creek every summer and are easy to spot from the boardwalk. The Totem Heritage Center, along with nearby Saxman Native Village and Totem Bight State Historical Park, holds one of the largest collections of standing totem poles anywhere, reflecting the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian heritage of the region. For the surrounding wilderness, boat and floatplane tours run out to Misty Fiords National Monument, and several local outfitters run zipline canopy tours through the temperate rainforest just outside town. Ketchikan is also a well-known sport fishing destination, particularly for salmon and halibut, with charter boats departing straight from the downtown harbor.
Food and Local Flavor
As a working fishing town, Ketchikan is a good place to eat fresh, local seafood, with king crab, halibut, and several varieties of salmon showing up on most menus, often caught within sight of the restaurant. A handful of small breweries and coffee shops downtown serve both cruise passengers and the year-round fishing and logging community.
Weather to Expect
Ketchikan is the rainiest city in the United States, averaging over 140 inches of precipitation a year, so a waterproof jacket is worth packing even in the middle of summer. The rain is also what keeps the surrounding temperate rainforest so lush.
When to Go
May through September brings the most boat tours, floatplane trips, and cruise ship traffic, along with the mildest (if still damp) weather. Winters are quiet and wet, with many tour operators and some shops running on a reduced schedule or closing for the season.
