13 Things To Do In Ketchikan, Alaska From a Cruise Ship

Have you been wondering How to Spend One Day in Ketchikan? Look No Further!

Ketchikan, Alaska is one of the most popular cruise ports on Alaska Inside Passage cruises… and for good reasons! There are so many things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from the cruise ship, and you won’t get bored no matter what you choose. From flight-seeing tours to hiking to entertainment shows, there are a million ways to spend one day in Ketchikan during your Alaska cruise. This post highlights 13 unique things to do in this unique coastal city.

This post specifically highlights things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from the cruise ship, so it takes into account the time constraints and scheduling limitations that cruise passengers have to abide by. Thus, you won’t be seeing any overnight tours or multi-day trips from Ketchikan on this list. For a more exhaustive, comprehensive list of shore excursions across multiple port cities in Alaska for your next cruise (including Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, and more!), check out my top 11 Alaska cruise shore excursions post on the blog.

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Misty Fjords National Monument is a wilderness area in southeastern Alaska that covers over 2.3 million acres of pristine, breathtaking land. An excursion out to the Misty Fjords is one of the most iconic and popular things to do on an Alaska cruise. The most distinctive feature of Misty Fjords National Monument is its deep, glacier-carved fjords, which are narrow, steep-walled inlets filled with seawater.

There are a variety of ways to experience the Misty Fjords (including by boat!), but the coolest way to see them in my opinion is to take a floatplane ride from Ketchikan! There are several different “flight seeing” tour operators in Ketchikan that lead tours over the Misty Fjords National Monument area, so make sure to do your own research to choose the best option for your travel party.

One important thing to consider when booking this tour is that weather is a critical factor in whether or not the tour can run on any given day. Note that even on a perfectly clear day in downtown Ketchikan, it may be unsafe to fly based on weather conditions closer to the Misty Fjords area. This isn’t something for you to worry about, but rather something to keep in mind while booking. If this is your top pick among the various things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska, I’d also recommend having a back-up option just in case!

2. Go on an Off the Beaten Path Photo Safari

If you’re a photography buff (like me!), you’ll love doing a photography-focused excursion in Ketchikan. Photography tours are unique because the guides are usually professional photographers themselves and will take you to all of the best (sometimes hidden) spots to capture epic photos! Plus, you have the added perk of being led by an expert who can show you neat tricks with your camera settings, angles, lighting, composition tricks, and more to create the best shot possible.

The nice thing about this Ketchikan photography tour is that you don’t have to have a fancy DSLR camera. An iPhone or smartphone camera will suffice and you’ll still end up with fabulous shots that you can share with friends and family at the touch of a button. I took the photo below on my iPhone camera and it turned out great!

This Photo Safari Tour in Ketchikan is 3-hours long and brings travelers to 8 unique photo spots to capture the beauty and cultural heritage of Ketchikan during your port day on an Alaska cruise! You’ll get to see some of the most iconic spots like Creek Street, but you’ll also venture to some off-the-beaten-path locations to ensure your photos are unique and memorable.

3. Zipline through the Tongass Rainforest

Did you know that the Tongass National Forest is the largest National Forest in the United States and is comprised of nearly 17 million acres? It’s a lush rainforest paradise, and you can experience a slice of it while in Ketchikan!

If you’re into adrenaline-packed excursions, ziplining through the Tongass Rainforest would be an awesome way to spend a day in Ketchikan! Plus, it’s a fun way to look for wildlife like Bald Eagles and and bears.

You’ll also get to cross suspension bridges and travel across 8 ziplines on this excursion. And if you’ve never ziplined before, that’s okay! They teach you the ropes and there are safety briefings and guided instructors present at all times. What an epic ziplining experience, and a wild one to do as your intro to ziplining! It might even set the bar too high (play the laugh reel), but hey–when in Ketchikan!

4. Embark on a Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour

Made famous by the show “Deadliest Catch”, the Aleutian Ballad commercial fishing ship is now permanently located in Ketchikan and you can learn about what it’s really like to work on a fishing boat in deep, frigid waters. Don’t worry, nobody has to get in the water but you may get wet!

This is a super fun excursion for travelers of all ages but most especially families or large travel groups who want to see what life is like on the “Deadliest Catch” boat and see some cool wildlife and marine life along the way!

Since this is one of the most popular and sought-after excursions in all of Alaska, you’ll need to make sure you book this one early because it does sell out. At the time of writing this post, several dates are already completely sold out for the 2024 Alaska cruising season. This consistently ranks as one of the top things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from a cruise ship, so don’t wait until the last minute to book this excursion!

