Ketchikan, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Ketchikan

1. Creek Street

   A historic street of buildings on stilts over the creek, a 10 to 15 minute walk on city sidewalks from the downtown berths. In late summer the salmon surge upstream so thick you can nearly count them.

2. Totem Bight State Historical Park

   A few miles north of town, with a collection of restored totem poles standing in rainforest beside the water. It is recommended for photographs and atmosphere, and the trees make the poles look taller.

3. Misty Fjords National Monument

   A wilderness of 2.3 million acres east of the city, with glacial cliffs, waterfalls and saltwater fjords whose granite walls rise more than 3,000 feet from the water. It is a full excursion, not a walk.

4. The downtown docks and harbor

   Ketchikan is easy to explore on foot. If your ship docks downtown you step off into the shops and the working harbor, with floatplanes and fishing boats coming and going.

5. The rain itself

   It rains a lot here, and waterproof layers are the standard local advice. Wet boards, wet rock and a bright raincoat make better pictures than a gray sky, so do not wait for it to stop.

How the light works

Soft, gray light is Ketchikan's normal, and it is kind to faces and to the green of the forest. Shoot Creek Street and the totem poles under cloud, and keep the wide fjord shots for when the ceiling lifts. On the water at Misty Fjords, mist and even light make the waterfalls look taller and the granite walls glow.

Before you go ashore

Ships dock downtown, so Creek Street and the shops are steps away and Totem Bight is a short ride out of town. The big excursions, like Misty Fjords, run on their own boarding times, so watch the all-aboard time. Dress in waterproof layers and keep the phone in a dry pocket.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

How far is Creek Street from the Ketchikan cruise dock?

A 10 to 15 minute walk on city sidewalks from the downtown berths.

Where can I see totem poles near Ketchikan?

Totem Bight State Historical Park, a few miles north of downtown, has a collection of restored poles in a rainforest setting.

What should I wear for photos in the rain?

Waterproof layers, as locals advise, and a dry pocket for the phone. A wet street in a bright raincoat is a good picture, so do not skip the walk.