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Ketchikan is five hundred miles north of Seattle. It is accessible by the Alaska Marine Highway or Alaska Air Lines. Located on Revillagigedo Island it is Alaska’s “first city,” and as the first or last port of call for all Southeast Alaska cruise ships. The historic downtown, wedged between water and forested mountains, becomes saturated in summer with cruise ship passengers, independent travelers and seasonal workers. The town is built into steep hills and partly propped on wooden pilings, with boardwalks, wooden staircases and totem poles dotted throughout. By 1886, white settlers had opened the first of dozens of salmon canneries. It soon became known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.”

Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. The word comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean “the river belonging to Kitschk”. Other accounts say it means “Thundering Wings of an Eagle”.  The Island has the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles and internationally known totem carvers. You can see the Totems at Saxman Village, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, the Totem Heritage Center and throughout the city.

Bear watching, Eagle and whale watching are favorite pass times of many of our guests. Marine and freshwater sport fishing opportunities abound. Sport angler can stay busy year around fishing for wild trout, all five species of Pacific salmon, halibut, and a variety of other fish, crab, shrimp and clams. Roadside salmon fishing opportunities exist around the Island. The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the area’s major attractions. Ketchikan is located in the Tongass National Forests. The abundant of streams, lakes, wild flowers, berry bushes, cedar, hemlock and spruce provide great opportunities for hikers and photographers to view birds and animals.