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.

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 where all the action is. While standing at the bridge, I saw a seal but could not…read moreget my husband's attention get a picture of it cruising up the creek. It was so graceful and beautiful to watch. The street is one of Ketchikan's most famous attractions. It has a wooden boardwalk that sits on stilts above the water that winds its way past colorful shops and homes. Today, the street is full of shops selling souvenirs, handmade goods, and other one-of-a-kind, Alaskan-made wares. It was once the red-light district. Don't miss Dolly's House - a former "house of ill repute," which is now a museum dedicated to what Creek Street used to be. Be sure to check out the salmon run and ladder near the end of Married Man's Trail, where you can watch salmon swimming upstream. Unfortunately, we were too early in the season to see any salmon. It's a great place for photos.

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.

The website for Southeast Alaska Discovery Center states that "...this USDA Forest Service managed…read morecenter serves as a gateway to the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States." The museum is located just a street away from where the Ruby Princess was docked. Inside were informative exhibits and artifacts. And, with our America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass, we bypassed the entrance fee. Plus, we got a stamp for our National Parks Passport even though it's not a National Park. Pretty neat visit, especially getting to see totem poles not worn out by the weather.

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.

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.