Alaska has been on the minds of travelers and tourists alike as more and more people decide to visit America’s final frontier, and Ketchikan Alaska has made it onto the list of popular destinations. If you’re planning a trip here, you might wonder why it’s so popular – well, read on to find out! While there are many great reasons to visit Ketchikan Alaska, here are some of the best reasons to visit Ketchikan Alaska!
The World’s Smallest National Park
The Tongass National Forest is home to a huge chunk of land—three times larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Nestled in between these two states is an even smaller piece of land: The Tongass is home to our nation’s smallest national park. (What? Smaller than Hawaii?) You may not have heard of it, but we’re talking about Katmai National Park & Preserve.
The Tongass Rainforest Hiking Trail, which runs through a corner of southeast Alaska, is one of only a few hiking trails in North America that will leave you speechless and dazed. With so much greenery around you—really, there’s no other way to describe it—you’ll feel as if you’ve entered another world entirely. And what’s more? The trail boasts panoramic views over Ketchikan from its highest point!
Kayak Through Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park is a wilderness area located in southern Alaska near Juneau. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and it’s one of only three U.S. national parks (along with Glacier and Yellowstone) that are also designated International Biosphere Reserves. And because it’s home to so many glaciers—more than 150—Glacier Bay is also part of UNESCO’s Global Geopark designation.
Fly to the Edge of Existence and Beyond at Exit Glacier
If you visit Exit Glacier, you’ll experience one of the most stunning landscapes in Southeast Alaska. The glacier is set against a deep blue sea—and it is surrounded by snow-covered mountains and covered with wildflowers! Take a hike on foot or view it from above on a scenic flight. If you want to see glaciers like Exit Glacier in person, but can’t travel to southeast Alaska, check out Bing Crosby’s house.
Ketchikan Zip Line Tour
Just when you thought you’d seen all that Southeast Alaska had to offer, there’s Zip Line! This breathtaking site offers over 8-miles of cable, which will carry you from summit to sea through some of Southeast’s most beautiful forest. This is an experience everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.
