Misty Fjords National Monument

When you’re looking for pristine glacial lakes, towering waterfalls, and snowcapped mountain vistas, take a trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. This beautiful area is along the Inside Passage of Southeastern Alaska, only 40 miles east of Ketchikan. Located within the Tongass National Forest, it features nearly 2.3 million acres of untouched wilderness. In fact, Misty Fjords Tours are a favorite among visitors to Ketchikan.

About

The Misty Fjords National Monument area was first visited by Europeans in 1793, and it was designated a National Monument by President Jimmy Carter in December 1978. The political conflict between Alaska and the Federal government over land use related to this area eventually led to formation of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

Visiting Misty Fjords National Monument

Remote wilderness is exactly what Misty Fjords offers—which means that accessing the area takes some planning. Many visitors choose to come to the Monument by boat or float plane taking off from nearby Ketchikan or Juneau. For others, exploring the waterways and incredible landscape by kayak, day-long boat cruises, or sight-seeing flights are the way to go.

Our most popular tour is the Misty Fjords National Monument via seaplane tour.

Geography

The stunning natural beauty of Misty Fjords National Monument has been compared to Yosemite for its similarity in the geology and glacial makeup of the landscape. This region of Alaska was sculpted by the glaciers 50+ million years ago. Natural canals—such as Behm Canal—have walls that can rise as high as 3,000 feet vertically and were formed by sea water filling the glacial valleys.

Small glaciers still dot the landscape and can be found in the Lincoln and Seward Mountains, as well as in the northeast section of the Monument. Most mountains of the region top-out at 5,000 ft. elevation, and abundant wildlife, trees, and rainforest vegetation can be found below the tree line.

Interesting Facts

Alaskan wilderness is at its best in the Misty Fjords National Monument. Nearly 1,000 tourists a day travel to the area by float plane during the height of the summer months to explore the mineral springs, waterways, volcanic lava flows, and rugged mountains of the region.

• As the largest wilderness area in Alaska’s national forests, Mistry Fjords is also the second-largest in the United States.
• Congress retains more than 150,000 acres as the Quartz Hill molybdenum deposit. This impressive mineral deposit may be the largest of its type in the world!
• Remnants of volcanic activity can be seen in at the lava flow above Punchbowl Cove, called Eddystone Rock, and at the far northern border of the Monument at the Blue River.
• The protected area features 13 recreation cabins, 5 shelters, and over 20 miles of hiking through 10 different trail systems.
• The Behm Canal is a natural major waterway that cuts through the monument for more than 100 miles and is renowned for its length and depth.
• All five types of Pacific salmon can be found within the region, as well as whales, mountain goats, grizzlies, and black bear.

Points of Interest

Whether you’re looking for a one-day adventure or you want to spend days kayaking through natural canals, the Misty Fjords National Monument offers everything you need to get a full Alaskan experience. With a “Leave No Trace” policy for visitors, those who travel to the area can step into the unique, untamed wild that you can only find in the Last Frontier.

View all of our Ketchikan tours and ideas for things to do in Ketchikan. You can find all of our Misty Fjords National Monument tours here.