Sights in Ketchikan
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Naha Bay
From Settler's Cove State Park, it's an 8-mile paddle to Naha Bay, the destination of an excellent three- or four-day adventure. At the head of the bay is a floating dock where you can leave your kayak and set off down the Naha River National Recreation Trail. The scenic 5.4-mile trail follows the river up to Jordan and Heckman Lakes, both of which have USFS cabins.
The fishing here is good and black bears are plentiful - in August you might see them catching salmon at a small waterfall 2 miles up the trail from Roosevelt Lagoon.
A narrow outlet connects Naha Bay with Roosevelt Lagoon. You don't have to enter the lagoon to access the trail. Kayakers wishing to paddle into …
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Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Center
A bridge across Ketchikan Creek links the Totem Heritage Center with the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Center. The hatchery raises 350,000 king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout annually and releases them into the nearby stream. In July or later, you'll see not only the salmon fry but returning adult fish swimming upstream to spawn.
The center also maintains an eagle pavilion, home to a pair of eagles who were injured and can no longer fly. Thus the 25-minute tours are dubbed 'Live Eagles & Salmon', providing an interesting lesson in the salmon's life cycle and an opportunity to get close and personal to our national symbol.
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Creek Street
Departing from Stedman St is Creek Street, a boardwalk built over Ketchikan Creek on pilings - a photographer's delight. This was Ketchikan's famed red-light district until prostitution became illegal in 1954. During Creek St's heyday, it supported up to 30 brothels and became known as the only place in Alaska where 'the fishermen and the fish went upstream to spawn'.
The house with bright red trim is Dolly's House, the parlor of the city's most famous madam, Dolly Arthur. Now it's a museum dedicated to this notorious era.
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Betton Island
Due west of Settler's Cove State Park at the north end (Mile 18.2) of N Tongass Hwy is this island and several smaller islands nearby, making it an excellent day paddle if you're staying at the campground nearby. Although Clover Pass is a highly trafficked area, the backside of Betton Island offers a more wildernesslike setting. Pack a tent and sleeping bag and you can turn this into an overnight excursion by camping on the great beaches of Tatoosh Islands on the west side of Betton Island.
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Tongass Historical Museum
Sharing a building with the Ketchikan Public Library is the Tongass Historical Museum, which houses a small collection of local historical and Alaska Native artifacts, many dealing with Ketchikan's fishing industry. Outside the museum you'll find the impressive Raven Stealing the Sun totem and an observation platform overlooking the Ketchikan Creek falls.
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Thomas Basin
If you thought Creek St was photogenic, cross Stedman St and be ready to burn some film (or megapixels). Thomas Basin is home to Ketchikan's fishing fleet and the city's most picturesque harbor. When the boats come in you can photograph them unloading their catch and then follow the crews to the colorful Potlatch Bar nearby, a classic fisherman's pub.
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Dolly's House
The star of Ketchikan's former red-light district, Creek St, is Dolly's House, the parlor of Ketchikan's most famous madam, Dolly Arthur.
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Totem Heritage Center
. The Totem Heritage Center features a collection of 19th-century totems in a spiritual setting.
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