Alaska's 'First City' and totem-pole capital — a rainy rainforest port where Creek Street's historic boardwalk, floatplane wilderness, world-class salmon fishing, and Tlingit heritage all sit minutes from the dock.
⚓ Docked (4 downtown berths + Ward Cove)🕓 Typical call: 7–10 hrs💵 US Dollar (USD)🌧️ Rainforest climate — waterproof everything
Docking
Up to 5 berths (4 downtown, 1 at Ward Cove)
Walk to center
0–10 min (downtown berths); free shuttle from Ward Cove
Best For
Totems · Flightseeing · Salmon fishing
Don't Miss
Creek Street boardwalk & Misty Fjords flightseeing
📄 Take this port with you
A printable port guide — key info, things to do & tips. Includes an editable “My Day in Port” box for your ship times & booked excursions.
Ketchikan has four downtown berths steps from Creek Street and one remote terminal at Ward Cove, 7 miles north. Where you tie up defines your whole day.
Which berth and getting to town
1
Downtown Berths 1–4 (best case)Step off and you're on Front Street, a 2–5 min flat walk to Creek Street and the Visitor Center. Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and Cunard typically get these slots. Berth 2 sits directly across from the Ketchikan Visitor Center.
2
Ward Cove Terminal (~7 mi north)NCL, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Viking often dock here. A complimentary shuttle runs every 15–20 min to downtown — about a 20-minute ride each way. The terminal has a welcome center and restrooms. Allow extra return time as lines build near all-aboard.
3
Occasional tenderOn peak multi-ship days a vessel may anchor and tender near downtown berths if all slips are full. Check your daily program the evening before.
💡 Pro move: Berth assignments change weekly — always confirm from your ship's daily program. The Ward Cove shuttle is free and frequent, but the return queue peaks 45–60 min before all-aboard: build in a buffer.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
For 2026, premium lines (Princess, HAL, Cunard) typically land downtown; NCL, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Viking commonly use Ward Cove — but assignments shift by sailing date.
Ketchikan packs Alaska wilderness, Tlingit culture, and gold-rush history into a compact port. Pick one headline outing, then wander Creek Street and the totem parks on foot.
Adventure
Misty Fjords Flightseeing
A floatplane soars over 3,000-ft granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and the volcanic spire of New Eddystone Rock before landing on a remote backcountry lake. The Alaska bucket-list flight — weather-dependent but unmissable when it runs.
Saxman is a living Tlingit village 2 miles south of town — two dozen totem poles, an active carving shed, and clan house dances. Totem Bight (north) has 14 beautifully restored poles in a rainforest park. Combine both for the full Indigenous culture experience.
A high-speed catamaran threads the same fjord at water level — glacially carved cliffs towering overhead, naturalists spotting eagles, seals, and humpback whales as you navigate the narrows to Rudyard Bay.
Ketchikan earns its 'Salmon Capital of the World' title. Half-day charters target king, silver, pink, or sockeye depending on the month; full-day trips add halibut. Many operators will pack and ship your catch home.
Late July through September, black bears crowd the Herring Cove creek mouth to intercept spawning salmon. A short drive from downtown; guided viewing platforms put you safely close. One of Alaska's most accessible bear encounters.
⏱ 2–3 hrs🐻 Bears (Jul–Sep)🚐 Short drive from docks
Log-rolling, speed climbing, axe throwing, and 50-ft springboard chops in a covered arena a block from the downtown berths. Forty-five minutes of crowd-pleasing competition — ideal for a short call or when the weather turns.
Downtown berths put Creek Street, the Totem Heritage Center, and the Cape Fox funicular all within easy walking range — flat, free, and worth every wet step.
Creek Street Boardwalk
~1 km · 30–45 min · easy · free
The iconic stilted walkway built over Ketchikan Creek — former red-light district, now galleries, shops, and the Dolly's House Museum. Watch salmon surge beneath the planks from July onward. Take the free funicular at the south end up to Cape Fox Lodge for sweeping harbor panoramas.
