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.

Date of visit: July 19, 2025…read more This was a stop on an excursion from our cruise and it was very interesting, with a great setting right on the water, making for a great picture backdrop. The park does have a $5 entry fee per person May through September, so you may want to weigh that fact if you don't have a great interest in totem poles! If you do go, make sure you check out the Clan House and notice the storage underneath your feet as literally dozens of people would sleep in this facility at the same time. Coming with a guide may be your best bet as parking is limited and someone who knows the stories adds much more color to the experience.

We docked at The Mill at Ward Cove while stopping in Ketchikan on the Norwegian Bliss. At first, we…read morehonestly weren't sure what we were looking at because it looked like an old factory of some sort. Then we found out that's exactly what it was! The owner actually ended up being our shuttle driver over to see the Lumberjack Show and shared some of the history with us. He told us his father was the last person to lock the gates to the old pulp mill when it closed in 1997. We absolutely loved hearing that he now owns the property himself -- such a full circle moment and an incredible story. The building at Ward Cove was filled with merchandise to buy such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, snacks, jewelry... the list goes on and on. There were even a few local vendors set up selling their goods, which we really enjoyed. We also noticed the prices at Ward Cove were a little cheaper and the taxes were less as well. We did take the shuttle bus into town, and it was a very simple process. The ride was maybe 15-20 minutes at most, and they dropped us off and picked us back up at the same location, which made everything very easy and convenient. We really wish we would have taken a video of what the property looks like now so that when we go back in a few years, we can compare all of the improvements. They also shared a few exciting things planned for the next several years, and it sounds like this place is going to become something really special. The atmosphere, history, waterfront views, shopping, and friendly people made this such a memorable stop in Ketchikan. Definitely worth taking the time to explore while visiting Alaska!

We visited The Mill at Ward Cove during our Norwegian Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Bliss, and…read morethis is the port where Norwegian ships dock instead of downtown Ketchikan. The moment you step off the ship, you walk right into a huge warehouse marketplace filled with multiple shops and tons of Alaska‑themed merchandise. There are so many souvenirs, clothing items, snacks, and gifts that it's easy to spend time browsing before heading into town. To reach downtown Ketchikan, you pass through The Mill to get to the shuttle buses, and sometimes there's even a live singer with a guitar performing while guests wait -- a nice touch that makes the line more enjoyable. Overall, The Mill at Ward Cove is a convenient and lively first stop for anyone arriving on a Norwegian Alaska cruise, with plenty of shopping and an easy setup for getting into town.

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

Married Man's Trail is a nice little path in Ketchikan right off of the main Creek Street that is…read morefun to go up and check out for some nature vibes. It gets very muddy or icy so if it is rainy or snowy, tread with caution and wear proper shoes! This trail was a secret pathway into town right to the prostitution houses so they could discreetly be serviced without being caught (and escape afterwards!). Grab some sunglasses because they be shadddddy! Knowing the history makes this a funny little pit stop thinking of all the scandal that transpired in Ketchikan's old timey Red Light District. I love it! It isn't out of the way at all to stop here, plus you can see a different vantage point of the Salmon Ladder from a more aerial point. Now if you hike all the way up, it's 20 minutes one way. The entire walk is shaded but mind my cautions mentioned above about the weather. At the top of the hike, you can grab a bite to eat before heading back down. This isn't a difficult hike but is indeed uphill so keep that in mind if you are not in shape, you'll be breathing heavy. Photo ops all over including with the Married Man street style sign!

This short trail was amazing. You get to see the stream where the salmon swim to lay their eggs…read more During June we did not see any salmon but it was a lovely shaded walk with the surrounding trees and sounds of the water. I did wondered how this trail got its name but there was no info that I could see that explained it. At the end of the trail was Creek street. This street used to be the red light district and you can pay $10 to see the Dolly house museum. Overall, a lovely picturesque area and colorful houses. Definitely an iconic and must see place to visit when in Ketchikan.

Hands down the highlight of our Alaskan cruise. We called two days before to see if we could…read morepossibly get on a helicopter last minute. Our cruise had canceled our Juneau port and so any helicopter tours there were cancelled, so we were pretty bummed and hoped that Ketchikan would be a little better when it came to getting on a helicopter. My husband booked the flight with the nicest woman over the phone who didn't make us feel pressured in any way. She was super informative and sweet. Our email told us to meet someone from the company near the bronze statue near berth 2, so we waited a few minutes and no one approached us and there wasn't anyone with a sign for the company, so we were a little confused at first. Eventually we were able to find the person picking us up and he was apologetic that he didn't have the sign on him, so no worries there. The tour headquarters is one of the comfiest places I've been, it was so welcoming and everyone is just so nice. We were given a safety demo and Ryan Maehs flew us in one of the cleanest helicopters I've ever seen. Ryan was super knowledgeable and took us to see great wildlife and even landed for about 20 or so minutes while we were able to put our feet in the water and enjoy Alaskan nature away from the crowds. Truly an awe-inspiring moment. Thank you, Ketchikan Helicopters, for being so great. And thank you, Ryan, for putting up with us and allowing us to enjoy Alaska.

