Ketchikan: Private Wildlife & Totem Tour with Pickup

4.73

(134 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered if you’d actually spot a bear in Alaska? I did—half joking, half hoping—when our guide picked us up right at the port in Ketchikan. The air smelled like wet cedar and salt, and even though it was drizzling (which, honestly, just felt right for Alaska), we were all wide-eyed as we headed toward Herring Cove. Binoculars in hand, we watched for flashes of black fur or the sudden swoop of an eagle. Didn’t expect how quiet it would get when we stopped by the water—just the sound of rain on leaves and someone’s laugh echoing down the road.

Our guide—her name was Marla—grew up here. She pointed out salmon running upstream (I nearly missed them at first; they blend right into the current), and told us about her uncle who swears he saw a wolf once, though “nobody believes him.” We didn’t see any bears that morning but did catch a glimpse of seals bobbing near the rocks. There’s this waterfall just off the road—nothing huge, but you can feel its spray if you stand close enough. My shoes got soaked but I kind of loved it.

Later on, we made our way over to Potlatch Park for the totem tour. The colors on those carvings are deeper than I expected—reds and blues against all that green rainforest. Marla explained what some of them meant (I tried repeating one Tlingit word; she laughed and said I was close). There’s something grounding about hearing these stories from someone whose family has lived here for generations. We ended up sharing snacks under a wooden shelter while rain drummed overhead. It wasn’t fancy, but it felt real—and I still think about that quiet moment with everyone just listening to the rain.