5. Launch a Zodiac to Search for Marine Life

If you’ve never heard of zodiac boats, they’re basically inflatable open-air expedition rafts that transport passengers to harder to reach waters and other areas where larger boats might have more difficulty navigating. Zodiac expeditions are a lot of fun because you get to explore unique areas amongst a smaller group of passengers, and they’re usually more customizable to traveler interests compared to fixed-itinerary large boat excursions.

There are a few different options for going a zodiac expedition in Ketchikan and different companies and their offerings may appeal to different groups of passengers for different reasons. Some of the companies that leads zodiac marine life tours are Out to Sea Expedition Company, as well as Alaska Travel Adventures and Ketchikan AdventureVue.

6. Go Off-Roading to Mahoney Lake

Another adrenaline-packed thing to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from the cruise ship is to go off-roading in the forested areas surrounding Ketchikan! Off-roading is a wild adventure with bumps and turns and mud, which some travelers will love while other travelers might not enjoy as much. Personally, I love off-roading and the off-roading tours to Mahoney Lake in Ketchikan is an epic opportunity to get outside of the main downtown area.

This off-roading tour utilizes UTVs (utility-task vehicles) as opposed to ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), which is nice because UTVs are larger and more spacious compared to ATVs. Plus, travelers get the option to drive the UTVs (you can also opt to just ride as a passenger). You’ll likely see an abundance of wildlife (keep an eye out for Bald Eagles) and great scenery including lakes, forests, and possibly some neat streams and waterfalls depending on rainfall!

7. Sea Kayak Around Ketchikan

Ketchikan is one of the best cities in Alaska to go on a sea kayaking excursion because it’s surrounded by water! Plus, sea kayaking tours allow travelers to experience unique marine life and wildlife in an intimate setting. From whales to bears to fish to birds, the possibilities of spotting wildlife are endless on a sea kayaking trip.

Different sea kayaking companies take different routes, so it’s important to do some research about the various offerings before booking. For example, this sea kayaking tour takes travelers to the waterways around Clover Pass, whereas this other sea kayaking tour paddles out to Eagle Island. Another option is to take a sea kayak tour out to Orcas Cove.

Whichever sea kayaking tour you choose, you’re sure to have an amazing time. Paddling against wind or churning waters can prove physically demanding, so make sure you’re able to paddle for a few hours without straining yourself before committing to this adventure-focused excursion. A good way to prepare for a paddling excursion is to start doing rowing arm excursuses in the gym with lightweight dumbbells a couple months prior to your trip to help strengthen and tone your arm muscles!

8. Go on a Pub Crawl Around Downtown Ketchikan

One of my all time favorite things to do while I’m traveling is to go on a pub crawl to get a flavor of some of the town’s best bars and dives. Plus, if you’re paired with a good guide you’re sure to also get a history lesson and the opportunity to pick the brain of someone who is likely local or has at least been there longer than you (which means they can recommend some other great spots to visit after the crawl!).

This Ketchikan pub crawl stops at three of downtown Ketchikan’s most iconic bars for you to get a taste of the unique nightlife scene. With a cocktail or beer option at each stop, you’ll likely feel pretty good after this 1.5-hour walking tour! Ketchikan can also be pretty rainy, so I love this excursion as an option for those looking for an excursion that’s mostly indoors.

9. Search for Black Bears around Traitor’s Cove

If you’ve come to Alaska hoping to see some bears, this is the best way to do so! Bears tend to stay away from the bustling downtown Ketchikan area, so you won’t see any near the cruise ships. Even on excursions that go more off-the-beaten-path, there is no guarantee that you’ll see bears since their presence is so closely tied to feeding patterns, weather conditions, and activity levels. However, this Ketchikan bear spotting excursion takes travelers directly to the source of the black bear’s feeding grounds in Ketchikan.

One of the areas bears are most commonly spotted in Ketchikan is along Margaret Creek in Traitor’s Cove. The reason why they’re commonly spotted here is because of the enormous volume of salmon present during Ketchikan’s salmon spawning period that takes place during the summer months. This excursion takes travelers out to view black bears feeding on salmon at Traitor’s Cove during the mid-summer period (usually late-July to end of August/early September).

Since the tour only runs for about 1-1.5 months during the summer months, it might not be available during the earlier Alaska cruise voyages. Make sure to book well ahead of time to lock this excursion in because it does sell out! You won’t be able to get to Traitor’s Cove on your own without going on an excursion, so if seeing black bear is on your bucket list–this is the best excursion to book!

