Ketchikan Whale Watching & Wildlife Sightseeing Tours and Excursions
Step off your cruise ship and experience one of the best tours in Ketchikan Alaska like a local! Our whale watching and wildlife sightseeing tour takes you on a thrilling quest to spot breaching humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, harbor seals, and Steller sea lions in their natural habitat.
Ketchikan Ultimate Wildlife Viewing, Whale Watching Expedition & Wilderness Dining
Experience the best of Ketchikan with our Ultimate Wildlife Viewing & Whale Watching Expedition, where you’ll explore fjords, secret coves, and vast marine feeding grounds teeming with wildlife. You’ll be on a quest to find humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, and more while cruising through Southeast Alaska’s pristine wilderness. Anchor up for a true Alaskan picnic with smoked salmon or reindeer sausage, offering an authentic taste of the region.
Ketchikan Express Wildlife Viewing, Eagle Feeding & Whale Watching
Our Ketchikan Express Wildlife Viewing, Eagle Feeding & Whale Watching tour still gives you the full Ketchikan local experience. Cruise the calm waters and enjoy the unique opportunity to feed majestic bald eagles, offering incredible photo and video opportunities. Experience thrilling whale watching and wildlife encounters, all while taking in the stunning beauty of Southeast Alaska. Perfect for those short on time but wanting to experience the best of Ketchikan’s wildlife and scenery.
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What Ketchikan marine wildlife can you expect to see on your tour
Be sure to check out our articles on Alaska bird species, salmon and jellyfish that can be seen on our Ketchikan whale watching and wildlife shore excursion. Following that, don’t miss the Intertidal Zone article that discusses kelp forests, starfish, sea cucumbers, urchins, sea otters and minks.
Where the Tongass meets the mighty Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Alaska is where our gaze looks to the inhabitants of the water world that surrounds the forest. Above sea level you can expect to see orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, otters and porpoises. The vastness of the ocean and the nutrient rich waters bring the wildlife into a higher concentration during summer months. Bald Eagles, Marbled Murrelets, Herring Gulls and Murres work cohesively with the marine mammals to target the rich feeding grounds from above and below the waterline. It’s a genuine spectacle to watch a group of humpback whales bubble feeding on the surface with hundreds of herring gulls and Murres working the bait from above and below.
Humpback Whales
One of the largest draws for visitors in Alaska each summer is the enormous numbers of humpback whales. Humpback whales measure up to 50 feet in length and weighing upwards of 35 tons. They travel north to Alaska waters annually to take advantage of the abundant and concentrated food sources. While mating and calving in tropical waters such as Hawaii and Mexico, summertime marks a season for traveling north to feed. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see humpback whales bubble net feeding. They eat krill and other small fishes that amount to 1.5 tons daily. Ketchikan in particular and Southeast Alaska holds one of the highest concentrations of humpbacks in the world!
Orca or Killer Whales
When we begin to think of traditional Alaska waters and the most Apex predator in all the planet’s oceans, we must recognize and attribute this title to the Orca or Killer Whale. A mature killer whale is anywhere between 25-30 feet in length and is identified by their characteristic black and white patterns. The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family and lives in groups called pods. They hunt both fish and marine mammals in complete darkness by using echolocation through a series of clicks similar to sonar. They are either resident orcas or transients. While resident orcas eating primarily salmon represent larger pods and more social behaviors, this is contrary to transient orcas who feed on marine mammals and hunt in smaller pods. Ketchikan lies in the heart of the epicenter to see orcas and killer whales in the wild.
Stellar Sea Lions
Personally one of my favorite marine wildlife mammals has to be the Steller sea lion, which is the largest of the family. The Steller sea lions inhabiting the surrounding waters off Ketchikan can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and measure in at over 10 feet. These incredibly adapted marine predators hunt numerous fishes including salmon, herring and cod, while also taking advantage of squid feed as well. The best opportunity to see Steller sea lions lie in the open ocean waters where they concentrate around rock pinnacles and buoys as they rest in between foraging on these haul-out locations. Our Ketchikan wildlife and ecotours make it a point to venture to the most vibrant waters where your chance to see the Steller sea lion in action reaches its highest potential.
Harbor Seals
Harbor Seals don’t have quite the stature of the Steller sea lion, but boy are they cute. They can be seen at many local Ketchikan attractions including the historic Creek Street bridge, where they are seen blitzing around the creek eating salmon running upstream as well as in nearshore coastal waters around kelp beds, reefs, gravel beaches and rock outcroppings. Harbor seals look like little marine puppies in the water peeping their heads just above the surface to monitor the surrounding area. Mature harbor seals grow to 5-6 feet and weigh in around 200 pounds. Harbor seals eat mainly fish and invertebrates and their primary predators are the killer whale, sharks and bald eagles.
Fun Facts:
Tongass National Forest, Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, Steller Sea Lions, & Harbor Seals
1. Ketchikan lies in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, which is our nation’s largest national forest with over 16.7 million acres.
2. This region in combination with British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest encompasses the largest temperate rainforest on earth!
3. Wildlife tours in Ketchikan have the opportunity to see humpback whales, orcas, Steller sea lions, bald eagles and harbor seals.
4. Humpback whales spend their summer months in the rich feeding grounds of Alaska, bubble net feeding on small bait fish and krill. They can eat up to 1.5 tons a day!
5. Killer whales and Orcas are the largest species of the dolphin family and the apex predator of all the world’s oceans. While killer whales eat marine mammals, resident orcas eat primarily salmon.
6. Steller sea lions can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and measure in at over 10 feet.
7. Harbor seals can weigh around 200 pounds and measure in at 5-6 feet and feed on many fishes including salmon
Explore Ketchikan Alaska & The Tongass National Forest
Nestled in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, Alaska, is truly a gem among the world’s most stunning destinations. Known for its awe-inspiring beauty, this place offers landscapes and wildlife that cannot be fully captured in words—only experienced firsthand. From the rugged terrain of old-growth forests to the rich, vibrant waters meeting the land, Ketchikan surprises visitors with its breathtaking natural scenery every day. Whether you’re exploring the untouched wilderness or cruising through the waters of the Alexander Archipelago, Ketchikan offers something unforgettable.
What makes Ketchikan so special is its unique location within the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States, covering over 16.7 million acres. Alongside British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, this region is home to the largest temperate rainforest on Earth. The Tongass is an incredible landscape of glacial fjords, including the renowned Misty Fjords National Monument, countless streams, and ancient forests filled with towering cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees. The area is also rich in wildlife, with creatures such as bears, wolves, black-tailed deer, bald eagles, and mountain goats thriving in this pristine environment. Ketchikan truly is an unmissable destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
