Welcome to Ketchikan!
If you're arriving into Ketchikan, chances are you are doing so by boat. Located on Rivillagigedo Island, Ketchikan is accessible only by plane or boat. With historical roots as a fish camp, Ketchikan has been home to canneries, mining operations, the timber industry, and now a bustling tourism operation. Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, allowing visitors to take a hike in a temperate rainforest right from downtown. Make sure to bring your rain jacket! Ketchikan averages about 165 inches (4191 mm) of rain per year.
From downtown Ketchikan you have easy access to hiking in the Tongass. From the end of Canyon Road you can access a gravel road that gets you to the Carlanna Lake Trail, an easy 3 mile round-trip trail.
From the University of Alaska-Southeast campus or downtown, you will find the Rainbird Trail. With a few short and steep climbs, this 1.3 mile trail gets you quick access into the rainforest.
Learn about the local culture and history at the Totem Bight State Historical Park. Just a 20 minute drive from downtown Ketchikan, walk among these silent storytellers and learn about the efforts being done to keep this traditional art alive.
Take a flightseeing trip into Misty Fjords National Monument. Carved out by ice over thousands of years, this 2.1 million acre national monument is a stunning site to behold. If you have time, stay in one of the public use cabins and explore the area. Learn more on the US Forest Service - Tongass National Forest website.
