Ketchikan Walks and Next to Nothing Attractions

Ketchikan, Alaska is an interesting place to visit especially for its many Totem Poles which are located all around town.

FREE WALKING TOUR

The best FREE thing to do in any port of call is walk and Ketchikan has plenty of interesting places to walk to in its downtown area. For starters you can take a Free Walking tour which includes 25 points of interest within the downtown area. The two mile walk takes about two hours. Maps are available at many of the area merchants downtown.

Some of the sights you will see along the way include:

Creek Street - a wooden street or board walk in the old "red light district" on which Ketchikan's famous Dolly's House is located. Creek Street today is a collection of museums, historic homes, and shops resting on pilings above Ketchikan Creek. From the board walk you can take a tram up the mountainside to a restaurant for lunch with a wonderful view of the city. The board walk starts at 203 Stedman Street, just upstream from the Thomas Basin boat harbor—another point of interest. (on the walking tour)

Ketchikan's Museum & Library - is housed in the same building on Dock Street in downtown Ketchikan. The museum has an ever-changing display of Alaskan memorabilia and an excellent collection of Indian artifacts and old photos. In the library you will, of course find—books on Alaska. A wonderful place to spend a rainy afternoon! (on the walking tour)

Ketchikan Creek and Falls:
is downtown adjacent to the library, at the end of Creek Street. Enjoy the excellent views of the salmon runs that have made our town famous. (on the walking tour)

Totem Poles:
Ketchikan has one of the world's largest collection of totems. You will find totems in the Totem Heritage Center, downtown and scattered throughout the city. (The best collection of totems is at the Saxman Native Village. Check our other blog entrys.)

Ketchikan Totem Heritage Center - Admission $5
adjacent to the City Park between Deermount and Woodland Streets, The center contains some 33 original totem poles or pieces of poles collected from abandoned Tlingit or Haida Indian villages. A craft center provides a workshop for artisans and craftsmen, there are classes at the center that teach native Alaskans such arts as carving, tool making and basketry. A free 15-minute guided tour is available during regular summer hours. (on the walking tour)

Deer Mountain Hatchery:
adjacent to the Totem Heritage Center within walking distance of downtown, releases tens of thousands of coho and king salmon smolts (two-year-olds) each year. The $1 million facility has observation platforms and educational displays concerning the salmon's life cycle. It is the only municipally-owned facility of its kind in the state. (on the walking tour)

The Eagle Center:
is located next to the Deer Mountain Hatchery. This is your chance to see eagles up close. Make sure you bring your camera! (on the walking tour)

Liquid Sunshine Gauge:
graphically shows Ketchikan's 162-in. average rainfall—in feet. Located near the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau on the dock in downtown Ketchikan.

Deer Mountain Trail:
There are many hiking trails in Ketchikan. One of the most accessible is the Deer Mountain Trail. It is 3.1 miles and the trailhead is located at the end of Fair Street on the southeast side of town. Moderate hike. Recommended to pack rain gear. Excellent view of the ocean, mountain peaks around, local islands, and the forest.
A longer hike to Blue Lake is available, additional 2.0 miles of moderate hiking which will give you a wonderful view of the lake and the local mountain peaks. Wildflowers and wildlife can be seen all along the trail in direction of Blue Lake.

Salmon walk 1.75 miles
In downtown Ketchikan, Trail head begins at the Visitor Center. Easy hike with lots of interests about the pulse of Ketchikan. Salmon viewing, nice stream following the town.

Nob Hill walk 1.5 miles
Trail head in town at Eagle Park on the waterfront. Moderate walk due to lots of steep stairs, plan 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Interesting history of the town along the way and very nice view of the town on the hill top.

Waterfront walk 0.5 miles
Trail head on the north side of downtown at Harbor View Park. Easy walk along the water edge of the harbor offering several views of the town and numerous floating docks and piers that parallel the business district.

SHOPPING IN KETCHIKAN

OK - Shopping isn't really free but there is one MUST SEE gallery in Ketchikan and that is the SOHO COHO Contemporary Art and Craft Gallery which you will find in the historic Star Building at #5 Creek Street. I Include this because it is owned an operated by Ray Troll and his family. Ray Troll is one of the funniest and fishiest artists around Alaska and is well known throughout the state. Check out www.trollart.com

For the rest of your Ketchikan shopping discoveries you will find most of that along Creek Street.