10. Enjoy a Guided 4-mile Alpine Lake Hike to Avalanche Chute

Getting out into nature soothes the soul, and hiking in Alaska is extremely magical! From old growth forests to a secluded lake, the hike out to Avalanche Chute is filled with gorgeous scenery. Trying to navigate hiking trails in Alaska can be tricky if you’ve never done it before, which is why I suggest tackling this hike with a guide to be on the safe side.

Hiking with a guide will allow you to learn more about the local area and surrounding ecological features of the trail. Plus, this excursion includes trekking poles, bottled water, and the use of a backpack, if needed! Plus, transportation is included!

Even if you plan to hike with a guide, I’d recommend signing up for AllTrails+ to download copies of the trail map for offline use just in case!

If you’re planning to go hiking in Alaska, don’t forget to pack these important hiking essentials!

11. Fly Over Mahoney Falls on a Helicopter

Mahoney Falls is an epic 1,500-foot waterfall located in Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska. During this incredible helicopter tour of Mahoney Falls, travelers will also get views of the Canadian Rockies and Price of Wales Island. Plus, you’re likely to see wildlife like mountain goats during your flight!

If you want to see a waterfall during your Alaska cruise but can’t do this Ketchikan helicopter tour, I suggest making a trip out to Nugget Falls if your itinerary has a stop in Juneau! For more things to do in Juneau, check out my blog post!

12. Snorkel the Waters Around Ketchikan for Vibrant Marine Life

Did you know you can snorkel in Alaska?! That’s right! Talk about an unforgettable excursion. This tour is one of the most unique on this entire list, and they provide everything you need to have an incredible experience (wetsuit and gear, as well!). I’d also make the argument that snorkeling is perhaps one of the most unique things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska from a cruise ship, so you’ll surely have a story to tell other guests back on the ship!

You’ll get the chance to see sea stars, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, varieties of fish species, and so much more during this expedition below the surface of Ketchikan! With the wetsuit, you won’t be cold or uncomfortable and the guides will be there the whole time to help you navigate any hesitations you might have. This is such a cool thing to do in Ketchikan, and I think snorkeling or diving in Alaska should be on everyone’s bucket list!

13. Visit Saxman Native Village and See the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Seeing the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and visiting Saxman Native Village are two truly classic Ketchikan experiences that I highly recommend to travelers with an interest in learning about the cultural heritage of Ketchikan and enjoying some live entertainment.

On this specific tour, travelers get to enjoy these two iconic excursions in one tour! The Saxman Native Village portion of the tour includes a visit to the Beaver Clan House for a traditional performance by the Cape Fox Dancers. Travelers will also visit the Carving Center to learn about totem making, and finish off their experience at Saxman Native Village by exploring the totem park.

During the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show portion of the tour, travelers will enjoy live entertainment in the form of physical strength and agility challenges set against the backdrop of the logging industry era in Alaska. It’s a lot of fun, and this is a great excursion to do with young children or elderly travelers in your travel party! Perfect for the whole family.

FAQs About Spending One Day in Ketchikan

Which cruise lines stop in Ketchikan on an Alaska Inside Passage itinerary?

There are over a dozen cruise lines that call in Ketchikan on Alaska Cruise itineraries. Some of the most popular larger lines that visit Ketchikan include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Disney Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Some smaller cruise lines that visit Ketchikan include Viking Ocean Cruises, UnCruise Adventures, Silversea Cruises, and Oceania Cruises.

How many cruise ships can stop in Ketchikan each day?

As many as 5 cruise ships can stop in Ketchikan each day. Considering some of the cruise ships that make stops in Ketchikan can carry as many as 5,000 people, the small town gets quite busy and excursions do book up quickly. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting to book your tours and excursions in advance!

What to buy in Ketchikan during an Alaska cruise?

My top recommendation for Ketchikan souvenirs and gifts would be anything salmon! Yes, you read that correctly. Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world! It’s fitting to remember the destination by enjoying smoked salmon dip or salmon jerky upon your return home.

Where to eat in Ketchikan on a cruise?

There are several great dining spots and restaurants in Ketchikan. Some of my personal favorites include Asian Garden Sushi Bar, Chico’s Mexican Restaurant, Burger Queen, and Alaska Fish House!

Even if you have access to free food on the cruise ship, I highly recommend eating one meal in every port of call. One of my favorite ways to become acquainted with a destination is through its cuisine and food offerings, and Ketchikan has an interesting mix of flavors and dishes!

Don’t forget to check out my Alaska Cruise Packing list before you embark on your voyage!