10 best things to do in Ketchikan Alaska from a cruise ship

Hi there!

If you have one full day in Ketchikan from a cruise ship, you’ll likely have time for 2 solid activities!

You can do something like a morning excursion, and then in the afternoon you can do something from the cruise port on your own!

There are tours in Ketchikan you’ll want to consider, and then there are also a number of things that you can do on your own by walking from the cruise port, or by taking the free downtown shuttle or cheap city bus.

I have been to Ketchikan 5 times by cruise ship, so I’ve had a chance to do a bunch of different things!

This includes fun and memorable excursions, along with free and cheap things on my own! I’ve done things walking from the cruise ship, as well as by taking the city bus and downtown shuttle too.

I’ll talk about how and when I took those types of transportation below!

Here are the things to do in Ketchikan cruise port that you need to know about for one day in Ketchikan!

 

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Creek Street is the most famous street in Ketchikan.

It’s a boardwalk path for walking only that is lined with colorful buildings that are a part of Ketchikan’s history.

Creek Street is right alongside Ketchikan Creek, where you might see salmon swimming (in season) and even some harbor seals! During salmon season, there have even been bears spotted along the creek from Creek Street.

You might see salmon from the middle of July through early September.

From Creek Street, you can continue walking on the boardwalk on a “street” called Married Man’s Trail to the salmon ladder.

 

 

How to get to Creek Street

Creek Street is located in downtown Ketchikan and is easily walkable from cruise ships docked downtown! Depending on where your cruise ship is docked, it will take 5-15 minutes to walk to Creek Street. (map)

The first time I went to Creek Street was actually maybe less than an hour before I had to be on the cruise ship. I had done something by bus on my own in the morning, and then did an afternoon excursion.

That left the time right before I had to be back on the cruise ship to go to Creek Street! So, you can make Creek Street a relatively quick thing, or you can spend some extra time.

If you’re docked downtown (which are most major cruise lines not named NCL), then you can do an easy walk to and from Creek Street with one hour.

See more about easy walking in Ketchikan.

 

 

Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness is part of the largest national forest in America, that is the Tongass National Forest!

And you can go to Misty Fjords from Ketchikan!

Seeing Misty Fjords from above on a seaplane tour is an absolutely amazing experience. You will get a sense of Alaska’s vast wilderness.

 

 

You can also do a Misty Fjords seaplane tour that comes with a wilderness water landing so that you can land in remote Alaska which is another amazing experience!

Plus, small aircraft like seaplanes and floatplanes are a way of life in Alaska. (Seaplanes and floatplanes are basically the same thing if you know nothing about airplanes. 🤪)

So by having the experience of flying in a seaplane, you are experiencing the Alaskan lifestyle!

See more about the best flightseeing tours in Alaska.

 

 

How to book a Misty Fjords seaplane tour

I did my Misty Fjords seaplane tour through Island Wings.

There are also Misty Fjords tours on viator where you can read the reviews.

 

You can also experience the Alaskan wilderness by going to another fjord in Ketchikan, by doing the George Inlet Fjords boat tour.

 

Tongass National Forest tour to see bears in August

Wildlife is wild so there’s never any guarantee! But Traitor’s Cove is an area that bears frequent in Tongass National Forest. So the Traitor’s Cove Black Bear Expedition will give you a chance to see bears (maybe!) and experience the largest national forest in the US! (You’ll take a boat to get there.) Read the reviews.

 

 

Ketchikan is one of the best cruise ports to see totem poles during your Alaska cruise, and Totem Bight State Historical Park is one of the big reasons!

By going to Totem Bight State Historical Park, it’s like you’re walking through a living museum of Native Alaskan culture to the coast to see more than 10 totem poles.

It’s in a picturesque setting, and you’ll be walking the totem trail through a forest to the coast.

 

 

How to go to Totem Bight State Historical Park

You can go to Totem Bight State Historical Park on your own!

You can take the public bus from downtown Ketchikan (or from the highway near Ward Cove), and there is a bus stop directly inside the state park.

You can use google maps to navigate to the bus stop and to figure out bus timings.

