On the hill · Lodge
Cape Fox Lodge
A lodge above Creek Street reached by a funicular.
Official details for Cape Fox LodgeAlaska · Couples · Two nights
Ketchikan & Misty Fjords
Floatplanes, totems and Misty Fjords.
Ketchikan is a rainforest town strung along Tongass Narrows, and floatplanes take off and land past its waterfront all day. Land at the airport on Gravina Island and ride the short ferry across, or splash down in the Narrows. Walk boardwalked Creek Street, see the totem poles at Saxman and Totem Bight, and fly into Misty Fjords National Monument, with its granite walls and waterfalls.
Floatplane townTotem polesFjords
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to PAKT
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~2526 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~17 hr 05 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Airport ferry, walk or floatplane
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land across the Narrows.
PAKT, Ketchikan International, is a non-towered state airport at 92 feet with a 7,500-foot runway on Gravina Island; a short ferry crosses to town. Floatplanes use the Tongass Narrows water lane and the Ketchikan Harbor seaplane base (5KE).
The FBO
Ketchikan International Airport (Alaska DOT&PF)
907-225-6800Ketchikan International Airport, Ketchikan, AK
Rain, low ceilings and heavy floatplane traffic in the Narrows; monitor CTAF carefully. Mountains rise steeply on both sides. No live fuel price is shown.
Southeast Alaska flying: frequent rain, low ceilings and fog in narrow channels, mountains rising straight from the water, and float traffic in the harbors. Carry survival gear and use the FAA weather cameras. From the lower 48 this is an expedition, not a weekend: the usual route is the Alaska Highway through Canada (customs, eAPIS and Canadian survival-equipment rules), roughly a week each way. Most visitors are Alaska-based pilots, or fly commercially and book local air taxis and flightseeing.
Seaplane access
Ketchikan Harbor (5KE), public-use seaplane base
907-225-3845Ketchikan, AK · Promech Air 907-225-3845
Water lanes: E/W, 3,893 × 1,000 ft. The airport also lists a WNW/ESE water lane of 9,500 × 1,500 ft on Tongass Narrows.
Ketchikan is one of the busiest floatplane harbors in the country; expect commercial tour aircraft, cruise ships and boats.
Water landing rules, conditions and docking change; call the operator and check the chart supplement before you go.
02 / Where to stay
Above the waterfront.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Cruise days are crowded downtown.
Local guide
More places to stay
Inns and lodges in Ketchikan.
Visit Ketchikan for More places to stay03 / Where to eat
Chowder and seafood.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Friday dinner · Chowder house
Annabelle’s Famous Keg and Chowder House
Chowder and seafood in a historic downtown hotel.
Official details for Annabelle’s Famous Keg and Chowder HouseSaturday dinner · Lodge dining
Cape Fox Lodge
Dinner with views over the Narrows.
Official details for Cape Fox Lodge04 / Things to do
Fjords, totems and Creek Street.
Bring rain gear; it’s a rainforest.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
May–September
Floatplane season
Flightseeing and fishing.
Taquan Air for Floatplane seasonJuly–August
Salmon runs
Salmon in Ketchikan Creek.
Visit Ketchikan for Salmon runsYear-round
Rainforest
About 150 inches of rain a year.
Visit Ketchikan for RainforestConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Ketchikan weekend. Written for Alaska-based pilots and visitors already in Alaska. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at PAKT or 5KE mid-morning.
- Midday
Misty Fjords by floatplane.
- Afternoon
Creek Street, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at PAKT or 5KE, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Creek Street.
- Evening
Dinner at Annabelle’s.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
Misty Fjords by floatplane.
- Afternoon
Totem Bight.
- Evening
Dinner at Cape Fox Lodge.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Saxman totem poles.
- Before leaving
Allow time at the airport or dock.
- Fly home
Southeast weather changes fast; keep a margin.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
Totem Bight.
- Afternoon
Saxman totem poles.
- Evening
Dinner at Annabelle's.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodge, then the Misty Fjords flight.
From Seattle
About 590 nm along the Inside Passage.
Rain
Bring good rain gear.
Best seasons
May to September.
Reviewed · Destination 210
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.