The itinerary below is a snapshot of your daily activities. Please note that some plans are subject to change due to fluctuating weather.
Day 1
We’ll meet at the Ketchikan Airport and take a scenic 15 minute ferry ride across the Tongass Narrows to the main island. We’ll stop by the accommodations to drop off bags and give you time to settle in.
Once everyone has arrived we’ll pack up and enjoy a sunset BBQ at Southpoint Higgins Beach. Play an instrument? Bring it with you! The sun begins to set at 8:30pm this time of year, and a long campfire with music is the perfect introduction to Southeast Alaskan living. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to spot your first humpback whale.
Day 2
After a hearty breakfast we’ll split up into two groups to enjoy morning and afternoon excursions. Lunch is covered in Knudson Cove and Downtown Marinas.
Excursion A: On the water to catch salmon, halibut, rockfish, and a Lingcod(5-6 hours total). Whoever catches the first fish gets a prize!
Excursion B: Privately guided kayak tour with our friends from the Ketchikan Kayak Company (4 hours total).
A day on the water calls for a big dinner so we’ll head home to cook up the day’s catch.
Day 3
On Day 3 we’ll trade in our water gear for packs and hiking boots—Deer Mountain here we come! The hike to this iconic summit is majestic with large logs buried into the soil and even a few wooden bridges. The switchbacks are epic; we’ll gain 2,600 feet in the first 2.5 miles, enveloped in a forest of Sitka Spruce trees. . The reward? 360 degree views of the Revillagigedo Islands, Pacific Ocean, and even distant peaks in British Columbia, Canada!
We’ll lunch in an A-frame shelter built and maintained by the National Forestry Service just below the mountain’s peak. We’ll spend time exploring the mountain, napping on fresh beds of clover, and hopefully spotting a few mountain goats and bald eagles before making our descent.
We’ll wrap up the night in downtown with a favorite local feast and some live music.
Day 4
Day 4 will begin with an epic zipline tour guided by our friends from Southeast Exposure. This interactive course includes eight ziplines and eight aerial traverses, including platforms amongst old-growth cedar trees and a 50 foot platform above the ocean.
After enjoying lunch in town feel free to explore solo or join us for a trip to Herring Cove (a favorite spot to observe our resident black bears). We recommend stopping by Creek Street to spot salmon spawning and perhaps a seal (or three!) on the hunt.
Day 5
Day 5 is our flex day—the activities are up to you. We’ve got options for all types of travelers; a walk-thru of Totem Bight Historical State Park, shopping downtown, a nature stroll at Ward Lake, or a day at the beach.
Depending on the week’s catch, we’ll dine on everything from dungeness crab to tiger shrimp to salmon and halibut.
Day 6
We’ll start our final day with breakfast at home. Today is your last chance to shop in downtown or venture out on a breathtaking hike. If the sun is out, we recommend a day relaxing at the beach. Bald eagles and whales are frequent visitors!
In the afternoon we’ll catch The Great American Lumberjack Show, a legendary, suspenseful tradition of axe-throwing, log spinning, and tree climbing.
For dinner, we’ll gather at Salmon Falls Fishing Resort to celebrate our week. With views overlooking the Northern most point of the island, we will toast to our adventures and triumphs.
Day 7
Where did all the time go? For the fish you caught but couldn’t eat, we are happy to vacuum seal, freeze, and send it to your destination of choice.
At journey’s end we wish you safe travels home. We’ll see you next year!