Ketchikan, Alaska Information
The Salmon Capital of the World is located near the bottom of the southeastern Alaska Panhandle. It's a small town of nearly 8,000 people and its name comes from a nearby creek that the native Tlingit people call "Thundering Wings of an Eagle." The place is Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan has a strong native culture that the town proudly embraces. It is home to the world's largest collection of standing totem poles - definitely a site that should not be missed. Ketchikan is situated on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles north of the Canada-U.S. border at the entrance to the Tongass Narrows and at the base of Deer Mountain.
Ketchikan is pure Alaska. As a major fishing port and tourist destination, it is located near the Tongass National Forest, a 17 million acre forest. The Tongass National Forest is a place that is well worthy of a visit. It is a temperate rainforest that encompasses islands, coastal mountains, glaciers, and fjords that would make any wilderness photographer drool with delight. Wildlife of all sorts call the National Forest home - both black and grizzly bears are common on the mainland and on the islands of the Inside Passage. There are countless streams, rivers, lakes, and fjords that are spawning grounds for the five types of Alaskan Salmon. The nearby coast is bountiful with all sorts of fish and shells. Keep your eyes open and you may spot mountain goats on the surrounding peaks, Sitka black-tailed deer on the rocky coastline, moose among the cedar trees, or bald eagles soaring in the bluebird sky.
Did You Know?
Misty Fjords National Monument is 22 miles east of downtown Ketchikan.
The Tongass National Forest is huge. In a special wilderness area that is close to Ketchikan is the "Yosemite of the North," Misty Fjords National Monument. Misty Fjords is wild. It covers 3,570 square miles. It is surrounded by volcanoes and is home to major rivers that flow from glaciers. Glaciers have carved 3,000-foot canyons through the area making for amazing scenery. The area is ideal for photographers looking for the perfect Alaskan photo, divers examining aquatic life, hunters searching for a new trophy, fishermen taking advantage of the salmon spawning grounds or of the lake-living Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout, sea kayakers exploring the fjords, or hikers who want to experience the fresh smells of the pristine wilderness.
Town Information:
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
131 Front St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-6166
http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/
City of Ketchikan
334 Front St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3111
http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/
Population: 7,368 (2007 census)
Location: On the shores of Ketchikan Creek and the Tongass Narrows on Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska
Annual Precipitation: 134.4 in.
July Averages: Temperature - 64*F; precipitation - 6.43 in.
Lodging:
Best Western Landing
3434 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-5166 / (800) 428-8304
http://www.landinghotel.com/
Cape Fox Lodge
800 Venetia Way, Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-8001 / (800) 325-4000
http://www.westcoasthotels.com/
Salmon Falls Resort
16707 N. Tongass Hwy (PO Box 5700), Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-2752 / (800) 247-9059
http://www.salmonfallsresort.com/
Black Bear Inn
5528 N. Tongass Hwy., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-4343
http://www.stayinalaska.com/
The Narrows Inn
4871 N. Tongass Hwy., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 247-2600 / (888) 686-2600
http://www.narrowsinn.com/
Captain’s Quarters B & B
325 Lund St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-4912
http://www.ptialaska.net/~captbnb
Eagle Heights B & B
1626 Water St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-1760 / (800) 928-3308
http://www.eagleheightsbb.com./
New York Hotel/The Inn at Creek Street
207 Stedman St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-0246 / (866) 225-0246
http://www.thenewyorkhotel.com/
Ketchikan Youth Hostel
400 Main St. (PO Box 8515), Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3319
Email: ktnyh@eagle.ptialaska.net
Camping:
Last Chance Campground
(907) 225-3101
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass
Signal Creek Campground
(907) 225-3101
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass
Three C’s Campground
(907) 225-3101
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass
Did You Know?
If you plan your trip in advance, you may be able to land a night or two in a US Forest Service cabin. There are 80 cabins that are located on lakes, rivers, streams, fjords, and the sea.
What to See:
Totem bight State Historical Park
9883 N. Tongass Hwy., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 247-8574
http://www.alaskastateparks.org/
Totem Heritage Center
601 Deermount St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-5900
Saxman Native Village Totem Pole Park
2.5 miles south of town Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-4846
Deer Mountain Tribal Hatcher & Eagle Center
1158 Salmon Rd., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 228-5530 / (800) 252-5158
Tongass Historical Museum
629 Dock St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-5600
Creek Street
Restaurants & Bars:
Dai Sho Gun
1287 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-2202
Halibut Hole
7 Creek St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-5162
The Alaskan Fish House
3 Salmon Landing (PO Box 8523), Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-4055
http://www.alaskafishhouse.com/
Bar Harbor Restaurant
2813 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-2813
http://www.barharborketchikan.com/
Burger Queen
518 Water St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-6060
Diaz Cafe
335 Stedman St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-2257
Good Fortune Chinese Restaurant
4 Creek St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-1818
Ocean View Restaurante
1831 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-7566
Transportation:
Taxi:
Sourdough Cab
(907) 225-5544
Alaska Cab
(907) 225-2133
Water Taxi:
Tongass Water Taxi
(907) 225-8294
Bus
Ketchikan Gateway Borough bus
(907) 225-8726
Rental Cars:
Alaska Car Rental
(907) 225-5000 / (800) 662-0007
http://www.akcarrental.com/
Ferry Terminal:
Alaska Marine Highway System (2.5 miles N. of downtown)
(907) 225-6182 / (800) 642-0066
http://www.ferryalaska.com/
Airport:
Ketchikan International Airport
Ketchikan, AK
(907) 465-1786
http://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/airport/airport.htm
Chamber of Commerce:
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
111 Stedman St. #210, Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3184
http://www.ketchikanchamber.com/
Did You Know?
Dolly Varden, cutthroat, rainbow trout, grayling, and steelhead swim next to the abundant 5 species of salmon in the fresh waters. The deep salt water off Ketchikan has copious amounts of halibut, rock fish, yellow eye, red snapper, and cod.
AK Employment Service:
Alaska Job Center Network
2030 Sea Level Dr. #220, Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3181
Email: Ketchikan_aes@labor.state.ak.us
Local Newspaper:
Ketchikan Daily News
501 Dock St. (PO Box 7900), Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3157
http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/
Email: news@ketchikandailynews.com
Hospital:
Ketchikan General Hospital
3100 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-5171
http://www.peacehealth.org/SoutheastAlaska/WhoWeAre.htm
Fish & Game:
Alaska Fish & Game Department
2030 Sea Level Dr. #205, Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-2859
http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/
Forest Service:
Tongas National Forest
Federal Building
648 Mission St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3101
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/
Internet Access:
SeaPort Cyberstations
5 Salmon Landing, 2nd floor, Ketchikan, AK
(907) 247-4615
http://www.seaportel.com/
Ketchikan Public Library
629 Dock St., Ketchikan, AK
(907) 225-3331
Ketchikan, Alaska is a secluded paradise. It is encircled by nature that you'll be sure to enjoy. The land offers endless forests, wildlife, and mountains that still need to be explored. The waters that lap Ketchikan's shores offer some of the best salmon and halibut fishing in the world. The scenic inlets and waterways provide a place where whales and porpoises play.
If you travel to Alaska, you have to go to Ketchikan. After a stroll down the wooden walkways on downtown's Creek Street, you'll realize how impressive this place really is.