ABOUT KETCHIKAN ALASKA
Ketchikan is five hundred miles north of Seattle. It is accessible by the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, Alaska Air, and Delta Airlines. Located on Revillagigedo Island, it is Alaskas first city, and as the first or last port of call for all Southeast Alaska cruise ships.
The historic downtown, wedged between water and forested mountains, becomes saturated in summer with cruise ship passengers, independent travelers, and seasonal workers. The town is built into steep hills and partly propped on wooden pilings, with boardwalks, wooden staircases and totem poles dotted throughout. By 1886, white settlers had opened the first of dozens of salmon canneries.
Ketchikan is five hundred miles north of Seattle. It is accessible by the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, Alaska Air, and Delta Airlines. Located on Revillagigedo Island, it is Alaskas first city, and as the first or last port of call for all Southeast Alaska cruise ships.
The historic downtown, wedged between water and forested mountains, becomes saturated in summer with cruise ship passengers, independent travelers, and seasonal workers. The town is built into steep hills and partly propped on wooden pilings, with boardwalks, wooden staircases and totem poles dotted throughout. By 1886, white settlers had opened the first of dozens of salmon canneries.
t soon became known as the Salmon Capital of the World.
Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. The word comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean the river belonging to Kitschk. Other accounts say it means Thundering Wings of an Eagle. The Island has the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles and internationally known totem carvers. You can see the Totems at Saxman Village, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park,
the Totem Heritage Center and throughout the city.
Bear watching, Eagle and whale watching are favorite pastimes of many of our guests. Marine and freshwater sport fishing opportunities abound. Sport angler can stay busy year-round fishing for wild trout, all five species of Pacific salmon, halibut, and a variety of other fish, crab, shrimp and clams. Roadside salmon fishing opportunities exist around the Island. The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the areas major attractions. Ketchikan is located in the Tongass National Forests. The abundant of streams, lakes, wild flowers, berry bushes, cedar, hemlock and spruce provide great opportunities for hikers and photographers to view birds and animals.
Average annual rainfall is 152 inches (3,900 mm); annual average snowfall is 37 inches (94 cm).
The average high temperature in July is 65 °F (18 °C), and the average high temperature in January is 39 °F (4 °C).
Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. The word comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean the river belonging to Kitschk. Other accounts say it means Thundering Wings of an Eagle. The Island has the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles and internationally known totem carvers. You can see the Totems at Saxman Village, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park,
the Totem Heritage Center and throughout the city.
Bear watching, Eagle and whale watching are favorite pastimes of many of our guests. Marine and freshwater sport fishing opportunities abound. Sport angler can stay busy year-round fishing for wild trout, all five species of Pacific salmon, halibut, and a variety of other fish, crab, shrimp and clams. Roadside salmon fishing opportunities exist around the Island. The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the areas major attractions. Ketchikan is located in the Tongass National Forests. The abundant of streams, lakes, wild flowers, berry bushes, cedar, hemlock and spruce provide great opportunities for hikers and photographers to view birds and animals.
Average annual rainfall is 152 inches (3,900 mm); annual average snowfall is 37 inches (94 cm).
The average high temperature in July is 65 °F (18 °C), and the average high temperature in January is 39 °F (4 °C).
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Ketchikan Websites
Bering Sea Fishermen’s Tour
Go fishing on the Aleutain Ballad- the vessel seen on the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch
Southeast Sea Kayaks
Sea kayaking trips on the protected waterways of the Inside Passage
Island Wings Air
Family Air Tours - Misty Fjords, guided fishing, U.S. Forest Service cabin transportation, and bear viewing
Southeast Aviation
Misty Fjords, air charters, and flights to Prince of Wales and British Columbia
Taquan Air
Baranof Fishing Excursions
Southeast Exposure
Sea Kayaking adventures, zip lines, rentals, and lessons
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Real lumberjacks log rolling, speed climbing, chopping & more
Wilderness Exploration & Crab Feed
Catch your own crabs & enjoy a feast at historic George Inlet Lodge
Panhandle Motorcycle Adventures
Ketchikan Outdoors
Zodiak Boat Tours
Horse Drawn Trolley Tours
Alaska Amphibian Duck Tours
Alaska Canopy Zip Line Adventure
PotLatch Park
Totem Heritage Center
Alaska Hummer Adventures
Customized private adventure tours in a state-of-the-art Hummer H2
Alaska Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary
Ketchikan Taxicab Tours
Private, Affordable, Sight Seeing Tours
Lighthouse Excursions
Small Ship Tours around the Island
City of Ketchikan
More about our City government and local information
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
Request the Ketchikan Visitors Guides online
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
The source for Ketchikan questions
Go fishing on the Aleutain Ballad- the vessel seen on the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch
Southeast Sea Kayaks
Sea kayaking trips on the protected waterways of the Inside Passage
Island Wings Air
Family Air Tours - Misty Fjords, guided fishing, U.S. Forest Service cabin transportation, and bear viewing
Southeast Aviation
Misty Fjords, air charters, and flights to Prince of Wales and British Columbia
Taquan Air
Baranof Fishing Excursions
Southeast Exposure
Sea Kayaking adventures, zip lines, rentals, and lessons
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Real lumberjacks log rolling, speed climbing, chopping & more
Wilderness Exploration & Crab Feed
Catch your own crabs & enjoy a feast at historic George Inlet Lodge
Panhandle Motorcycle Adventures
Ketchikan Outdoors
Zodiak Boat Tours
Horse Drawn Trolley Tours
Alaska Amphibian Duck Tours
Alaska Canopy Zip Line Adventure
PotLatch Park
Totem Heritage Center
Alaska Hummer Adventures
Customized private adventure tours in a state-of-the-art Hummer H2
Alaska Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary
Ketchikan Taxicab Tours
Private, Affordable, Sight Seeing Tours
Lighthouse Excursions
Small Ship Tours around the Island
City of Ketchikan
More about our City government and local information
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
Request the Ketchikan Visitors Guides online
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
The source for Ketchikan questions