Ketchikan Alaska
A southeast town tucked between Sitka spruce forests and the calm water of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Ketchikan Alaska
A southeast town tucked between Sitka spruce forests and the calm water of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Ketchikan Alaska
A southeast town tucked between Sitka spruce forests and the calm water of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Ketchikan Alaska
A southeast town tucked between Sitka spruce forests and the calm water of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Ketchikan
Long before it became the bustling Alaska cruise destination it is today, Ketchikan was a seasonal fish camp of the indigenous Tongass Tlingit. Through the crystalline waters of the Ketchikan Creek ran thousands of salmon in the summer. This natural abundance proved enticing to western settlers as well, drawing prospectors, traders, and businessmen in the late 1800s. A cannery was established in Ketchikan in 1900, thus cementing the town's self-proclaimed nickname: The Salmon Capital of the World.
Ketchikan can easily be described as the Totem Pole Capital of the World as well. Native craftsman still carve today, with many traditional and modern totems on display at the Totem Bight State Historical Park, Totem Heritage Center, and in the nearby Native village of Saxman.
Ketchikan is the southernmost port on the Inside Passage. It is truly a port town, with half of the city built into a mountainside thick with Sitka spruce and the other half built on stilts over the water. Logging, fishing, and tourism keep the economy strong, while annual events like the Blueberry Festival and Sportfishing Championship give the town its unique character.
One of the most popular ways to explore Ketchikan is by walking tour. Stroll down Creek Street, take a picnic to Ward Lake Recreation Area, and visit the Tongass Historical Museum. Many organized excursions are available for cruise passengers and other visitors as well. They include hikes, flightseeing, fishing charters, whale watching, historic trolley tours, and guided visits to Totem Park and the Saxman Native village.
Most of Ketchikan's lodging options, including small hotels and bed and breakfasts, line the waterfront. You can also spend the night at sea aboard a boat, or head out to a wilderness cabin offered through the U.S. Forest Service.
Separated from the mainland by the 150-mile Behm Canal, Ketchikan is accessible only by boat. Even the airport is located on a nearby island, and passengers must land and then ferry across the sound to the town itself. Within Ketchikan, a mere 20 miles of road allows access to nearby parks and recreation areas.
