Beautiful forest with 4 unique ecosystems. We did a guided tour and it was great. There are pit…read moretoilets available throughout the forest. Such fresh air here. The trails were well maintained.

The Tongass Historical museum is amazing it have the history of Alaska like the gold rush and the…read moreAlaska Purchase and many wonderful displays and real native items. We enjoy it but we also went the gift shop they very nice items..

When the salmon are running, you have to stop by for even a few minutes to oogle the salmon jumping…read moreup the rapids or taking the easier fish ladder parallel to the stream. This is a quintessential Ketchikan bucket list item. It's inspiring to see the salmon, filled with determination, rushing the rapids to achieve their life's goal: finding a perfect spot to spawn. The viewing platform is decently sized, however the crowds will swell as the cruise ships dock and schools of tourists descend to the area, spilling out into the road. Hopefully there are no casualties! There are informational panels explaining the salmon lifecycle and their importance to the ecosystem, as their decaying bodies provide important nutrition to the plants and animals.

If you are visiting Ketchikan during the salmon run (late July is prime time) visiting this salmon…read moreladder is a must. Observing the salmon climbing the ladder on their journey upstream is a unique experience. There are informational signs here that describe the life cycle of salmon. Their journey is truly incredible. The Salmon Ladder Vista can be accessed from the boardwalk (many stairs) or from the street side with no steps.

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 had an amazing time at Chinook Shores in June of 2021. Everything was taken care of for…read moreus....the staff was incredible. We fished 12 hr. days, brought our catch back to the doc and the staff processed our fish and put it on ice for us. They even boiled some crab we caught and we ate it 30 min. after pulling it out of the water. It was pretty sweet. We enjoyed talking with all of the kids on staff, they were very personable and knowledgeable. The best day on the water was when we hired a private guide. We caught more fish that day than any other day, and learned some tools that we used the days following. I would highly recommend getting a guide for your first long day on the water for that reason. We realized after booking our trip that June may not have been the busiest time of year for catching fish. It sounds like late July/early August there are a lot more species in the water, and you spend more time reeling them in than sitting around waiting, which is something we became very comfortable with. Needless to say our group left with 100 lbs. of fish and stories for years. The lodging was perfect for our group of 6. Basic, but comfortable. The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you need to cook. Each couple took turns cooking dinner and it made it a pretty stress-free experience. The views from the lodge are hard to beat. We played cards and laughed until the sun set around 10:00pm every night. I would absolutely return to Chinook Shores for another Alaska fishing trip!

This is a great fishing lodge. They provide primarily self guided packages. Self guided means they…read moreprovide a great place for you to stay, boats in top shape, all the rods, reels, and fishing gear you will need, bait, and tell you the best places to find fish. They also clean, package and freeze your catch. They transport you to/from the airport too. Jeff and Nadra are the best! I highly recommend.

From start to finish this was an exceptional experience! We were picked up at the Ward Cove pier…read moreby a wonderful young lady, Brooklyn, who was very pleasant and a wonderful conversationalist who, being from the area all her life answered so many questions about the area. When we arrived to the fly shop we were given some basic information and then led to the plane with our pilot(Jim) and Brooklyn. Once in the plane we were given clear safety instructions by Jim and off we went. One of our group was a small plane pilot himself and even he stated that he was very impressed with Jim's piloting skills. The flight was smooth and the skies were clear which allowed us all to get beautiful views from all sides of the plane. The scenery was magnificent and the information given in a recorded message by our pilot Jim was very informative. We were able to land in the fiord and I can honestly say that the landing was perfection as you did not even know you touched the water before slowing down to drift! We were able to get out of the plane in water that was 600' deep and sit on the floats. The most peaceful place on earth and scenery that was indescribable. We got a photo op and more information about the history and area before getting back into the plane for the ride back to the dock. If you do anything in Alaska it has to be whale watching in Juneau and flying with Family Air in the Misty Fjords National Monument in Ketchikan. Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Family air is the best in the business! Easy to book, provides a shuttle from downtown, friendly…read morestaff, and very smooth flying. The whole package was incredible and would recommend to anyone visiting. Our pilot, Jim, made us very comfortable our first time flying in a small plane and showed us some incredible views. Will be back for one of their fly fishing charters next time.

My family and I just completed a fun kayaking tour with Eli & Maddie! We booked the Eagle Island…read moreexcursion through the Royal Princess on our Alaskan cruise. This was the perfect way to spend our time in Ketchikan. We saw sea stars, seals, a bald eagle and more! Eli & Maddie were patient and informative. Highly recommend!

Rose and Bree took us on a fantastic kayak journey. Saw bald eagles and leaned much about the…read moreecosystem.

We took our first cruise to Alaska and were excited to try salmon fishing during our stop in…read moreKetchikan. After reaching out to several charters, we decided to book with Nick at Doubletake Charters, and we're so glad we did. From the start, Nick was easy to talk to, honest about pricing, and clear on what to expect. I went with my wife, 6-year-old son, and brother-in-law, and Nick picked us up right from the port. He took us away from the busy downtown to a peaceful harbor, which was a great start to the day. At first, the fishing was a bit slow, but Nick was determined to make it a memorable trip. He moved us away from the crowded areas to a better spot and it paid off. We ended up catching three different species of salmon and a couple of unexpected rockfish. My son had an absolute blast, not just fishing, but chatting with Captain Nick and even helping him wash down the boat. The boat had plenty of room for all of us, and we never felt cramped. What started as a half-day charter turned into a longer adventure because we were having such a great time. Nick was more than happy to extend the trip. Afterward, he handled getting our catch to a local processor, so everything could be cleaned, frozen, and shipped home for us. I highly recommend Doubletake Charters to anyone looking to fish in Ketchikan, especially families with kids. Captain Nick is fantastic with children and makes the whole experience fun and stress-free. My son keeps asking when we're going back to fish with him again! The pricing was very fair, and Nick is super flexible if you want to tailor your trip.

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!