Things to Do in Ketchikan: Tours, Tickets & Boat Trips
Wondering what to do in Ketchikan? The Duck tour (about $79) is the most-reviewed experience in Alaska’s First City — 90 minutes of downtown, Creek Street and the harbour by amphibious bus — and the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour ($249), aboard the Aleutian Ballad from the television series, is the most talked-about. Around them, the favourites are the wildlife and whale-watching quest ($178), a kayak eco-tour or Eagle Island paddle ($115–161), the off-the-beaten-path photo safari ($134), a rainforest walk and totem park ($125), the zipline park ($150) and, for the big finale, a floatplane over Misty Fjords. Ketchikan is a cruise port: most visitors have one day, and two is plenty. Much is free: Creek Street, the salmon ladder and Married Man’s Trail, Totem Bight State Park, the Deer Mountain and Rainbird trails and the Whale Park downtown cost nothing. Below you can compare every Ketchikan tour and ticket by rating and price, with free cancellation on most.
141 tours · prices per person, book with partner
All experiences in Ketchikan — FAQ
What are the top things to do in Ketchikan?
By traveller reviews: the Ketchikan Duck tour, the Ketchikan All-in-One tour, the off-the-beaten-path photo safari, the wildlife, sightseeing and whale-watching quest, the kayak eco-tour, the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour, the e-bike and rainforest hike, the rainforest canopy ropes and zipline park, Eagle Island sea kayaking and the wildlife safari. Compare all of them below.
How many days do you need in Ketchikan?
One full day covers the essentials — Creek Street and the salmon ladder, a totem park (Saxman, Totem Bight or the Totem Heritage Center), one water or wildlife tour and, from July to September, the bears at Herring Cove. A second day allows a Misty Fjords flight or boat trip, a kayak or fishing charter and the Deer Mountain hike. Cruise passengers typically have six to eight hours; choose one big tour and walk downtown before or after.
What can you do in Ketchikan for free?
Creek Street’s boardwalk and the salmon fighting up the ladder beside it in July and August, the Married Man’s Trail up to Park Avenue, Whale Park and the totems downtown, Totem Bight State Park’s clan house and 14 poles (ten miles north; free entry), Potlatch Park next door, the Rainbird Trail through the rainforest above town, the Deer Mountain trail, Ward Lake’s loop and Rotary Beach. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and the Totem Heritage Center charge small fees; Saxman Village charges for the guided tour.
Do Ketchikan tours offer free cancellation?
Most experiences listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time; flights and boat trips are refunded if cancelled for weather, and most operators guarantee you are back before your ship sails. The policy is shown on each tour before you book.