What it's like
Tongass National Forest surrounds Ketchikan and covers a coast of rock, beach and dune. Its coastal temperate rainforest gets rain throughout the year, even at sea level, and its mountains rise straight from the tidewater.
A day here can start with a walk from downtown, where the forest begins at the edge of town. Trails run from easy lakeside paths to steep mountain climbs. Further out, backcountry roads lead to lakes and rivers, and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center downtown explains the ecology and history of the rainforest.
Good to know
- Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in North America, so bring rain gear for any walk in the forest.
- Summer rain is usually light and sporadic, with daytime highs in the high sixties.
- The mountain climb is strenuous, and some trails need a gravel-road drive.
- Taxis serve outlying areas outside town, and riders usually call ahead to request a cab.
Tongass National Forest
Tongass National Forest is the large forest that surrounds Ketchikan. Its trails, backcountry roads and waters are open for hiking, cycling, paddling and fishing.
Tours that go here
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Exclusive Skiff Fishing and Fresh Catch Wilderness Dining
Small Group Ketchikan Salmon Cooking Class and Dining Experience
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
A 40-acre temperate rainforest near Ketchikan, with forest trails, salmon spawning streams and a boardwalk through hemlock, cedar and spruce.
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
A Forest Service visitor center in downtown Ketchikan, with exhibits on the Tongass rainforest, native cultures and wildlife. A good first stop in town.
Margaret Creek Wildlife Observation Site
A Forest Service bear viewing site on Revillagigedo Island, where a rainforest trail leads to a platform over Margaret Creek. Visitors come to look for black bears, birds and salmon.
Creek Street
Creek Street is a wooden boardwalk built on stilts above Ketchikan Creek, the most scenic stretch of downtown. Shops, galleries and old brothel buildings line the walk.
The same kind of day, elsewhere
Hiking
