Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles Excursion (Ward Cove)
Description
Lighthouse Excursions is a locally owned & operated Ketchikan tour company based out of Ward Cove. We pride yourselves on providing guests with an experience of Southeast Alaska through local eyes. Your Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion is a grab-bag of some of Ketchikan's top attractions, with a little something for everyone. Whether you're a lighthouse enthusiast, a history and culture buff, or love seeing wildlife in their natural environment, this tour is for you! We're passionate about where we live, and we love showing it off to guests from all over the world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your boats are docked inside Ward Cove, which was once of the site of the largest pulp mill in the United States. Remnants of the old pulp mill can be seen on arrival to your dock, as well as from the water. You'll learn about the industries that once fueled Ketchikan as we leave your dock behind and head out into wilder waters.
View the beautiful Alaska native clan house & totem poles from the water. Your guides will share with you the history of the park and discuss Ketchikan's vibrant Alaska native cultures.
Along the first part of your journey, you'll see many local homes dotting your shoreline, some of them even on their own island! We'll tell you about the unique lifestyle of living remote in Alaska.
View the historic Guard Island Lighthouse from the water, complete with panoramic views of the seascape beyond. Your captain will discuss it's unique architecture, and share with you some of its history.
View the world's largest temperate rainforest from the water. We cruise along the wild shoreline of your remote islands, which are densely populated by Sitka spruce, Western Hemlock, Red & Yellow Cedar, and Red Alder. You'll have plenty of opportunities to observe the beauty of the forest from your tour vessel!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guests must be able to minimally navigate 3-4 steps on and off our tour vessel and transportation. Wheelchair service to and from the tour vessel is provided for those with limited mobility. Please reach out the operator to coordinate.
- NOTE: The tour operator is NOT able to provide transportation to/from downtown Ketchikan for this tour experience. To book the tour inclusive of a Ketchikan pick-up, please see the Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion (Ketchikan) listing.
Reviews(10)
Captain Tom, and crew Jared and Alex and driver Dan were also personable and friendly. It was almost like we stepped into family. Very accommodating. The descriptions of the things we saw, gave us an insiders appreciation of the Eagles totems and the lighthouse. The history of the region came alive. And the snacks on board were delicious. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting a fun, intimate excursion on a boat in the waters near Ketchikan. One suggestion is to be early enough for the excursion to get on the main deck, which is outside seating (if weather permits).
Very relaxing trip. We saw Eagles, Seals and beautiful scenery.,
So glad you found it relaxing :)
Had a great time. Captain was very knowledgeable and did a wonderful job pointing out eagles, totems, and lighthouse. Also gave us lots of local information. Crew was very nice and helpful as well.
Thanks for the great review!
We had a wonderful, relaxing boat cruise viewing the USCG lighthouse and spotting majestic eagles and adorable harbor seals. Captain Kyle and his genuinely friendly crew made the trip special with their knowledge and warm hospitality. The salmon snacks were an excellent touch that elevated the ride. Thank you Captain Kyle, AJ and Alex. A perfect outing—highly recommend!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review!
The best time I've had in Alaska!!! Love this excursion, bald eagles 🦅 and even a humpback whale 🐋
Wow! Thank you so much for the great review! So glad you had fun, and its always amazing to see a whale :)
Captain Tom Frazier and his crew provided us with an amazing experience! Captain Tom gave us great narrative & historical context on the the totem poles we were shown. We were shown a huge eagles nest on one of the small islands on the lake. While we saw individual eagles throughout the tour the absolute best viewing of multiple eagles was on the island where the lighthouse was located. At least 7 eagles were flying around, circling and interacting with each other mid-flight. It was quite a exhilarating sight! In addition to the eagles, totem poles, and lighthouse, we were also treated to beverages and light snacks on the tour. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Ketchikan, Alaska!
Great information, service and delicious Alaska style snacks. The views are outstanding, worth every minute!
We booked this excursion through a Norwegian Cruise and it was FANTASTIC. Went on it this morning. It completely exceeded our expectations. No bus ride involved - got on the boat directly from the pier at Ward Cove. Everyone on the boat was very nice and friendly. They served hot chocolate to start the trip, and I really enjoyed the snack during the trip of smoked salmon and their dip (which they give the recipe for!) with crackers. The guide and narration was great. They pointed out multiple eagles and eagle nests along the route. I got photos (bring the longest lens you have!) of at least 10 different bald eagles on the trip. In trees, on the shore, on a buoy, and perched on the lighthouse. Well worth the money - highly recommended!
Excellent tour. Captain Bailey and crew were outstanding. Captain Bailey’s breadth of knowledge about Ketchikan is impressive. We saw numerous eagles and a pod of orcas. The hot chocolate and salmon snacks were delicious. I would 100 percent recommend this tour to anyone visiting Ketchikan.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! It's great to hear that you had such a good experience. Captain Kyle Bailey is one of our longest serving captains and grew up in Ketchikan. We're grateful for all of his experience and knowledge. We hope to see you again next time you visit Ketchikan!
My wife and I enjoyed the "Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles" excursion very much. Knowledgeable crew, great scenery, and wonderful snacks. Highly recommended.
Thank you for the review and the recommendation! See you next time :)