It’s $2 each way (confirm current fees), and you’ll want to bring exact change, or prepare ahead of time to be able to use the Token Transit app to pay for your bus fare.

I went to Totem Bight on my own, and it was easy enough! Plenty of other people from the cruise ship also go to Totem Bight State Park on their own, so it’s something that’s not difficult. You just need to make sure you’re ready to pay the bus fare.

 

Is Totem Bight State Park the only place to see totem poles in Ketchikan?

As one of the best cruise ports to see totem poles during your Alaska cruise, there are many places that you can see totem poles in Ketchikan!

Along with Totem Bight State Historical Park, the other main park to see totem poles is Saxman Park. You can take a bus to get there, or cruise lines offer combination excursions to go there. You can look for the Saxman Native Village excursion with a cultural performance.

There is also a combo tour where you can see the Saxman Native Village and lumberjack show as one excursion.

 

 

You can also see totem poles just by walking around downtown Ketchikan.

If you don’t want to leave it to chance, then you can look on google maps for the Chief Johnson totem pole near Creek Street, Eagle Park near the cruise ship docks, Whale Park that you can walk past on your way to Creek Street, and the Totem Heritage Center that you can walk to or get to by taking the free downtown shuttle.

 

 

Are there totem pole tours in Ketchikan?

There are combination tours in Ketchikan that include a walk to see totem poles.

A guided tour to see totem poles allows you to get a better appreciation of Alaskan Native culture! The guides often share interesting stories and insights about the history and cultural significance of each totem pole. It’s like you get to hear the hidden stories and meaning behind these amazing carvings which allows you to get a deeper understanding of the cultural importance of totem poles.

Among the best tours to see totem poles are the tours that include a rainforest walk, like the 3 Hour Rainforest Walk and Totem Park tour that goes to Potlatch Totem Park and Settlers Cove State Recreational Site, or the 2 Hour Alaska Rainforest Walk and Totem Park Small Group Tour that goes to Totem Bight State Park and Tongass National Forest.

 

Is Ketchikan the only cruise port to see totem poles?

Ketchikan is just one of the cruise ports that you can see totem poles during your Alaska cruise! Sitka and Juneau are other Alaska cruise ports that are great for seeing totem poles, and you can see them on your own through easy walking in Sitka and easy walking in Juneau.

 

 

 

The salmon ladder is so fun! If you’re in Ketchikan during salmon season, then you can watch salmon climbing up the ladder!

Now, of course they are not literally climbing up a ladder. The salmon swim upstream so what you are seeing is them attempting to get further along by jumping up the “ladder.”

Stay awhile and watch tons of salmon jumping up at the ladder!

 

How to go to the Salmon Ladder

There are signs all around downtown Ketchikan for main attractions, and as you’ll walking around Ketchikan, you’ll see a sign for the fish ladder (which is the salmon ladder). Otherwise, on google maps, it’s listed as the salmon ladder observation platform. (map)

You’ll go to the salmon ladder alongside a walk to Creek Street. Creek Street connects to the Married Man’s Trail which will lead you to the salmon ladder. Or, if you’re coming from the opposite direction, you’ll start at the bridge at the salmon ladder, then walk the Married Man’s Trail to Creek Street!

Coming from Creek Street, there are stairs to get to Married Man’s Trail, which is a boardwalk lined with trees.

 

 

You can turn your walk to the salmon ladder into a longer “salmon walk.” The Salmon Walk is a walking route that was created as a 1.5 mile loop, following Ketchikan Creek upstream in the same direction as the salmon.

Another fun salmon stop is near the Harris Street bridge (map). Once you’re at Harris Street bridge, you can look down at the creek to see that there’s a spot you can go to in order to get closer to the water. (There will probably be people there.) You can go down there to get a closer look at the salmon!

See more easy walking to do in Ketchikan.

 

Is Ketchikan the only cruise port to see salmon swimming?

Ketchikan is the best cruise port to see salmon swimming. But in Skagway, you can also get an up close view of salmon swimming in the creek through easy walking in Skagway.

 

 

The Deadliest Catch tour is one of the most popular excursions in Ketchikan. This is the Bering Sea crab fisherman’s tour.

