Ketchikan Gateway Borough: Coast, Culture and Forest

In Ketchikan Gateway Borough, forested coastal landscapes meet Tlingit culture, local history and trails into nature. Hand-carved totem poles, historic buildings and hikes of varying lengths offer different perspectives on the destination. When choosing your vacation rental, consider which experiences you want to shape your trip: sights in the downtown area, culture and history, or time on forest trails and along the coast.

Getting Here and Getting Around

Ketchikan International Airport is on Gravina Island and is accessible from Ketchikan by ferry. The borough’s bus system serves much of the area, including the cities of Ketchikan and Saxman. Services include regular routes and supplemental paratransit services. A seasonal Downtown Shuttle connects the cruise ship docks with key destinations in the downtown area. When choosing your accommodation, it may help to consider the places you want to visit together with the connections relevant to your travel dates. The shuttle operates seasonally; check the schedule when planning your trip.

Local History and Tlingit Culture

Downtown Ketchikan is a relatively small area that is easy to explore on foot. Historic buildings and streetscapes reflect the town’s development in the early 20th century. Public art, interpretive displays, cultural sites, museums, galleries and community spaces are part of the cityscape, alongside views of the water and connections to the working harbor. This makes downtown a good focus if you want to combine different cultural experiences during your stay.

At historic Creek Street, a wooden boardwalk and buildings built on pilings tell of the area’s layered past. This includes connections to fishing and maritime trade, as well as Creek Street’s former role as Ketchikan’s red-light district. The Salmon Walk Trail runs through downtown and along Creek Street. On this self-guided route, you can discover local attractions and watch for wildlife along the creek.

At Saxman Totem Park, hand-carved Tlingit totem poles stand amid a forested coastal landscape. The Tongass Historical Museum offers exhibits about the people, businesses and events that shaped the community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, interactive exhibits focus on the Tongass rainforest, regional wildlife and land use in Southeast Alaska. A small theater screens short films about Ketchikan and the surrounding region, including Tongass National Forest.

Forest Trails, Coast and Seasonal Wildlife Viewing

At Settlers Cove State Recreation Site, the Lunch Falls Loop Trail offers an approximately one-mile loop hike through the forest, with access toward the beach. The Lunch Creek Trail connects to a 3.5-mile extension on U.S. Forest Service land that leads to the Emery Tobin Lakes. So the trails differ in more than just length: the Lunch Falls Loop is a circular hike, while the Lunch Creek Trail extension leads to the lakes.

The season also shapes what you can see outdoors. Seasonal salmon runs at Herring Cove offer opportunities to spot birds, marine life and, occasionally, black bears. During salmon runs near Creek Street, numerous fish may travel upstream, drawing wildlife to the area. These wildlife-viewing opportunities add a different perspective on the destination to its museums and historic sites.

When planning your outings, also check current trail conditions: the Rainbird Trail has been closed indefinitely following a landslide in Ketchikan on August 25, 2024. Check its status before visiting.

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