Ketchikan Rainforest Tour: Bears, Eagles & Salmon

Two and a half hours in the rainforest: old-growth trees, wildlife viewpoints, and a native village

A guided walking tour through Ketchikan's Tongass National Rainforest with a live English-speaking guide, limited to 12 guests. You'll walk ocean and cove viewpoints to spot bears, eagles, seals and whales; pass the salmon spawning pools and oldest trees in the area; see the totems at Saxman Native Village; and finish at Creek Street, Ketchikan's historic boardwalk, where you can ask to be dropped off. The tour runs rain or shine and takes 2.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ketchikan Rainforest and Wildlife

• Guided walk at ocean and cove viewpoints
• Pass by Saxman Native Village to see totems
• View salmon spawning pools and old trees
• Pass by Creek Street historic boardwalk

The experience

You arrive in Ketchikan with a free afternoon or a port call window, and the rainforest is the reason you came. This tour puts you on foot through the Tongass National Rainforest with a guide who knows where the wildlife congregates and what the old-growth trees are. You'll walk to ocean-facing and cove-facing viewpoints where bears, bald eagles, seals and whales actually appear, not guaranteed, but the guide reads the conditions and positions the group where sightings are likeliest. The walk takes you past the salmon spawning pools of Ketchikan Creek and the tallest, oldest trees in the area, so you're moving through the landscape itself, not watching it from a distance.

Two stops break the forest walk. Saxman Native Village sits on your route, and the guide will explain the totems there rather than rush past them. At the end, Creek Street (the historical boardwalk where Ketchikan's past lives in the buildings) comes into view, and you can ask to be dropped there instead of heading back, so the afternoon doesn't end when the tour does. The group stays under 12 people, which means the guide can adjust the pace and watch for wildlife without herding a crowd. Rain or shine, you go. Dress for the weather and the wet underfoot.

The tour includes a custom downtown map and a port call texting service, so if your ship is your anchor point, the guide can coordinate the timing. Strollers work for infants and small children. Service animals are welcome. Public transit is nearby if you need it before or after.

What’s included

• Custom downtown map.
• port call texting service.
• live guide in English.
• small group limited to 12 guests.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Ketchikan

Is this one for you?At 2.5 hours, the tour leaves room for a meal or a walk through downtown Ketchikan before or after, making it a piece of a larger afternoon rather than your whole port call. The small group size means the guide can pause for wildlife and adjust the route to the day's conditions instead of sticking to a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What wildlife will I actually see on this Ketchikan rainforest tour?

Black bears, bald eagles, seals and whales are the animals the guide positions you to spot, though sightings depend on the day's conditions and the season. The guide reads where the wildlife congregates and leads the group to the best viewpoints for each.

How long is the tour and does it fit a cruise ship schedule?

The tour runs 2.5 hours, which fits a typical port call window. The port call texting service keeps you connected to your ship's departure, and you can arrange to end at Creek Street instead of returning to the starting point if that works better for your schedule.

What is Saxman Native Village and what will I see there?

Saxman Native Village is a stop on the tour route where the guide explains the totems and the cultural significance of the site. It's a brief stop during the walk, not a separate destination.

What should I wear and bring for a rainforest walk in Ketchikan?

Dress comfortably for the weather and wear shoes suitable for wet ground, since the rainforest is damp year-round. The custom downtown map you receive helps you navigate before and after the tour.