Ketchikan Trolley: Wildlife, Totems & City Tour

Step back in time and settle in onboard our Authentic Cable Car Style Trolley. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this bustling fishing and logging community, once known as the Salmon Capital of the World.

Sit back and relax in the San Francisco-inspired cable car, as you pass by flowers in bloom at City Park, the Salmon Ladder, and Creek Street. Get a glimpse of the old red-light district and wooden boardwalks. Learn about the legends and stories of bootleggers, brothels, and dance halls.

Next, you will venture nine miles north to the beautiful Herring Cove, where you can take advantage of your own dedicated viewing platform that overlooks the peaceful scenery away from all the activity of the city center. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, seals, and herons can be spotted in the area. There is even a possibility of a bear sighting, as they come to feast on spawning salmon.

Then it's on to the Totem Park of Saxman Native Village, where an extensive collection of Totem Poles and stories behind the native culture await you. Take a stroll through the park to learn the stories of these grand historical creations. Learn about the traditional tools, paints, and techniques of totem pole carving as you watch carvers perform their craft at the carving shed.

The next stop is back to town, your guide concludes the tour at either Creek Street where you can stroll the boardwalk with its many shops, or be dropped off in the downtown area, just minutes from the pier.

please note: This tour is not available on Saturdays.

Duration: 2-2.25 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.)

Inclusions:

  • Roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship terminal
  • Fully narrated tour with a public address system onboard
  • Park entry fees are included
  • Umbrellas are available to use as needed for tour duration

Recommendations:

  • Dress in warm layers, wear comfortable shoes

Duration: 2~2.25 hours. Tour times below are approximate:

  • 45 minutes - at Saxman Native Village
  • 45 minutes - at Herring Cove Wildlife Viewing Area
  • 30 minutes - Ketchikan city tour
  • 15 minutes - boarding and deboarding 

Meeting Instructions:

  • This tour meets inside the Ketchikan Visitor's Bureau, booth #12, located in front of berth 2 on the dock

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

  • This tour is limited mobility accessible. Guests must be able to climb 4 steps into and out of the trolley. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for collapsible equipment will be required on tour. This tour does not have a wheelchair lift but wheelchairs and walkers are welcome.

Are there any restrooms available on this tour?

There are restroom stops available at the Saxman and Herring Cove viewing area. 

What type of clothing should I wear?

Dress for the weather. Layered clothing is always recommended for Alaskan weather.

Are there any age restrictions for children?

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Can I bring a backpack?

Backpacks, small bags, and purses are allowed on this tour.

Can I bring my own food or drink?

Non-alcoholic beverages in a closeable containters and snacks are allowed on tour.

Not seeing answers to your questions?

Check out other frequently asked questions here!

Customer Reviews
Sep 2023 - Michelle G.

Guide was knowledgeable and tried to help us spot animals along the way. Totems were interesting! Saw an eagle in its nest! Very interesting learning about Ketchikan!

Sep 2023 - Liliya S.

It was a great tour with a great guide. Jeff was very knowledgeable and shared many stories about Ketchikan, Saxman village and wildlife. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Thank you!

Sep 2023 - Natalka K.

Very intellectual and knowledgeable tour guide ,really recommend!

Sep 2023 - Jim V.

We had a great time on the trolley. The driver was very knowledgeable and enjoyed entertaining us on the trolley. Overall a great experience!

Aug 2023 - Ioannis M.

Nice informative ride. Good informative comments or on the drive. We saw 5-7 bears in the river, it was amazing. no marine life in the short previous stop. You are on the open so no one can guarantee when an animal will show up. Recommended if you search low budget activities, for bear watching combined with some nice totem poles.

Aug 2023 - Julie A K.

Enjoyed our time .

Aug 2023 - David R.

This was a wonderful excursion!! Our driver was very informative and wanted to make we saw the most of everything we could!! Would highly recommend

Aug 2023 - Daniel S.

Short and sweet tour, the highlight was seeing 3 bears , we knew that there was only a chance to see bears and we got lucky. The tour guide was witty and informative. Good value and we highly recommend.

Aug 2023 - Deb H.

It was my very first time in Alaska and I booked the Ketchikan Trolly excursion. The driver was full of information; the animals were scarce but who can blame them with all the people standing around gawking. The totem poles were awesome. Overall, it was a great experience!

Jul 2023 - Judy D.

This is a great tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and fun. We saw a mother black bear with her three cubs. I would definitely recommend.

Jul 2023 - Carol G.

Our tour leader, Jeff, was absolutely wonderful. Jeff is knowledgeable and made sure that we were supplied with umbrellas and binoculars as needed. The scenery was lovely. We missed out on spotting bears but saw eagles and a seal.

Jul 2023 - Lauren B.

The tour guide was funny!

Jul 2023 - Bonnie M.

Best tour ever! Our guide, Jeff, was not only entertaining, but knowledgeable about the area. He knew the best places to stop and view the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Jul 2023 - Steven M.

Guide was knowledgeable but wish we saw more of the city. I wish we had spent more time at the totems also.

Jun 2023 - Alexis D.

A short tour but really fun and worth every dollar. A 'must-do' if want to learn a bit about Alaska culture.

Jun 2023 - Dionicia H.

We had a good time on the trolly excursion. It was definitely one of the most reasonably priced excursions. If you are a first-timer in this port I would recommend it. I did not see any bears, but I am sure this is hit-and-miss seeing any wildlife. We saw some bald eagles Our guide was very informative and humorous .😊

Jun 2023 - Greg O.

