Three Day Ketchikan Itinerary

Ketchikan sits at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s Inside Passage, and is often the first stop for cruise ships preparing to wind their way through this watery maze. As such, it’s well-equipped for visitors, with a walkable downtown area and plenty of tours on offer. Sites further out require a rental car unless you join a tour.

The region around Ketchikan is the original home of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, who lived here for 10,000 years. The city proper was founded in 1885 as a salmon cannery; later, logging and then tourism became important resources.

Three days in Ketchikan allows you to explore its feisty downtown history as well as view historical and cultural sites, and some of the wondrous natural scenery in the area.

Day 1: 

Ketchikan has a bawdy Gold Rush and Prohibition past, which you can witness with a wander along colorful Creek Street. This boardwalked street hovers above Ketchikan Creek on pilings (stilts) and was once an avenue for bootleggers smuggling banned alcohol to speakeasies via rowboat and high tide. Men looking to make a hasty exit from the area’s many brothels often cut up the hillside on the Married Man’s Trail, which is now signposted and leads you to a salmon ladder.

Today, you can visit Dolly’s House Museum, which was the home of famed Madame Dolly Arthur. No. 24 Creek Street gives you a glimpse into the life of early 1900s Ketchikan, with period furnishings and antiques and a secret cupboard where Dolly stashed her contraband liquor.

From Creek Street it’s a short walk to the Tongass Historical Museum, where you can learn about the area’s history and heritage. It has an extensive photo archive, and several exhibits that change from time to time. Keep an eye out for workshops on your travel dates as these are worthy ways to spend an afternoon.

Also in downtown Ketchikan is the Totem Heritage Center. Here you can view a collection of 19th century totem poles from Tlingit and Haida village sites. The museum’s work is to preserve the cultural traditions that gave rise to these totem poles, as well as carvings, baskets, and regalia.

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Day 2:

Today you’ll travel outside of central Ketchikan to explore some of its natural wonders. You can drive, but most travelers join a tour to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Raptor Center located 8 miles out of Ketchikan.

The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary covers 40 acres of forested land on Herring Cove. Accessible walking trails and a salmon spawning stream are all on offer for you to learn about the rich ecosystem of the region. You can even watch an Alaska Native totem pole carver at work.

The adjacent Ketchikan Raptor Center gets you up close to eagles and hawks, both in the wild and in rehab. The center is an important rescue and rehabilitation operation, servicing injured birds from the area.

Two miles beyond the Rainforest Sanctuary, Totem Bight State Historical Park hosts an impressive collection of totem poles as well as a massive clan house. It’s well worth a visit to see how Alaska Natives from the region lived and worked together.

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Day 3:

On the third day of your Ketchikan itinerary, you’ll embark on a tour of Misty Fjords National Monument. As the name implies, the Monument is a region of foggy, ethereal fjords, and you’ll have several options for the type of tour you’ll take.

Many operators offer stunning flightseeing tours out of Ketchikan. Often these small plans will impress with a water landing, allowing you to witness the grandeur from both air and sea level. Short day hikes from shore will immerse you in the mossy green rainforest and give you the opportunity to spot land-based wildlife.

You can also take a day cruise from Ketchikan to get up close to waterfalls and rookeries while staying warm and cozy inside the boat’s cabin. And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, consider a kayaking tour. A water taxi can drop you off and pick you up, or join a guided tour to take advantage of local, in-depth knowledge.  

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Optional Day 4:

Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of Alaska, so if you have a day to spare we recommend a fishing charter. Guides are available to outfit you to fish for salmon, halibut, or other delicious seafood, both on land or by boat.