If you’re a fan of the Deadliest Catch TV show, then you will love this tour.

In case you don’t know, the Deadliest Catch is a reality TV show that documents the life of fishermen onboard their boat in the roughest seas in the world. One of these fishing boats was the Aleutian Ballad, which now sits in Ketchikan.

The Aleutian Ballad is the boat that was seen on TV on the Discovery Channel. That is the boat that you will be going on!

The fishermen lived and worked onboard in the Bering Sea and literally risked their lives to catch crabs at sea. (The boat captain for the Sitka Sound tour I did even said he knew someone who died working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea!)

No, you will not be experiencing the rough seas of the Bering Sea (that’s nowhere near Ketchikan), but you will get an introduction to the fisherman lifestyle and have an interactive experience with Alaskan sea life.

It’s a rather touristy experience, but almost everyone who goes on the tour loves it. And tons of people say that the tour exceeded their expectations. You can read the reviews.

 

How to book a Deadliest Catch tour

The Deadliest Catch tour is offered through cruise lines, and you can book the same tour in other ways as well. The official website is the Alaska crab tour website.

Be sure to read the reviews for the Deadliest Catch tour on viator and the Deadliest Catch tour on getyourguide.

No matter how you book, you will be on the same boat. So if you don’t book through the cruise line, you’ll still be on a tour with other cruise ship passengers who did book through the cruise line. The only difference is your meeting spot, and those details will be in your booking email.

 

 

Ketchikan is one of the best cruise ports to get a glimpse of a rainforest in Alaska!

There are a bunch of rainforest tours in Ketchikan. You’ll get a local guide who is passionate and knowledgeable about the Southeast Alaska rainforest.

There are different types of rainforest tours, depending on how much you want to walk and/or if you want to experience Ketchikan in a different way too.

You can get a rainforest hike + e-bike combo tour, or a rainforest walk + totem combo tour, or a dedicated hiking-only tour in Tongass National Forest!

 

 

More hiking in Ketchikan

If you’re an experienced hiker with all day in Ketchikan, you can also look up the Deer Mountain Trail. This is considered one of the best hikes in Ketchikan. See more about hiking in Alaska cruise ports.

The Rainbird Trail used to be a free and easy way to see a rainforest in Ketchikan, but it’s reported as closed. Check for official updates.

 

Ketchikan is a rainy place!

And in May 2025, the record for the most rainfall in Ketchikan in one day was broken!

It’s a good idea to be prepared for rain in Ketchikan. Even a simple rain poncho can be a good idea!

See more about what to wear in Alaska.

If you plan to go hiking during your cruise, or even just a lot of walking, waterproof shoes can be a good idea! This is especially true for Ketchikan. (That thing about it being a rainy place.)

 

 

Snorkeling in Alaska?!?!?! Yes really. 🤣

Isn’t the water cold?!?!

Yes, the water is cold.

But no, YOU will not be cold when swimming in Alaska’s frigid waters!

That’s because you’ll be wearing a thick wetsuit, and it really does keep you warm while swimming in cold water!

 

 

Now don’t expect to see the same underwater life as you would snorkeling in tropical waters, but it’s snorkeling Alaska style!

I thought it was exciting to see red jellyfish, white jellyfish, orange starfish, and purple starfish!

 

 

How to book the Ketchikan snorkeling tour

The snorkeling tours at Mountain Point are through Snorkel Alaska.

Be sure to read the reviews.

If you’re looking for something a little less intensive but still want a chance to see Alaska’s marine life, you’ll want to take a look at doing the low tide excursion with beach bonfire!

 

There is also a snorkeling tour in Sitka through Selkie Snorkels. Read the reviews.

 

 

Ketchikan is one of the best cruise ports to do a fishing excursion, and you’ll be able to do a private fishing charter in Ketchikan.

In Ketchikan, there are 5 types of salmon: king salmon (chinook), coho salmon (silver), chum salmon (dog), pink salmon (humpy) and sockeye salmon (red). Each type of salmon has its peak runs, so which type of salmon you’ll find fishing will depend on the time of year you go.

