Misty Fjords National Monument

Blue glacial lakes, tall waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks surround visitors to “the Mistys”

The spectacular Misty Fjords National Monument, lying just 22 miles east of Ketchikan, is a natural mosaic of sea cliffs, steep fjords and rock walls jutting 3000 ft straight out of the ocean. Taking its name from the almost constant precipitation characteristic of the area, the monument is covered with thick rainforests that grow on nearly vertical slopes from sea level to mountaintops. Dramatic waterfalls plunge into the salt water through narrow clefts or course over great rounded granite shoulders fed by lakes and streams that absorb the rainfall of more than 150 inches annually.

Extending 2.3 million acres across Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is the largest wilderness in Alaska's national forests and the second largest in the nation. The major waterway cutting through the monument, Behm Canal, is more than 100 miles long and extraordinary among natural canals for its length and depth. The long canal separates Revillagigedo Island from the mainland and provides passage to Walker Cove, Rudyerd Bay and Punchbowl Cove - the preserve's most picturesque areas.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Misty Fjords is abundant and varied and includes mountain goat, brown bear, black bear, moose, marten, wolf, wolverine, river otter, sea lion, harbor seal, killer whale and Dall porpoise. Birds range from hummingbirds to trumpeter swans to herons to bald eagles. All five Pacific salmon are present.

Activities

Kayaking the protected coves and inlets is a popular way to experience the fjords. It's a long paddle to inlet from Ketchikan so many visitors arrange to be dropped off and picked up by a tour boat, thus opening up the monument to even beginner kayakers. You can also view the area on sightseeing flights or day-long boat cruises. If time is short flightseeing is the only option but most tours include landing on a lake and a short walk in the rain forest.