Is there an age limit for the flight?

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and infants over 2 years old require their own seat per FAA regulations.

What should I bring on the tour?

Bring a camera, dress in layers for changing temperatures, and consider sunglasses to reduce glare.

Can flights be canceled due to weather?

Yes. Safety is the top priority and flights may be rescheduled or canceled if conditions are unsafe for flying.

Where does the tour depart from?

The flight departs from the Ketchikan Visitors Center on Berth 2, known as The Rock.

How long does the flight last?

The total tour duration is about 2 hours, with 60 minutes spent in the air over Misty Fjords.

Are snacks or drinks provided?

No, snacks and drinks are not included, so plan accordingly before or after the flight.

Soaring Over Misty Fjords National Monument: Alaska’s Premier Floatplane Adventure | Air Activities | Sightseeing Tour

Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument, located near the city of Ketchikan, offers a wild, seldom-seen wilderness best explored from above. This massive 2.3 million-acre expanse is a dramatic canvas of sheer granite cliffs, ice-carved fjords, and verdant coastal rainforest. On the Misty Fjords Flightseeing tour, adventure travelers have a rare chance to experience the monument’s jaw-dropping beauty from a small floatplane, combining the thrill of flight with close-up views of one of Alaska’s signature landscapes.

Departing from Ketchikan’s Visitors Center at Berth 2, this two-hour floatplane tour includes a 60-minute aerial journey aboard either a DeHavilland Beaver or Otter, iconic bush planes known for their rugged reliability on Alaska’s remote skies. With an experienced pilot at the helm, guests glide above cascading waterfalls that spill into glacially carved fjords, forests thick with spruce, hemlock, and cedar, and crystal-clear lakes that dot the terrain like scattered jewels. The panoramic window seats afford an unmatched vantage point over 3,000-foot vertical granite walls plunging into emerald waters, revealing the monument’s raw geologic drama shaped by glaciers tens of thousands of years ago.

What distinguishes this trip is not just the sights, but the storytelling—pilots provide detailed narration through headsets, bringing the landscape to life with insights into natural history and features you might otherwise miss. Wildlife sightings are common from the air: bald eagles soar on thermals, black bears roam the forest floor, and seals sometimes bob in sheltered bays.

Misty Fjords Flightseeing is safe and accessible, though guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The tour’s flexibility means routes may adjust depending on weather, sometimes including views of New Eddystone Rock to the south or Bell Island Hot Springs to the north. You'll want a camera at the ready to capture these views, but also to treasure the feeling of floating above one of America’s great wilderness treasures.

This flight highlights the unique role of Ketchikan as the gateway to southeast Alaska’s monumental natural wonders. Unlike hiking or boat tours, the floatplane tour covers vast distances rapidly, revealing hidden corners of this rugged landscape in a compact window of time. Whether you’re a first-timer to Alaska or a returning adventurer, seeing Misty Fjords from the sky offers a fresh perspective on a place where wilderness still reigns unspoiled.

Add this flight to your Alaska itinerary for an experience that redefines what adventure travel in the North can be — a perfect blend of natural spectacle, expert guidance, and aerial excitement.