Ketchikan Day

[Autumnz]

Hello,

We'll be doing 14 days on land prior to our Southbound Cruise.  For our day in Ketchikan, I am thinking I would like to see more local/nature than touristy.  I am thinking of doing creek street/wandering town on our own, and I was looking at a Taxi to totem bight.  But, taxi's are expensive and not sure it's "that much better" than Saxon Village.  I hear Saxon isn't great without a tour, and "required tour" just seems like a red flag for "touristy".  I was also looking at taking a taxi in the afternoon to walk Rainbird Trail from the library.  There are private Ketchikan tours for about $400 for 4 hours (lunch creek/falls) which sound like a good plan (no planning on our part/easy), but that's expensive when I'm sure a day on our own would be just as good (or no?).  Note- we would split the tour cost with my parents who are traveling with us, so $200 tour out of pocket really.

 

 

So- what does an "on your own" itinerary look like that isn't "touristy flair" based.  We are in town 9-5ish.

 

Thanks for input (and no we do not want to rent a car).

[RSF Cruiser]

Have you considered renting a car? That's what I usually do - from Alaska Car Rental. The cost is about $100 for the day and their office is about a mile from the dock. I usually walk over, but they will pick you up after 8:00 AM. That way you have complete flexibility with your schedule. I prefer the setting and totems at Totem Bight, although both places are nice. There's a multi-agency trail book for Ketchikan (https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5413489.pdf), with excellent descriptions of the trails. Some you can walk to from the dock, others you have to drive.

[Northern Aurora]

While our OP has stated they do not want to rent a car, I would also suggest they reconsider.

 

But if they are interested in totem poles I would suggest the Totem Heritage Center.  This totem museum is operated by the city of Ketchikan, and is walkable from the cruise ship docks.

[SightCRR]

Some of the answer depends on what cruise line you are on. NCL is way out of town close to Totem Bright at Ward Cove. From downtown we had a nice trip on the city bus and caught it at library which is one stop further away from ship but before everyone else tries to get a seat. Senior rates and spend time there and catch the next bus back (actually the same bus that had gone north and turned around). Someone described a hiking tour where they we able to view bears eating salmon in the creek but I just told you everything about that. Sightcrr