Rainbird Trail is a 1.3 mile pathway "taking you into the lush undergrowth of the Tongass National…read moreForest. The top of the trail overlooks the city of Ketchikan, the Tongass Narrows and Beyond" according to a signpost at the start of the hike. In my opinion, it's along this Rainbird Trail that offers the only suitable panoramic perspective peering down on the city of Ketchikan. Venturing among a dense forest landscape, I began pondering if such a lookout could even exist!? Although there was nothing mentioning where exactly the viewpoint was, eventually walking up an incline to the top of a ridge, the tall surroundings suddenly subsided and next glance all of Ketchikan was sitting below the horizon. This observation spot is located roughly 2/3rd's of the way into the hike, though depending upon which section of the trail you begin from... I started at the University of Southeast Alaska Parking Lot. You can leave your car at the college free of charge. Alternative starting points are the South Access and North Access according to a sign I stumbled upon, but I'm unaware where exactly those initiated from. I relied on Google Maps which took me straight to the UAS Campus Lot. One other note...the trailhead mentions that "the hike is steep and rocky in spots requiring sure footing and may not be suitable for all fitness levels". I disagree with this. I believe the path is relatively easy for everyone. It's casual without much elevation. For hiking in the morning time, the quiet setting transports you away from hectic downtown cruise ship arrivals. Ultimately, you're rewarded by a pleasant hike through nature without having to leave far from the port if you're just visiting for the day.

Came to this port on a cruise ship, got off the ship early in the morning and walked the couple…read moremiles through town to this trail - there are 3 places to enter this trail - one at the University, the other at the far end of town, and the other in the middle of the trail - the part of the trail starting at the University is the not maintained portioned, making it a little tougher and less easy to follow the part (I did get a tiny bit lost ~ 3 times but very quickly found my way back - my advice = stick to the rocks, if you see rocks below you, you're likely still on the path, if not, you've probably gone off it). The part of the trail starting at the far end of town to the middle part is the maintained part, easy/moderate, very pretty views. If you're fit and want to step up the adventure, definitely do the whole trail! You're near the highway most of the way, so hard to get all that lost, but it's not a busy road so you can't hear the highway most of the way. And I didn't feel unsafe, and saw a few hikers sparsely on the trail throughout. And I did hear some rainbird sounds!

Exceptional Trip, From the Sea Wind Float Plane Staff to the Lodge staff, the trip beat all…read moreexpectations. Captain Bridger and Deckhand Dillon were exceptional. I cannot say enough positive about them, we caught fish, laughed and were just present, phenomenal team. Arrival was excellent, the coordination with the seaplane staff and the hop to the resort was painless and a great experience. At the lodge, the arrival staff was excellent, followed by a cocktail hour, and then an excellent meal. The rooms were more than adequate, and exceptionally clean and serviced. The food was spectacular, and service exceptional. Fishing was awesome, and I caught the biggest fish of my life and had a great time every day with the boat staff and fellow fisherman. We handed off poles when one wasn't catching and it was a true team effort across the board. We split the catch and ended up taking home a whole lot of fish. Looking back at the expense of the trip, while expensive for a po' boy like me, it was well worth the savings to get there. Being remote, vice in the city taking a charter out, was well worth the cost. A once in a lifetime experience. A HUGE thank you to the support staff and boat crews for making my bucket list trip memorable. Jim 6/26

First came here in 1998…read more Each year it just gets better. The operations at the lodge get smoother. The staff is always friendly and helpful, willing to satisfy any reasonable requests. The food is excellent & they can meet any dietary needs. The boats nice and spacious, comfortable in the roughest seas. The boat crews are great and will put you on the fish if they are there!

We had a blast snorkeling at Ketchikan. The shuttle picked us up at berth 2 and brought us to their…read moreHQ to be fitted for gear such as a wetsuit flippers, gloves, boots, hood and snorkeling mask. My party was accompanied by 3 guides. Saw a ton of wild life out there. It is a u ique experience and would go again. I did not get cold because of all the gear.