Generally speaking, salmon fishing season in Ketchikan is from May through September or October. The peak run for King Salmon tends to be mid-May to June, while the peak runs for other types of salmon tends to start mid-July and lasts through mid-August or into September depending on the type of salmon.

For further reading, here is a pdf about salmon in Ketchikan from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

 

 

If you’re looking for a place to eat fresh Alaskan seafood in Ketchikan, you want to go to the Alaska Fish House.

For a classic Alaskan dish, you’ll want to get something with salmon or halibut! See the menu.

There’s indoor seating (of course), and then there’s also an outdoor observation deck at the back that overlooks the harbor. So you can order a beer and stand outside to drink with views. They have Alaskan beer too.

 

 

If you’re doing the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, then afterwards, you can walk a few minutes to get to the Alaska Fish House! Because of its popularity and convenient location, you might have to wait for a seat, though!

The busiest time is between 11am to 2pm, so it’s best to avoid that time if you can.

 

Ketchikan is also a cruise port that you can do an epic food excursion during your cruise, like the crab feast at a historic lodge!

You can also make it a combo tour that includes Tongass National Forest and an Alaskan meal by doing the wilderness boat tour with crab feast.

 

 

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is one of the most popular things to do in Ketchikan.

This is a show for entertainment, while seeing real lumberjacks do real Alaskan lumberjack tasks!

 

 

You can do the lumberjack show as a standalone activity, and there are also a bunch of different combination tours that include the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

Axe throwing is one of the combo tours that you can do, and it’s fun! It’s also a way to get a core workout in during your cruise. 🤪 A day or 2 later, my core was sore and I was very confused… and then I realized it was from the ax throwing!!

If you’ve never done ax throwing, then you can forever say that the first time you did ax throwing was in Alaska!

So be sure to look at the Great Alaskan lumberjack show and axe throwing combo tour.

The axe throwing can be done by kids 10 and up.

 

 

How to buy tickets for the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Cruise lines sell tickets for the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, and there are also a number of combination tours that include the show. So you can look for the lumberjack show through your cruise line. If you book through the cruise line, you will get a ride to the show.

If you want to book direct, then you can buy tickets directly through the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Tickets are also sold on-site, although this is subject to availability.

The website says that axe throwing is not available after all shows.

You can look on viator for the lumberjack show and axe throwing combo tour, and on getyourguide for the lumberjack show and crab feast combo tour.

The lumberjack show is in downtown Ketchikan, so if you’re on a cruise line not named NCL, then it’s reasonable to walk there on your own. It will be a 5-15 minute walk from the cruise ship, depending on where exactly you are docked.

If you are on a Norwegian cruise ship, then you won’t dock in downtown Ketchikan so you’ll want to leave plenty of time to get the shuttle from Ward Cove to downtown, if you want to don’t want to book a lumberjack excursion through NCL.

 

More axe throwing in Alaska

If you don’t get a chance to do axe throwing in Ketchikan, then you must do axe throwing in Skagway!

You can have a 60 minute axe throwing experience in Skagway! Axe throwing is fun!

 

 

Where does the cruise ship dock in Ketchikan?

Most major cruise lines dock in downtown Ketchikan. If your cruise ship docks downtown, then you can walk everywhere downtown directly from the cruise ship!

There are 4 berths downtown, and the one that’s furthest away is a 15 minute walk to the main area of downtown. The closest ones are pretty much a 1 minute walk to the main area!

You can know which berth your cruise ship will be docking at by checking the 2025 Alaska cruise port schedule, although this is subject to change.

The most notable cruise line (aka big name) that doesn’t dock downtown is NCL, which docks 20 minutes away by car at Ward Cove instead. See Ward Cove tips.

 

For a better visual of walking around from the cruise ship, see the Ketchikan cruise port map. (This also includes where your cruise ship will dock.)

 

Top 10 in more Alaska cruise ports: Top 10 in Juneau | Top 10 in Skagway

Things to do in other cruise ports: Icy Strait Point | Sitka

 

HAPPY DOING THINGS IN KETCHIKAN CRUISE PORT!