🇺🇸 Ketchikan, USA — Cruise Port Guide
The Salmon Capital of the World, famous for the largest collection of standing totem poles and colorful Creek Street built on stilts over the water.
Updated September 2026
Quick facts
Getting ashore
When to visit Ketchikan
Best May through September; Ketchikan is Alaska's rainiest port (around 150 inches a year), so pack rain gear even in summer with temps in the 50s-60s°F.
Getting back to the ship on time
From Ward Cove the return is a queue, not a walk: with two ships in, the shuttle line in the all-aboard rush has been reported to add an hour or more on top of the 20-30 minute ride, so check your berth the night before and reach the pick-up 90 minutes early. From a downtown berth 30 minutes is ample.
All-aboard is ship's time — check it in the daily programme, and set your watch to it.
Things to do in Ketchikan
Creek Street
Wander the boardwalk of stilted shops above the salmon-filled creek.
Totem Bight State Park
See restored totem poles and a clan house set in coastal rainforest.
Misty Fjords flightseeing
Floatplane over granite cliffs, waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys.
Salmon fishing charter
Reel in salmon or halibut on a guided sportfishing trip.
Lumberjack Show
Cheer axe-throwing and log-rolling lumberjacks near the docks.
Rainforest wildlife tour
Explore Tongass rainforest trails and watch for bald eagles.
Popular excursions
Misty Fjords floatplane tour
Flightseeing over 3,000-ft granite walls with a fjord water landing.
Totem parks & Saxman Village
World's largest totem pole collections plus carvers at work.
What to eat
- Wild salmon
- Fresh halibut
- King crab
- Salmon chowder
- Smoked salmon
Weather by month
Best time to visit: May–Sep (cruise season)
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39° | 30° | 13.6" |
| Feb | 42° | 31° | 11.5" |
| Mar | 45° | 33° | 11" |
| Apr | 51° | 37° | 9.7" |
| May | 58° | 43° | 8.4" |
| Jun | 63° | 48° | 7.1" |
| Jul | 65° | 52° | 7.7" |
| Aug | 66° | 52° | 10.5" |
| Sep | 60° | 48° | 13.7" |
| Oct | 52° | 42° | 20.4" |
| Nov | 44° | 35° | 16.9" |
| Dec | 40° | 31° | 14.9" |
A little history
Ketchikan holds the world's largest collection of totem poles, honoring Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples.
Creek Street was a historic red-light district built on wooden stilts over Ketchikan Creek.
Known as the Salmon Capital of the World, with salmon runs central to daily life.
See living Native carving traditions at Totem Bight and Saxman Native Village.