Fred and Kurt were totally awesome. Such an incredible and unforgettable experience. They assisted…read moreus with getting our gear on and were super knowledgeable about all of the ocean life. The thick wetsuits were easier to put on than my surf wetsuit and kept me warm the entire time. We were all surprised at how much wildlife lived in those chilly waters. They also said we got super lucky with the weather and water conditions, but they try their best to time the tours with the tides so everyone can have an awesome experience. This was such a fantastic way to start our Alaskan adventure! The warm water shower and hot chocolate afterwards were the cherry on top. They also gave us an awesome recommendation of a spot to go after we finished our snorkeling. Thanks for an unforgettable experience! If you are on the fence about booking this tour, definitely do it!

This park was covered as part of the tour we purchased onshore, I assume it's included as part of…read morethe cruise ship offered tours as well but it's always cheaper to buy a tour directly off the ship. Park is decent sized with several totem poles, a totem pole carving workshop, native clan houses, some vintage cars and a gift shop. Due to the abundant rain Ketchikan is blessed with, this park is covered in lush greenery. You definitely need a guide to help explain the history behind the totem poles, the clan houses and all the other stories. On the whole it will take less than an hour to cover the entire park. The gift store is great as well and surprisingly very reasonably priced compared to the other touristy places. They had several totem poles in various sizes on sale in addition to the regular tourist store items.

With a knowledgeable guide, we came here as part of a cruise tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable…read moreexplaining the meanings of the totem symbols, such as the Eagle versus the Raven. A potlatch is a ceremonial gathering, like a big party, and the clan's totem pole shows how many potlatches they have been involved with. Enjoyed seeing the small circular doors to the living quarters that would force any unwelcome visitors to stoop down to get through the opening - allowing them to be easily attacked. There is a large gift shop, and a clan house. We did not see any old cars but possibly our guide simply omitted that part of the tour. Those coming without a guide are at a bit of a disadvantage, as I could see no interpretive displays near the totem poles explaining what you were seeing. This is also a cruise ship destination and there were numerous cruise ship groups tramping through the park along with us, affecting the experience. Lots of delays as we had to wait for several groups to clear out before we could go onto the next part of the tour. The crowds also made taking photographs difficult.

The best fishing charter in Ketchikan! If you want an excellent, more private experience and to…read moresupport a local business, you've found it! Our family of four had an incredible time and caught far more than we thought we would. Captain Cable is an excellent captain, professional fishing guide, and by the end, a good friend to spend the afternoon with. Easy communication, easy pick up and drop off right near our cruise ship, and beginner friendly. Highly recommend booking with Campbell Fishing Charters!

Very poor excursion. Not everybody could have a pole and anything caught was released immediately…read more Very disappointing day. Expensive and was basically just a shore sightseeing trip. Don't waste your money on this one!

We have fished in Ketchikan the last 2 summers with Captain Jim Parrot. After our first trip, we…read morewere already planning our next trip before we got home. We are planning a third trip back this summer and of course we are fishing with Capt. Jim. If you are looking for a great time and a lot of big fish, you should look no further than Captain Jim Parrot.

Tongass Teague was great. Our tour guide, Teague, was a FANTASTIC guide. We did the SUV tour…read morethrough some of the lesser traveled roads in the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan, Alaska. Teague was knowledgable, fun, and easy-going. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a good few hours to spend in Ketchikan!

Tai Chi at your own pace! Stunning view, great atmosphere, nice hike. Highly recomended!read more

Have been there 2 times...Enjoyed both! Caught fish! Staff is very friendly and accomodating. No…read morefrills...Apples are the only fresh fruit! No salad...Halibut, salmon, shrimp and crab are the only dinner entrees. Menu is kind of high on carbs and starches. Food is good, fishing equipment and boats are good...Would recommend this place highly. Only reason not 5 stars is the lack of fresh fruit, vegies, etc. Two charter boats are available to rent...but each room comes with an 18' fishing boat and gear...prefer that to the charter!

I love fishing at Clover Bay. The staff greets you upon your arrival. The room is no frills, but…read moreaccommodating. The food isn't gourmet,, but what you would expect if you're on a fishing vacation. Ryan and Angie are very nice people and will do whatever is possible to see that you have a great fishing experience.