19 Awesome Things to Do in Ketchikan You Don’t Want to Miss

A few years ago, Daniel and I took a cruise along with our families up the Inside Passage. Along with our parents meeting each other for the first time, we also got to see some incredible scenery and check out a few towns along the way. The things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska were some of my favorite parts of that trip up north!

Things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska you need to see

I highly recommend checking out these awesome things to do in Ketchikan whether you’re traveling by car or cruise ship!

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Tongass National Forest

Chances are that if you’ve come to the Alaskan panhandle, you’re looking for immersion into a slice of nature that’s truly unlike any elsewhere in the country. Tongass National Forest is the largest in the country and comprises most of southeast Alaska, including the Inside Passage. 

Recreation activities available here include everything from dog sledding to sleeping in remote cabins, giving you the chance to observe the wildlife that call this place home, from salmon to the bears that hunt them and mountain goats galore. Tours and experiences are available through multiple providers in the Ketchikan area. 

Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

If you’re looking to get your bearings in the area and explore the many millions of acres of Tongass National Forest, the best place to start is probably this discovery center, offering insight on what to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from the heart of town. 

Not only do they possess a wealth of information for those new to the area, they also organize some quintessential Ketchikan activities in the forest as one of the providers mentioned above! Learn more about the local flora and fauna through their exhibits, which also discuss how local people have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

Join a ranger walk in the summer for the full panhandle experience. 

Misty Fjords National Monument

These two million acres of wild areas, dramatic cliffs, and serene inlets possess a special beauty that’s right there in the name; who doesn’t want to go to a place called “misty fjords?” It’s straight out of a fairytale. 

Arrive by boat or seaplane from Ketchikan and you’ll likely feel the same way. Take a “flightseeing” tour from a tour operator or get really adventurous and settle into one of their remote cabins, which you can make your home base for longer kayak excursions.

Potlatch Totem Park

This privately-owned monument to local Tlingit history is a smorgasbord of antiques and tradition that has something everyone in your group will enjoy. Totem carving remains one of the most elaborate and personal practices of Alaskan indigenous peoples. A visit here will give you the chance to admire impressive pieces of this handiwork, and you can even watch carving artists at work. 

The grounds also feature clan houses that are decorated with even more carvings that provide a narrative storytelling element. As an aside to all this, the owners maintain an antique car collection that they love showing to any car buffs that may be visiting! 

Deer Mountain Trail

One of the best out of the many great hikes in the Ketchikan area, this is a 6.7-mile out-and-back trail known for the rewarding views that definitely come at the cost of a few calories–with plenty of steep climbs throughout, this is a workout in the truest sense. 

It’s unlikely you’ll find a more beautiful setting for a workout, though! Make it to the top for a sweeping look at the Ketchikan lakes. This trail becomes notoriously slippery after rain passes through, so make sure you’re wearing proper hiking shoes with enough traction for all weather conditions.

Creek Street

This is the epicenter of historic Ketchikan and a place where just a leisurely stroll can transport you back in time. The “street,” which is really a boardwalk built on wooden stilts above a babbling creek, is populated by colorful old buildings with a similarly colorful history. Learn all about it with a visit to Dolly’s House Museum or The Star, probably the best preserved of the buildings along the boardwalk. 

Afterwards, go window shopping along the promenade of antique and crafts stores, or grab a bite and a beer to just people watch–or salmon watch, since this is one of the best parts of town to view hordes of them swimming upstream! 

Kayaking

The waterways of the Inside Passage are a popular route for cruise ships that bear travelers to this part of Alaska, but they’re also perfect for exploring by kayak for a serene sightseeing experience. There are several kayak tour operators and rental places in the Ketchikan area, notably Southeast Sea Kayaks and Alaska Kayak Company. 

The latter offers everything from quick three-hour excursions to experiences that last for multiple days, encompassing boat rides, kayaking, and hikes. Kayaking in this part of Southeast Alaska is a gateway to tranquil moments on the water and unforgettable nights spent camping on remote beaches. 

Saxman Native Village

Yet another totem park here cements Ketchikan’s status as the home of traditional totem carving in this part of the world, if not worldwide! The community of Saxman is the result of Native Alaskans coming together in the 1800s to decide upon a place where they could build a school and gathering places, and it remains a small and proud community made mostly of Native people. 

The aforementioned Saxman Totem Park is the main event here, easily one of the top Ketchikan attractions with its 25 totems that are authentic replicas of others left behind when population trends led many Native Alaskans to move from their traditional homes to the cities in search of work.  

Tongass Historical Museum

Museums and gift shops reign supreme atop the list of things to do in Ketchikan, AK simply because there are so many, but each of them presents a unique and specialized glimpse into local history and the Tongass Historical Museum does it especially well. 

With a rich permanent collection that includes more traditional Tlingit totems, works purchased from Native artists, robes, clan house replicas and more, the museum tells the story of local people and the changing nature of how they lived over the years, documenting the industries like logging that have in past sustained the area economy. 

