Glaciers and fjords in Ketchikan
Glaciers and fjords are not the main draw in Ketchikan, but the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument is the port's big outside trip. Granite fjords rise up to 3,000 feet, and the wilderness is reached by air or by water. The fjords are the reason many visitors make the flight or the boat trip from town.
Places to go
Misty Fjords National Monument
Misty Fjords National Monument is a wilderness of glacier-carved granite fjords near Ketchikan, reached by floatplane or boat. Icy blue lakes, waterfalls and glacial valleys sit inside its 2.1 million acres.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
What to expect
A day of fjords here usually means a floatplane flight of about 30 minutes from the Ketchikan waterfront over Misty Fjords National Monument. From the air you see granite walls that rise up to 3,000 feet, icy blue lakes, waterfalls and glacial valleys. Some visitors choose a boat tour instead, which runs into the fjords and lets you feel the vibration of nature up close.
Either way the outing is short and simple. There is no hiking to do. Because access is only by water or air, the fjords are something you see from the trip rather than walk into. Dress in layers, since the weather can change quickly from sunny to wet and cold.
Where to go
- Misty Fjords National Monument. Glacier-sculpted granite fjords rising up to 3,000 feet, with icy blue lakes, waterfalls and glacial valleys seen from the air or water. About 30 minutes by air from the waterfront, by floatplane.
- Misty Fjords boat tour. A boat trip into the fjords that lets you feel the vibration of nature up close, past granite walls and waterfalls. By tour boat.
Getting there
Misty Fjords is reached by a short flight of about 30 minutes from the Ketchikan waterfront. Floatplanes leave from the waterfront, so the trip starts close to the downtown docks. A boat trip into the fjords is the other way in.
When to go
The season runs from April to October. Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in North America, so rain can fall on any trip.
Good to know
- Pack rain gear and dress in layers, since the weather can change quickly from sunny and warm to windy and cold.
- Access to the fjords is by watercraft or air only, so the trip itself is the outing.
Questions
How do you get to Misty Fjords from Ketchikan?
Misty Fjords National Monument is reached by a floatplane flight of about 30 minutes from the Ketchikan waterfront. A boat tour into the fjords is the other option. Access is by watercraft or air only.
Is a Misty Fjords trip easy?
The flight or boat ride needs little physical effort, since you watch the granite fjords, lakes and waterfalls from the plane or boat. There is no hiking involved in the usual trip.
When is the season for glacier and fjord trips in Ketchikan?
The season runs from April to October. Ketchikan is very rainy, so pack rain gear for any day of your trip.
