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Ketchikan Wildlife and Waterfall Tour

TourTruth score 5.9 out of 10

Average

252 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Ketchikan
  • 1 hr 45 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore Ketchikan’s coves, beach, and waterfall with local guides, and watch for bears, eagles, seals, and salmon along the way.

About this tour

Explore Ketchikan’s coastal scenery and wildlife on a guided outing with local women who know the area. This Ketchikan wildlife and waterfall tour takes you to Herring Cove, where black bears, eagles, harbor seals, and salmon may be spotted. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the salmon run brings added activity to the creek, especially from June onward.

Continue to Janet’s Beach for open views and, during salmon season, a chance to watch fish leap in the water. A local stand may offer jams, jelly, fudge, and smoked salmon. The final stop is a waterfall, a picturesque backdrop for photos; at Rainbow Falls, a 600-year-old Sitka spruce offers another memorable photo opportunity. The waterfall can be viewed from the van, and one stop includes a short incline. This is a sightseeing tour, not a hike, though stops require the ability to take about 30 steps.

The Ketchikan wildlife and waterfall tour lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours, with an English-speaking guide, water, small snacks, and rain ponchos provided. Choose this relaxed route for a taste of local scenery, then bring your camera and keep watch for wildlife along the way.

Highlights

  • Look for black bears, eagles, harbor seals, and salmon at Herring Cove
  • Admire scenic views at Janet’s Beach
  • Snap photos beside Rainbow Falls and a 600-year-old Sitka spruce
  • Travel with knowledgeable local guides

What's included

Included

  • Water bottle
  • Small snack, such as chips or pretzels
  • Small candy
  • Rain poncho

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed; the best viewing season is mid-June through September
  • Stops require the ability to take about 30 steps; this is not a hiking tour
  • Infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Strollers are permitted
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  • Service animals are allowed
  • Pickup is available at Ward Cove 30 minutes before tour time and downtown at tour time
  • Meet downtown at Berth 2, by the green-roof building, Ketchikan rain gauge, and bronze statue
  • No pets, smoking, alcohol, drugs, feeding or touching animals, strong fragrances, fireworks, or explosives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

Tours last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Which stops are included?

The tour visits Herring Cove, Janet’s Beach, and a waterfall stop at Rainbow Falls or the South End waterfall.

Will I see wildlife?

Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Mid-June through September is the best time to look for wildlife.

Is this a hiking tour?

No. It is not a hiking tour, but stops require the ability to take about 30 steps.

Where is pickup?

Pickup is at Ward Cove 30 minutes before tour time and downtown at tour time. The downtown meeting point is Berth 2 by the green-roof building and bronze statue.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.65 on Viator and 4.49 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Ketchikan
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 5.9.

Provider rating distribution in Ketchikan

How many tours in Ketchikan have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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