We are glad to have experienced this! Ketchikan was a stop for us on our 7-day cruise, and we only had 5 hours in Ketchikan. This tour fit nicely into that schedule. We easily found the check-in booth, we saw a lot of Ketchikan, and our guide was witty and very knowledgeable. We were back with plenty of time before 12:30p boarding. It was a nice, easy-going excursion that followed some big days at other ports.

May 2023 - Tammy C.

The tour guide was fantastic. He was very entertaining. I felt like the tour was a little rushed. I would have liked to see more of the downtown area.

May 2023 - Kathleen W.

We enjoyed the ride around Ketchikan with the commentary. Saw two bears that day-- one at the cove and another on the way out. Totem poles were interesting.

May 2023 - Mark B.

Very different to expectations, host very knowledgeable not very often you get taken to where somebody lives. Only downside no sign of a bear and who can predict that!!

Oct 2022 - Myrta V.

It was a great experience, Jeff was awesome during our excursion providing info while he was driving and always in the lookout for an opportunity for us to be able to see any wildlife during our way. We were able to see Eagles and a Black Bear. The company very responsible and also the driver. I do recommend them for any excusrsion!

Sep 2022 - Tammy F.

Awesome excursion! The Trolley driver was very knowledgeable & kept the entire trolley engaged. The totem park was so interesting.

Sep 2022 - James G.

Lots of great information and sight seeing. Ketchikan is a beautiful piece of Alaska and great shops for picking up souvenirs.

Sep 2022 - Christi A.

Great tour! Prompt and easy to find once you depart the ship. The guide was very informative and funny as well! Loved seeing the island and learning about the heritage. The guide was also very accommodating to our 10 year old special needs daughter! He helped us with her stroller on and off the trolly. It was a cold rainy day and he had blankets and umbrellas for us to use. Wonderful trip and definitely made it back well before the cruise ship departed. Highly recommend!

Aug 2022 - Diane B.

Jeff did a great job taking us on this tour. We saw black bears hunting and feeding in the wild! He tried to get some whale viewings but the whales were not cooperative that day. The totem pole park was awesome and Jeff was knowledgeable without being overbearing. I recommend this tour.

Aug 2022 - Mike N.

This was a good tour. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and funny. We even saw a bear!

Aug 2022 - Linda B.

This was a fun tour. The guide was knowledgeable and amusing. We spent just the right amount of time at each site.

Jul 2022 - Leah C.

Jeff was such a great guide! Funny, informative - kept us on our toes and made for some memorable moments with his knowledge. The totem park and the wood carvers are quite a site to see. Something myself and my family will always remember. Thank you.

Jul 2022 - Mary C.

Great tour! Guide was very knowledgeable and we even saw a bear!!!

Jul 2022 - Dena W.

Our guide was very informative. Enjoyed the totem pole park and particularly the wildlife stop!

Jul 2022 - Jane L.

Fun, laid back trip. We were able to view a bear, numerous eagles on our tour.

Jun 2022 - Peggy H.

Great experience. Guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Trolley was fun and a great way to see the sites.

May 2022 - Gayle A.

Very informative and knowledgeable tour guide! Great way to take in the sights of Ketchikan.

May 2022 - Kathy L.

Cindy the tour guide was so nice and thoughtful! She is amazing. I really liked the totem talk by the man at the facility. I would like to have gone inside also. Fun to see the overview of the city!

May 2022 - Julia S.

I am afraid that this tour was oversold. I had the impression that we would have a stop to see wildlife, but that was really a short stop by the water with little wildlife opportunity. I did enjoy the Saxman totem pole park, which was why I went on this tour. I also appreciated that we could go with our grandchildren while many excursions excluded small children.

Sep 2021 - Kerri L.

Jeff did a great job taking us around town in Ketchikan. His welcoming wit and stories kept us entertained while we took in the sights. Recommend!!

Sep 2021 - Kathleen G.

Poured rain the entire day but did not take away from this wonderful excursion. Driver/Guide, Jeff, was informative and entertaining.

Sep 2021 - Mary F.

Fun trip and great Narrator!

Sep 2021 - Mark O.

A great guide with a good sense of humor and knowledge of the area. We did see a bald eagle and 3 black bears (apparently no brown bears in the vicinity). Trolley ride can be drafty, but blankets were available to cover up with. It rained (of course), but umbrellas were also available.

Sep 2021 - Martha L.

Enjoyed this tour, learned a lot about totems and saw a couple of eagles, but no bears.

Sep 2021 - Patricia F.

Fun way to tour, great guide. Guide was very personable, witty, and knowledgeable. Unfortunately we did not see much wildlife--but not the tour company's or guide's fault. People on the tour with us said they say 3 bears at the salmon stream two years ago.

Aug 2021 - Marlene F.

Jeff gave us a great tour with lots of really bad dad jokes! The tour didn't exactly match up to the brochure, but our family of 5 all completely enjoyed our experience.

Aug 2021 - Ian L.

I saw more wildlife here than in the Eagle Preserve in Haines! Great tour guide! Loved the totems. He didn t spend any time in the city. I would have loved it if he drove to the salmon ladder.

Aug 2021 - Karen G.

This was a lovely tour. I decided to book this one independently from the cruise line because of the extra time taken at the wildlife area. We had a lovely day, our tour leader was excellent with lots of stories to tell us. I would definitely recommend this tour to others.

Aug 2021 - Judy W.

Trolley driver not available so they gave us a bus. The view was not the same or the experience as I expected but they did not cancel on me. Nothing too exciting for me on this tour

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

$79.00

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

Duration: 2-2.25 hours



Number of Passengers *

Adult (13+): $79.00

Child (6-12): $54.00

must be able to sit on parent's lap

Lap Child (Under 6): $0.00

Total
$0.00

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