Start at the Ketchikan Visitor Center, detour to the Tongass Historical Museum, continue to the Totem Heritage Center (admission ~$6) housing 19th-century unrestored poles from abandoned Tlingit and Haida villages, then loop back along the waterfront. Flat and mostly free.
Switchbacks climb from near City Park through old-growth spruce into alpine terrain with sweeping views over Tongass Narrows and the surrounding islands. Only for the fit with ample port time, plenty of water, and full rain gear. Worth every step in clear weather.
Climate normals for Ketchikan, Alaska (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
39°F / 4°C
33°F / 1°C
22
8:03 AM
3:49 PM
Feb
38°F / 3°C
30°F / -1°C
17
7:09 AM
4:53 PM
Mar
43°F / 6°C
33°F / 1°C
19
7:00 AM
6:51 PM
Apr
49°F / 9°C
37°F / 3°C
20
5:41 AM
7:52 PM
May
58°F / 14°C
45°F / 7°C
14
4:36 AM
8:50 PM
Jun
61°F / 16°C
50°F / 10°C
17
4:04 AM
9:29 PM
Jul
65°F / 18°C
55°F / 13°C
17
4:26 AM
9:17 PM
Aug
65°F / 18°C
55°F / 13°C
18
5:21 AM
8:19 PM
Sep
59°F / 15°C
50°F / 10°C
19
6:20 AM
7:01 PM
Oct
51°F / 11°C
43°F / 6°C
20
7:18 AM
5:45 PM
Nov
43°F / 6°C
36°F / 2°C
22
7:21 AM
3:40 PM
Dec
38°F / 3°C
31°F / -1°C
20
8:08 AM
3:15 PM
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Insider Tips
🌧️
Waterproof everything. Ketchikan averages 150+ inches of rain per year. Pack a waterproof shell, waterproof shoes, and a compact umbrella regardless of what the sky looks like when you wake up.
🚌
Know your berth the night before. Downtown berths are steps from Creek Street; Ward Cove (7 mi north) means a free shuttle — allow 20 min each way and leave an extra 45 min before all-aboard for the return queue.
✈️
Book flightseeing refundable. Misty Fjords trips cancel in low cloud, which happens often. Have a backup plan (Creek Street, lumberjack show, Discovery Center) ready before you board the bus to the seaplane dock.
🐻
Bear viewing is July–September. Herring Cove is one of Alaska's easiest bear-watching spots — black bears fishing the creek mouth, viewable from a platform just a short drive from downtown.
🐟
Salmon in the creek is free. From late June through September, spawning salmon pack Ketchikan Creek under Creek Street — visible from the boardwalk boards above, one of the most purely Alaskan sights you can have for nothing.
🏛️
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is free. The U.S. Forest Service museum on the Tongass rainforest, wildlife, and Tlingit culture costs nothing and is 5 minutes from downtown berths — a rainy-day gem worth an hour.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
🚗 Ride-share: ✅ Uber, LyftBoth Uber and Lyft operate in Ketchikan; pickup times may be longer than in larger cities.🚍 Hop-on hop-off: ❌ No HOHO bus
🚌 Free Downtown Shuttle
Free
Free shuttle loops all four cruise docks, Creek Street, Thomas Basin, and Totem Heritage Center every ~20 minutes. Runs May–October on cruise ship days.
🚌 Public Bus (KGB The Bus)
per ride / day pass
Hourly buses cover downtown and outlying attractions like Totem Bight and Saxman. Day pass available via Token Transit app.
🚕 Taxi
.50 drop + ~/mile
Taxis are available but limited; pre-arranging is recommended. A typical downtown trip runs –.
📱 Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
Varies
Both Uber and Lyft operate in Ketchikan. Expect longer wait times than in larger cities; booking in advance is advisable.
🚃 Tongass Trolley (Guided Tour)
From ~$85/person
Narrated 2.5-hour trolley tour visiting key Ketchikan sights. A good option if you want commentary rather than self-guided exploration.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Ketchikan, Alaska, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
