Private Boat Tour of Misty Fjords from Ketchikan

Watch granite cliffs and waterfalls rise thousands of feet while your guide adjusts the route to follow wildlife.

A private boat tour of Misty Fjords National Monument from Ketchikan led by a lifelong local, traveling four to six hours aboard a heated 34-foot vessel. The route covers New Eddystone Rock and Rudyerd Bay's massive cliffs and waterfalls, with stops for ancient pictographs and wildlife (bears, seals, humpback whales and orcas) that shape the day as they appear.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour of Misty Fjords

• Board private boat in Ketchikan
• View New Eddystone Rock
• Explore Rudyerd Bay fjord
• See granite cliffs and waterfalls
• Observe wildlife and pictographs
• Enjoy guided tour narration
• Customize tour timing as desired
• Return to Ketchikan

The experience

Four to six hours aboard the Explorer, a custom 34-foot aluminum boat with a heated cabin and private bathroom, takes you through Misty Fjords National Monument on a route your guide builds around what you want to see. Rick Collins, who has spent decades boating these waters as a Ketchikan resident, leads the tour and keeps the pace conversational rather than a constant feed of facts, though you can ask as many questions as you want. The boat carries binoculars, soft drinks, bottled water and rain gear, and Starlink WiFi means you can stay connected if you need to.

Rudyerd Bay is the heart of the day: a fjord walled by granite cliffs thousands of feet high, with waterfalls that drop straight down the rock face. You'll pass New Eddystone Rock and look for ancient pictographs on the stone. Wildlife sightings shape the itinerary. If a pod of killer whales appears, you stay and watch. Bears, seals, humpback whales and orcas move through these waters, and the guide adjusts timing and route based on what's active that day.

The tour is designed for cruise passengers with pickup and drop-off timed to your ship, so the whole experience fits inside a port call. The Explorer's modern navigation electronics and current marine charts mean the guide knows where to go, and the custom build of the boat (comfortable seating, a working head, heating) means you stay comfortable while the landscape does the talking.

What’s included

• Soda and bottled water.
• binoculars.
• rain gear if needed.
• WiFi on board.
• private bathroom.
• heated cabin aboard the 34-foot Explorer.
• pickup and drop-off timed to your cruise ship.

Information

Lasts 4h–6h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 425 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate3 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Explore Alaska Charters, LLC

Is this one for you?This is a private boat tour led by one guide, so the pace and route bend to what your group wants to see rather than following a fixed itinerary: ideal if you want to linger when wildlife appears or spend extra time at a particular site without holding up other passengers.

Traveler reviews

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1 verified traveler review

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Top questions

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 wildlife might I see on the Misty Fjords boat tour?

Bears, seals, humpback whales and orcas move through Misty Fjords, and sightings vary by season and time of day. The guide watches for them and adjusts the route when they appear, so if a pod of killer whales surfaces, you stay to watch rather than keeping to a fixed schedule.

How does the tour work if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Pickup and drop-off are included and timed to your ship's schedule, so the four to six hour tour fits inside your port call in Ketchikan without you arranging separate transport.

What are the pictographs I'll see in Rudyerd Bay?

Ancient pictographs are painted on the granite cliffs throughout Rudyerd Bay. The guide points them out and covers the history of Misty Fjords as you travel, though the tour stays conversational rather than overwhelming you with constant information.

Is there a bathroom on the boat?

The Explorer has a private bathroom on board, along with a heated cabin, so you have comfort during the four to six hour journey.

Can the tour route change if I want to spend more time somewhere?

Yes, the tour is custom and flexible. If your group wants to linger watching wildlife or exploring a particular site, the guide adjusts the itinerary and keeps you updated on any timing changes.