My husband, son and I were in Alaska on a Disney cruise and I had specifically left our stop in…read moreKetchikan free of excursions while planning our trip. After my husband enjoyed the excursions at the other two stops on the cruise, he asked if we could book something for our day in Ketchikan, hopefully a helicopter tour. So the night before we docked, I looked on Yelp and found Ketchikan Helicopters and explored their website for almost an hour. I emailed Ryan at Ketchikan Helicopters and he responded very quickly with all of the information I needed. When we pulled into port the next morning, I was able to call Ryan and finalize the details for our trip. Ryan made it extremely easy to find him when it came time for the tour. He was so welcoming and reassuring. And he went out of his way to build a rapport with our six-year-old son, who very quickly lost all anxiety about going up in a helicopter for the first time. My husband is retired from the Army and he immediately felt comfortable with the helicopter given it's immaculate condition, which helped me feel more relaxed. (I had never been on a helicopter, so I have no idea what a well-maintained helicopter looks like. My husband on the other hand has been on dozens and dozens of helicopters.) Ryan made sure we experienced everything we asked for with the tour. He was able to take us where we saw five black bears. He sat the helicopter down for 20 minutes and let us explore the terrain ourselves. (This was amazing! It was so beautiful. It gave us our first experience in Alaska where we were far removed from anyone, which is rare for people who tour Alaska by cruise, but is common for backpackers.) It was a long tour and we felt we really got our money's worth for the excursion. We felt safe with Ryan's decades of experience and his well-maintained helicopter. And the landscape he flew us over was breathtaking. Words and photos can't come close to doing it justice. What's really cool is that both my son and my husband say this way the highlight of the trip for them. I think that's a pretty good endorsement, given the six-year-old really enjoyed all Disney was offering on the ship and my husband had a trip to Alaska on his bucket list.. Everything about the helicopter tour was wonderful. It was very easy to book it, even with very short notice. Ryan was not only a skilled pilot, he was also very warm and informative. You can book your tour with confidence.

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".

Chief Johnson's Totem Pole is 55' tall. The current pole is carved from a single western red cedar…read morelog, this striking pole is a vibrant expression of Tlingit storytelling and artistry. This pole is a replica of the original that stood from 1901 to 1982, and it honors the Kadjuk House of the Raven Clan. At the very top, the legendary Kadjuk bird perches - a powerful symbol for the Raven Clan and the family it represents. The original totem pole is preserved in the Totem Heritage Center.

The chief Johnson Totem pole!…read more Hey friends, if you are in town and don't have time to go to the totem parks or anything you're still in luck this example is really cool. It is not the tallest in the city but it is very impressive and I love reading about Chief Johnson on the plaque near the base.

We were picked up by Luanne and driven by bus to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary where we met our…read moreguide Ella. We walked casually through the forest while learning about the surrounding area and wildlife. We saw some eagles on our walk and eventually came upon the boardwalk near the salmon hatchery where we happened upon a black bear with its recent catch of salmon. After being mesmerized with the bear we walked further on the boardwalk to spy a ton of eagles perched in the trees and along areas in the low tide. Many full grown and juvenile eagles were spotted. Next we headed to watch a totem being carved them onto the blacksmithing area. Because we spent extra time with the bear we had a tad less time to wander around the grounds before boarding the bus again and heading back to the port. I thoroughly enjoyed the educational aspects of the excursion as well as the live appearances from the wildlife. It was an intimate tour with 11 of us total plus Ella. We really enjoyed the beautiful day outside along with wildlife spotting!

We took the rainforest totem pole salmon hatchery excursion. Emily our guide was excellent. She was…read morevery thorough in explaining things to us. We also got to take pictures along the way. As we approached the hatchery, Emily was informed there was a black bear eating salmon in the area. We ended up watching the female bear eating, resting, catching salmon, and walking next to us ( in a safe distance of course). It was such a wonderful bonus experience! The gift store was well stocked, and price was reasonable. Highly recommend!