Beautiful forest with 4 unique ecosystems. We did a guided tour and it was great. There are pit…read moretoilets available throughout the forest. Such fresh air here. The trails were well maintained.

Absolutely stunning and beautiful! The entire national forest is breathtaking and awe inspiring!…read moreDefinitely worth a visit and a look.

A lovely place to check out if you have some extra time!…read more I visited the park in addition to another excursion I had booked for that day (via cruise). This park can be somewhat deceivingly small from the parking lot, but once you head down the walkway, there are a multitude of totems to learn about. It was really interesting learning not only about the history of the totems, but of the restoration projects being done to them as well. There is also a replica house that you can see the inside of too and great views of the water!

This was interesting. And the views were pretty. But if you have limited time, this could be…read moreskipped. We rode public transit about ($2/person) but it took us about 30 minutes each way. Spent less than an hour, which is more than enough time. The bus only runs through every hour on the '7' - so don't miss it. Overall, I was underwhelmed given the hype. $5/person entry fee. I would have been really annoyed if I had purchased an excursion package for this for $79 per person.

If you're in Ketchikan, the Salmon Ladder is definitely worth a quick stop. It's one of those…read morethings that seems silly but is super cool once you actually see it. Watching the salmon fight their way upstream is wild, and during the spawning season (peak season is late summer), you can watch as they literally leap out of the water right in front of you. The ladder may not look like what you have pictured in your head, but I found myself completely engaged and rooting for the fish to make their way up it. Not many of the salmon use the ladder though, but it is amazing to watch the ones that do. It's an easy walk from downtown, and you can usually spot a few bald eagles hanging around waiting for their snack. There's also a nice little viewing platform / wooded boardwalk, and the Creek Street area nearby has shops and snacks if you want to make an afternoon of it. Note that there are two "entrances" to the ladder. One requires a LOT of stairs and the other is right off the street. If you have ADA requirements, do NOT attempt to climb those stairs from Creek Street. Go to the Mission Street entrance instead. You don't need a ton of time here, but it's one of those "only in Alaska" experiences that I'd consider a must-do.

Was truly spellbound and awe inspired by this miracle and resilience of nature. Salmon are born in…read morefresh water but travel to sea and then come back to fresh water to spawn. What you see here is essentially the returning salmon fighting their way back to fresh waters against the powerful flow of the rushing waters. Needless to say this is a definite must visit if you are in Ketchikan. This is on creek street smack dab in the center of their downtown area and is hard to miss. I spent a good hour watching 1000s of salmon fight their way upstream. There is a man made ladder to aid the fish as well and it was interesting to see how these fish kept taking one step at a time up this "ladder".

We absolutely loved Creek Street! It was an easy, convenient walk from the cruise ship port, and…read moreeven though it rained all day, we still had a blast exploring the shops and taking in the beautiful creekside views. The whole area has such a fun, vintage feel, with so many unique little stores and photo spots. We highly recommend checking out Dolly's House, which also gives some great history about the area and how it helped preserve its character. There is also a free town trolley that can take you around, with pickup near the museum. We found some of the most unique gifts and souvenirs here. Definitely worth visiting for an afternoon walk, shopping, and great photos!

Creek street is Ketchikan's main attraction. It's within walking distance from the docks or simply…read morecatch one of the free downtown buses to get you here. This place can only be explored by foot and is adjacent to the creek which leads upto the salmon ladder. One will need atleast an hour to fully explore and appreciate this quaint little area filled with history, erstwhile brothel houses and the local stores filled with goodies. The stores are all painted in different colors allowing this place to stand out. Each store is unique and charming in its own way. Some of them had salmon based goods on sale and samples as well.

Very well stocked and easy 30min+ educational center in the heart of Ketchican…read more You can learn about the wildlife and the fishing culture that surrounds the 4th largest town in Alaska. Very interactive, clean, and close to the Ketchican downtown scene If you have time, drop in.

June, 2025. My husband and I loved our visit to Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, a collaboration…read morebetween the US Forest Service and Alaska parks on the Tongass National Forest. We spent about two hours in the center, but easily could have spent more. There are interesting cultural and ecological displays spread over two floors -- in well laid out and open display areas. There is also extensive programming, both with Ranger Programs and regular films in the comfortable theater. We particularly enjoyed watching two Native artists -- one putting finishing touches on an oil painting and the other painting a symbolic paddle. Youngsters can participate in the Junior Rangers Program. I was able to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport though technically this isn't a national park, and to buy a refrigerator magnet souvenir. Summer admission is $5 for those aged 16 and above; free for those 15 and younger. Tip: if you have a National Parks pass, it's accepted at the Discovery Center so don't leave it at home in Virginia! The Discovery Center is an easy walk from the cruise terminal, as well as the Creek Street area, but doesn't have the crowds of either.

This was a stupendous experience. The group was small enough to get the attention one might need to…read moreactually learn some nifty tricks using their camera. Jacob's sense of humor and local knowledge made the experience top-notch. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and would do it all over again, hoping for part 2. The cookie and coffee break was also tasty! I highly recommend this activity!

Arriving by ship to Ketchikan, I wanted a tour that would physically get me to places off the…read morebeaten path. This is the one, do not settle for a cheap substitute. Met Capt.Rob at the Dock and off we went, creek Street, the most awesome library ever & a totem pole park and carving center. This tour packed a full day into 3 hour tour and we didn't get stranded on devils island.... Captain Rob's local knowledge of the area and photography skil made for a great experience, good for all skill levels.

This is a great, quiet park to beach comb at…read more It's not prominently marked on maps, and is mainly used by locals. We got here by utilizing the excellent bus system in Ketchikan. We saw curious seals not far off the shore, and families playing with the land-seals/dogs on the shore. If you're feeling sporty, you can walk a couple more miles down the road and visit Totem Bight, then use the bus stop there to get back into town.