Dolly’s House Museum

There is more than meets the eye to Creek Street, as striking as those colorful houses on wooden stilts are; this was the epicenter of the “recreational” activity of choice for the men who worked long hours in those very logging jobs mentioned above, and in other industries. 

Of the many houses of pleasure that once stood here, Dolly’s House is the only that remains in its original form and thus is one of the essential things to see in Ketchikan. You can hardly miss it anyway, on account of its bright green, dollhouse-like appearance. 

Salmon Market

Salmon are everywhere in Ketchikan–you can see them swimming in the stream and being sold for dinner, and the local Salmon Market is as straightforward of an experience you’ll have with the downright delicious fish. Any type of way you want your salmon prepared, you can get it here: smoked, filleted, or lox on a bagel. 

Many travelers love the fresh taste of local Ketchikan salmon so much that they buy some to take home with them, or ship it back to their hometowns while they’re in Alaska! Whatever you like, the staff here are friendly and passionate about preparing the local staple, so dig in.

Rotary Beach

Sunsets, sunrises, and the beauty of nature in general should be your priority of what to see in Ketchikan, though chances are that I don’t need to tell you that if you’re planning or have already made the trip out here! 

This is one of the best spots to relax along the Inside Passage’s countless miles of shoreline, and depending on whether the tide is in or out, the visual character of this place changes; part of what makes it so beautiful is the different ways the water moves and makes reflections. Whether you’re a photographer, bird watcher, or card-carrying beach bum, an afternoon spent here is one of the best things to do in Ketchikan. 

Ziplining

Adventure experiences in Ketchikan are perfect things to do for those who want to get an extra kick of adrenaline in. Two of the best places to hit the zipline are at opposite ends of Revillagigedo Island where Ketchikan resides. To the northwest of Ketchikan you’ll find Rainforest Ropes & Zipline, where they have seven zip courses to choose from for families, couples, or solo adventurers to get the most out of their experience–it’s a favorite among kids when enjoying things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska!

To the southeast of town, Alaska Canopy Adventures will take you deeper in the local rainforest and, true to their name, provide sweeping views of the tree canopies with their high-flying courses.

Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

Tucked away inside of the tranquil Herring Cove to the southeast of Ketchikan, the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary provides informative walking tours through their nature preserve that are easy, memorable excursions. This is truly one of the top things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska for nature lovers and self-avowed “tree huggers.” 

Whether you’re trying to get a deeper appreciation for the unique ecology of the Alaska wilds or want to instill a passion for conservation in your kids, look no further than the awesome experience available to you at Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. 

Totem Heritage Center

By now you probably know that totem viewing is one of the easiest things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska just on account of how many of them there are! But if you’re looking to learn more about this fascinating tradition, put your trust in this partner of the Tongass Historical Museum. 

Delve deeper into the specific meaning of totem carving for the local Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples through totems that were recovered from the Ketchikan area and surrounding islands, a retrieval project carried out under the guidance of Native elders.

Ketchikan Rainbird Trail

A shorter, easier, and altogether less perilous-to-the-amateur-hiker trail than the nearby Deer Mountain, this is a must for travelers whose stays in the area may not be particularly long but still want to experience one of the best things to do in Ketchikan, and Alaska at large: hiking! 

At just 2.1 miles out-and-back, this ranks among one of the quicker and more navigable trails in the area, meaning that you’ll probably be fine in plain old tennis shoes. Of course, this is still an area that gets a lot of rain, so be careful on slippery rocks in case the weather has been wet and consulate your Alaska packing list! 

Scanlon Gallery

There are a lot of art galleries and businesses in town, and visiting them is one of the best things to do in Ketchikan, but in few places is the Alaska art scene so well represented than at Scanlon Gallery. 

Their offerings feature a bonafide all-star lineup of local artists working in every type of medium imaginable, and friendly staff make it super easy to take home a little bit of Ketchikan with you to commemorate your visit to this special stretch of the country. For those who want a bit less nature and a bit more art and culture, this is one of the best things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Guard Island Lighthouse

Lighthouses are always very cool elements of bygone times that can transport you with just a glimpse, and getting out via boat to Guard Island Lighthouse especially so; you’re likely to catch a glimpse of a few bald eagles on your way out there and, who knows, maybe some friendly killer whales! 

The more time you spend out on the water, the more that could happen. If you’re arriving in Ketchikan by cruise ship, keep an eye out for this photo opportunity as the unique structure of the lighthouse could add something awesome to your travel snaps.

George Inlet Crab Feast

Eating seafood is one of the best things to do in Ketchikan, but the Alaska staple of salmon takes a backseat for a moment at George Inlet Lodge, a historic property where the quintessential experiences are all about Alaskan crabs. 

You can book a crabbing excursion to get up-close-and-personal with the farming process, or skip straight to the chow-down portion of things with an extra special crab feast. It’s a memorable meal you can enjoy in a remote location (where they also have the annual Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show). If you’re crazy for crustaceans, don’t miss it. 

Have you checked out any of these things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska? Let me know your favorites in the comments!

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