Ketchikan: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise with Eagle Sightings

Humpback Whales & Bald Eagles: Ketchikan's Wildlife Cruise

You board a small-group whale-watching boat in Ketchikan and cruise through the Tongass National Forest, watching for humpback whales, bald eagles, and harbor seals. The tour includes live narration, a stop to watch eagles feed near Metlakatla Island, time at Walden Rocks to see seals, snacks, coffee, tea, binoculars, and blankets. Meet 30 minutes before departure at the Berth 2 Visitors Center downtown.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife and whale watching tour

• Check in at Berth 2 Visitors Center
• Walk from cruise ship to meeting point
• Board boat at Thomas Basin harbor
• Cruise along Revillagigedo Island shores
• Explore Tongass National Forest waterways
• Stop at Metlakatla Island to feed eagles
• Visit Walden Rocks to see harbor seals

The experience

"Did you see that one breach?" Your guide points toward the water as the boat cuts through Tongass Narrows, and suddenly the whole deck leans starboard. This is how the day starts, not with a speech about Alaska, but with the thing itself. You cast off from Thomas Basin, where working fishing boats bob alongside the dock, and within minutes you're in the open water where humpback whales surface on their own schedule. The boat carries between 22 and 44 passengers depending on the day, which means you're never fighting for a spot at the rail. Your guide narrates as you cruise past Revillagigedo Island, the shoreline thick with spruce and hemlock, and explains why locals call the salmon that leap from the water "jumpers": a detail that sticks with you.

The Tongass National Forest stretches 16 million acres around you, the largest temperate rainforest on Earth, and it feels like it. Bald eagles perch in the treetops or cut across the gray sky; harbor seals haul themselves onto rocks to rest; and if the timing is right, you'll watch an orca or a humpback whale feed nearby. The tour regularly achieves about a 90% success rate for humpback sightings, though the company is honest about it: wildlife moves on its own clock, and no sighting is guaranteed. What is guaranteed is the stop at Metlakatla Island during peak season, where you'll watch bald eagles dive from overhead to snatch fish from the water beside the boat. After that, you drift over to Walden Rocks, where spotted harbor seals lounge in the sun, and your guide shares the local history tied to the place.

Ketchikan gets over 140 inches of rain a year, so bring a jacket and embrace it: the mist off the water and the gray light are part of what makes this feel real. The boat has indoor and outdoor seating, blankets if you need them, and binoculars to borrow. Coffee, tea, water, and snacks keep you steady through the hours. If you're arriving by cruise ship, the meeting point is the Berth 2 Visitors Center at 131 Front Street. Check in 30 minutes early. If your ship docks downtown at Berths 1–4, it's a short walk. If you're at Ward Cove, allow an hour to take the free shuttle and walk from Berth 4: about 20 to 30 minutes on the shuttle, then 8 to 12 minutes on foot.

What’s included

• Your trip includes snacks and pastries, coffee, tea, bottled water, and flavored sparkling water.
• Binoculars and blankets are available to borrow.
• You'll cruise through the Tongass National Forest, stop at Metlakatla Island to watch bald eagles feed, visit Walden Rocks to see harbor seals, and listen to live narration about Ketchikan's history and wildlife throughout the journey.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 May 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 12 years): free · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 66

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Eagle One Enterprises, LLC

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see Alaska's marine wildlife without arranging your own boat or timing: the fixed departure time and 90% whale sighting rate mean you spend your port hours on the water instead of planning logistics.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years): free; Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the success rate for seeing humpback whales on this tour?

About 90%, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and depend on the animals' own schedule.

How many people are on the boat?

Between 22 and 44 passengers, depending on group size and daily minimums.

Where do I meet the boat if I'm on a cruise ship?

Berth 2 Visitors Center, 131 Front Street. If you dock downtown (Berths 1–4), it's a 1–12 minute walk. If you dock at Ward Cove, take the free cruise line shuttle (20–30 minutes) and walk from Berth 4 (8–12 minutes).

What's included?

Snacks, pastries, coffee, tea, bottled water, sparkling water, binoculars, and blankets.

What wildlife might I see?

Humpback whales, bald eagles, harbor seals, orcas, seabirds, and occasionally deer or black bears along the shoreline.

What should I wear?

Ketchikan gets over 140 inches of rain annually. Bring a waterproof jacket and dress warmly. The boat has indoor and outdoor seating.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are welcome aboard.