Ketchikan, Alaska is known as the Salmon Capital of the world, it houses the world’s largest collection of standing Totem Poles and it dubs itself Alaska’s First City. Ketchikan got its name because it is the first port of call for cruise ships in the state of Alaska as you Cruise North along the Inside Passage. There are plenty of things to do in Ketchikan and we’re going to highlight a few of its top attractions to help you decide what excursion to take if you are on a cruise, or what to see and do if you are traveling independently.
Top Things to Do in Ketchikan
We have visited Ketchikan three times and during our last trip, it was our last stop on our Alaskan Cruise with Holland America Lines. Our cruise ship, The Niew Amsterdam anchored steps away from downtown Ketchikan making for an easy tour of the town.
1. Black Bears Feeding on Salmon
Ketchikan is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” and for a good reason. Visitors can go salmon fishing in the many rivers, streams, and lakes that surround the town but if you really want to see something extraordinary, book a tour to see black bears feeding on spawning salmon.
The best time to see bears feeding in the streams is between July and September as they fatten up for their winter hibernation. This time of year, the streams are filled with salmon making their way upstream to spawn and lay their eggs. Once their eggs are laid, they stay in the streams to die. This creates a feast for the black bears. You can book this one of a kind trip in advance here.
When we visited in August, the bears had been eating so much that they weren’t even eating the full fish anymore, they were simply biting into them for their eggs. As our guide told us, the eggs are like their dessert.
Before the tour, we took a guided walk to learn about the bears. We saw where the bears sleep between feasts, and what they like to eat and we saw a few places where they have scratched and climbed up trees.
It is truly a fascinating tour with the star attraction being the 90 minutes at the hides where we watched half a dozen bears hunt and interact in their natural habitat. Details here.
2. Scenic Flight to Misty Fjords
During our trip to Neets Bay, we were treated to an extraordinary scenic flight. But you can book stand-alone scenic flights in Ketchikan and we highly recommend it. Ketchikan scenic flights take you over the forest and fjords of the Gulf of Alaska. You’ll get a stunning view of…
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