Journal destination
Stories from this city location. Explore published field notes, guided trips, and local perspectives.
The collection
01Located at the edge of town, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is the best primer for Ketchikan’s rainforest, salmon runs, and Indigenous culture. Use it to plan short hikes, wildlife outings, and private custom tours that match the mood of the day.
02Hovering between forest and sea, Guard Island Lighthouse anchors one of Southeast Alaska’s most accessible wildlife-and-culture boat trips. This short waterborne escape pairs eagles, totems, and maritime history on a tidy 2–4 hour excursion.
03Perched on pilings above a salmon-streaked creek, Creek Street is Ketchikan’s historic boardwalk—part working waterfront, part cultural corridor. This guide shows how to pair a short, atmospheric walk with wildlife tours, native heritage stops and photo-ready moments.
04From a floatplane window the fjords resemble a carved map of cliffs and glassy lakes; from a boat they reveal pictographs, whales, and waterfalls that drop from cliff rims like curtains. Misty Fjords National Monument is best experienced by air and water—here’s how to make the most of both.
05Moss-draped trails, eagle-guarded shorelines, and mist-veiled fjords: the Tongass National Forest is a place where forest and sea meet in dramatic fashion. This guide shows how to experience its best hikes, paddles, and wildlife encounters from Ketchikan.
06Navigate a tangled coastline where glaciers, salmon, and rainforest collide. This is the Inside Passage: a salt-scented corridor of fjords that rewards patient travelers with whales, black bears, and remote island beaches.
07A compact and richly interpretive slice of the Tongass, the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary pairs cultural history with coastal rainforest ecology—and a canopy-level zipline—making it a must-see half-day adventure from Ketchikan.